Kevin Phillips has said the Birmingham City (8/11 to be relegated) players are fully behind manager Alex McLeish and that he should remain in charge at St Andrew’s – even if the club is relegated.

The Blues lie in 17th place in the table and are only out of the bottom three by virtue of a marginally better goal difference than Blackpool and Wigan.

Even a win in their final match of the season at Tottenham (Spurs 4/7, Draw 16/5, Birmingham 5/1 in the match betting) would not necessarily guarantee survival in the top flight so the pressure is very much on going into the last day.

Regardless of Sunday’s result, Phillips believes the club should stick by McLeish after he guided the club through a season in which they won the Carling Cup, as well as his previous success in winning promotion.

“He has done a fantastic job. If we do manage to stay in the Premier League, it will be the best season that Birmingham have ever had,” Phillips said.

“I think it’s highly important we keep him. He is an experienced manager and he managed to get us up to the Premier League.

“If the worst comes to the worst, then there is no better man to be in charge to help us straight back into the Premier League.

“He knows what kind of players he needs for that to happen.

“At the end of the day, the club will make their decision but we are firmly behind our manager because he is top class.”