Birmingham are facing an uncertain time (15/2 – To Be Relegated) as talks to tie down manager Alex McLeish to a new contract have reportedly hit the buffers because of the Scot’s excessive wage demands.

The former Scotland and Rangers boss has enjoyed a successful stint at St Andrews having led the club back to the Premier League in 2009, before guiding them to a ninth-placed finish last term.

However, with Blues keen to hand him a new deal as a reward for his good work, McLeish has yet to put pen-to-paper amid suggestions from Birmingham vice-chairman Peter Pannu that he is asking for too much money.

Therefore it is not certain if McLeish will stick around to try and help the club progress to the next level in the Premier League or even try and take some silverware to the Midlands outfit (Birmingham 33/1 – FA Cup Outright).

“I have been in talks with his representative and he was asking for a very large amount of money which I was not prepared to meet,” Pannu told the Daily Star.

He added: “He has not been tried and tested yet. The club was relegated, then promoted and last year we stayed up, so he has done well.

“But to suggest that he is in the top class like a (Jose) Mourinho, well, he is no Mourinho yet. The ball is in his court.”