Alex McLeish wants to reignite the rivalry he enjoyed with Martin O'Neill in Scotland by helping Birmingham become an established force alongside Aston Villa in the Premier League.
McLeish and O'Neill were often on opposite sides when in charge of Rangers and Celtic north of the border.
Now they will lock horns again next season after McLeish steered Blues back into the top flight at the first attempt. And the former Scotland boss is keen to make amends for the 5-1 drubbing City suffered at the hands of Villa in his previous Second City derby at the end of the club`s fateful 2007/2008 campaign.
McLeish said: "We know Villa are a little bit ahead of us in terms of quality and resources at the moment. There is no doubt that Martin has done a fantastic job there.
"But we certainly would like to try and get closer to our big rivals and try and make the situation Martin and I had when on opposite sides in Glasgow. I just hope we do a bit better than the last time at Villa Park!
"We will never be Manchester United but I'd love to think we can make our way in the Premier League in the next two or three years while I am in charge."
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Understatement of the millenium...
McLeish said: "We know Villa are a little bit ahead of us in terms of quality and resources"
Oi, you scottish t**t, Accrington Stanley are a little bit ahead of you in terms of quality!
Andrew, firstly I'm not sure there are enough bank holidays and secondly, some people do like to book holidays around bank holidays!
As for Steve.Berns, I think you'll find Villa have a better chance of winning something next year, you have to hope you don't win something - relegation!
Your board need to back the club and make sure they spend well in the summer to get some quality premiership players in to replace your first 11. Otherwise you'll be doing a West Brom next year....
I hope that the FA AND PREMIERSHIP BOSSES think about the fans and not the media companies. when fixturing such juicy matches, with 6 west midland derbies to be played next season play them on bank holidays and at appropriate times for the fans. Villa , blues matches are as intense as any derby matches and such matches should be about the fans and families, they just might be an even better atmosphere if travelling costs and time are thought about a bit more
andrew j
Good to know that even if the Villa get the 6 points from us next season (that all of their fans keep telling me they will) it still wouldn't be enough to get them into the Champions League... hahahah !
villa are the ring n ride of the prem. old and smelly..!!!
We've got exactly the same chance as Villa of winning anything next season. None.
Idiot..........we are the ferrari.......City are the LDV......
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