Birmingham City boss Alex McLeish insists relegation won't hurt his career.

He said: "When you look at Steve Bruce, did it hurt his career when Birmingham went down? Or Harry Redknapp when he was relegated?

"They are inspirational to me. Steve did a great job here. He may have been up and down like a yo-yo. But he stayed in the Premier League for four years, and for that he has got to be a role model for me.

"There was a short-term goal for me when I arrived and it is still there for us. But it's going to be such a fine dividing line.

"If we stay up, I could be a hero. But in their other breath people could be left saying I was never the right man for the job. Then I'm a zero.

"But whatever happens life has to go on, and I'll still be as determined as ever to prove myself here."