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Dougie Freedman has warned relegation-haunted Birmingham City his side will not be dishing out favours when they come to the Reebok this weekend.
Lee Clark’s strugglers dropped into the bottom three with a home defeat against Leeds United on Saturday but have a chance to give themselves some breathing space by taking points at home to Wigan Athletic tonight.
Regardless of the result at St Andrews, the Blues will still be under pressure against Wanderers in the final game of the season, with as many as four other clubs possibly in the mix.
Birmingham haven’t been out of the top two tiers since 1995 but Freedman insists he is concentrating only on ending the campaign with a win in front of his own fans.
“Six weeks ago people asked how I was going to go about the end of the season after we were safe and I said I’d be professional and win every game,” he said. “This one is no different.
“I’ll put a team out there who will try to win a game for the football club.
“That’s how I run my life. I want to win games of football.
“And I want to finish this season at the Reebok with a win instead of a draw.”
The number of drawn games at home has been a constant source of frustration for the Scot but he is confident that by remodelling his squad in the summer, he will be better prepared next season.
It now looks certain Freedman will look to shed some of the big earners who are coming out of contract, with Chris Eagles and Tyrone Mears the most notable examples.
The futures of others, such as Zat Knight and Andre Morirz, are less defined, although the financial situation at the club means deals at reduced salaries would be the best on offer.
Freedman is looking forward to bringing some fresh blood into his squad.
“This summer we’ve got some business to tend to and I think the fans understand what kind of player I’m trying to bring here,” he said. “They won’t be taking the club for granted.
“I don’t want anyone at this football club who thinks they should be here because they played in the Premier League or came here 10 years ago.
“We want to take the club forward and into a position where financially we’re secure and on the pitch we look a threat.”
Source
Lee Clark’s strugglers dropped into the bottom three with a home defeat against Leeds United on Saturday but have a chance to give themselves some breathing space by taking points at home to Wigan Athletic tonight.
Regardless of the result at St Andrews, the Blues will still be under pressure against Wanderers in the final game of the season, with as many as four other clubs possibly in the mix.
Birmingham haven’t been out of the top two tiers since 1995 but Freedman insists he is concentrating only on ending the campaign with a win in front of his own fans.
“Six weeks ago people asked how I was going to go about the end of the season after we were safe and I said I’d be professional and win every game,” he said. “This one is no different.
“I’ll put a team out there who will try to win a game for the football club.
“That’s how I run my life. I want to win games of football.
“And I want to finish this season at the Reebok with a win instead of a draw.”
The number of drawn games at home has been a constant source of frustration for the Scot but he is confident that by remodelling his squad in the summer, he will be better prepared next season.
It now looks certain Freedman will look to shed some of the big earners who are coming out of contract, with Chris Eagles and Tyrone Mears the most notable examples.
The futures of others, such as Zat Knight and Andre Morirz, are less defined, although the financial situation at the club means deals at reduced salaries would be the best on offer.
Freedman is looking forward to bringing some fresh blood into his squad.
“This summer we’ve got some business to tend to and I think the fans understand what kind of player I’m trying to bring here,” he said. “They won’t be taking the club for granted.
“I don’t want anyone at this football club who thinks they should be here because they played in the Premier League or came here 10 years ago.
“We want to take the club forward and into a position where financially we’re secure and on the pitch we look a threat.”
Source