McFadden wants new deal to seal Birmingham future

Scotland winger unhappy with current contract agreed under previous owners

James McFadden, the Birmingham City striker has hinted he would like to renegotiate his contract with the club.

McFadden signed his current deal, which has a year to run with an option for another two, under the previous regime of David Sullivan and David Gold. The Scotland international admits the emphasis of that deal, which offers him just one more guaranteed full season at St Andrew's, is not to his liking and after helping Blues establish themselves in the Premier League is looking to renegotiate terms.

"With the weird and wonderful way the contracts are done here, I've got a year left with a two-year option so we will wait and see what happens," Mc Fadden said. "That was the way it was done before and hopefully that can change – and there won't be this confusion for everyone."

Defender Liam Ridgewell and midfielder Sebastian Larsson are technically out of contract in the summer but again City have two-year and one-year options respectively they could take up.

Meanwhile, McFadden can see comparisons between the Birmingham dressing room and the one he left at Everton. He said: "It is very similar to the dressing room when I was at Everton. I don't know if it is because you've got a rival who thinks they are bigger and better than you [Liverpool and Aston Villa] At the same time you think you are up against it at the start because your rivals have got a great history.

"The dressing room is superb and wants to do so well. Everyone is arguing. It's the same on the training pitch. If someone makes a misplaced pass or is not putting the work in, there are always players ready to jump down their throat.

"You need that type of character but you also need the type of character that can take that as well – and respond to it," he added. "You don't want anyone who is going to hide away. If you are not pulling your weight, someone is going to tell you and you put your hand up and work harder."

Cameron Jerome has demanded no let up to the end of the season if Birmingham are to make club history. City stretched their unbeaten run at St Andrew's to 13 games in the league with Sunday's 1-1 draw with Liverpool.

If Birmingham can now avoid defeat in their final two home matches with struggling Hull City and Burnley it will beat their previous record of 14 set in 1974.

"We've got two games left, so why not?" said Jerome on the prospect of ending the season on a high. "We will be playing two teams who are struggling near the bottom of the table, but we can't take that for granted.

"We've got to keep doing what we've been doing and what has got us good results and good points against the bigger teams," he added. "If we take performances like we produced against Liverpool into those two games then I am sure we will come out of the rest of the season unbeaten at home and it would be a great achievement for us.

"We want to finish on a high note and then come back refreshed for next season, ready to go again."