Birmingham City contract latest as big name players commit long term future to club

National World - LocalTV

As Birmingham City have made a fantastic start to life in League One following their recent relegation, they are sat on top of the pile in the division and things are certainly looking up for those around the club.   We’re looking at the latest contract situation with a number of players tying down new deals at the Blues.

Transcript

00:00On to Birmingham City, obviously suffering a loss to Charlton in their last League One

00:06game. I mean, it's just sort of exaggerated that League One isn't quite a walkover that

00:11it might look after their unbelievable start to the season. How are fans reacting after

00:16that? Obviously, you know, it's no time for panic stations, but it certainly is a little

00:20reminder that it can prove quite a tough division to escape. And if you get a bit complacent

00:27like the likes of Sunderland did in the past, you know, it can sort of get you.

00:31We've seen teams with a lead of 10, 12, 13, 14 points in League One and that gets heavily

00:37reduced at the end of the season. We saw in the Championship last year of Leicester City,

00:41they started to get a bit complacent and then a bit of squeaky bum time towards the end

00:44of the season. These teams, either they do act up and then they manage to see it on through

00:49and get promoted, or they can fall away and lose it completely. Obviously, so early doors

00:53for Birmingham to see if they're going to be falling away or not. But that Charlton

00:58game is a reminder. As Chris Davies, the manager, has been saying this whole time, you can't

01:03take any League One game for granted, any win for granted. Charlton, they're not exactly

01:07the best team in the world and they lost their best player, Alfie May, to Birmingham in the

01:12summer, but Blues didn't even have a shot on target at the Valley. Charlton did set

01:16up quite defensively after they got their goal, as you would do against the best team

01:20in the league, and they worked hard to get that three points. I think the main reaction

01:24from the Blues fans is, oh, OK, right, maybe Davies is right, this isn't going to be so

01:28easy. I think they're a little bit disappointed that unbeaten record is gone, but realistically,

01:33you're never going to get an unbeaten record in 46 matches. It would have to be one of

01:37the most perfect seasons we've ever seen.

01:39Obviously, we've mentioned the massive summer, the amount of signings, there's been some

01:45contract situations being updated. What appeals to me is the length of these contracts as

01:52well, the 2028, three or four years' time. What's the latest you can tell us on the contract

01:58situation and how pleased should Blues be to secure these names for a few more years?

02:05The main two recently have been Heik Seng Ho, the midfielder, and Ethan Laird, the right

02:10back. Both, I believe, until 2028, which is a long-term commitment for both players. Heik

02:17Seng Ho, in particular, is showing his quality. He's definitely a division above, if not higher.

02:22If they go up to the championship, they should be pretty comfortable starting those two players

02:26every single week. And then Ethan Laird maybe leaves a little bit to be desired defensively

02:30with his positioning and his tracking back. But going forward, he's got so much energy,

02:34so much charisma, and his delivery may be a little bit inconsistent at times, but he's

02:39definitely got the potential to be a top quality player for Blues. Obviously, formerly

02:42of Manchester United as well, he's had that good upbringing and training at Old Trafford.

02:47So to tie those two players down is very important. And I think it assures Blues that they're

02:52not just spending money for the here and now, they're looking to several years ahead. These

02:55crazy sums that we're seeing, it is a long-term plan. It's not just for this season.

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