Birmingham co-owner David Gold has promised to back manager Alex McLeish with his own money in the January transfer window if necessary.

"We have always said the money generated by the football club can be spent by the football club," Gold told the Birmingham Post.

"If you combine whatever we receive for players like Martin Taylor and Neil Danns with the balance from changing managers, that's around £5million.

"Anything above that would come from the owners. That has happened over the years but it is a back-stop.

"Alex is a very measured guy and is not going to be held to ransom - he sees the club's money as his money.

"If there is somebody special you think is available and you would really like to come to Birmingham City and the club has run out of funds, we would look at it on a case-by-case basis.

"Alex has not said to us he has found a player he really wants yet, but you only have to look at our record over the last 15 years and the way in which we support our managers.

"The important thing is retaining our Premier League status."