McLeish receives vote of confidence from Yeung

McLeish, the Birmingham City manager, has been assured of his future (GETTY IMAGES)

Alex McLeish, the Birmingham City manager, has been assured of his future when Carson Yeung completes his takeover of the club in the next few weeks.

And McLeish has been told that the presence of Steve McManaman – as part of Yeung's team – should not be viewed as a threat to his position.

The former Liverpool, Real Madrid and England winger has been the subject of speculation touting him for various roles at the Midlands club including coach, director of football or an ambassadorial position.

McManaman is an executive director and adviser with Yeung's company Grandtop International Holdings whom he was invited to join two years ago. But a source close to Yeung said: "Steve is a football icon, someone who has many contacts in the game, and it makes sense to use his expertise. But Mr Yeung is happy to have Alex McLeish as manager and he should not think of Steve as any sort of threat to his position."

McManaman was linked with the manager's job at Birmingham in 2007 when Yeung bought his initial stake in the club of 29.9 per cent to make him the largest individual shareholder.

The former winger made a point of ringing the then Birmingham manager Steve Bruce to assure him he was not looking to fill his shoes.

Birmingham, twelfth in the Premier League after four games, face local rivals Aston Villa on Sunday.