Recently by Brian Dick

THE real James McFadden has vowed to reveal himself this season and has backed Alex McLeish to guide Birmingham City back into the Premier League.

The Scotland international arrived at St Andrew's from Everton in a £4.75 million deal last January but despite flashes of his brilliance, such as the curling free-kick at home to Arsenal, he did not prove to be the saviour his manager had hoped.

By the time Birmingham simpered out of the top flight, McFadden had been reduced to a shadow of the cocksure, mercurial striker he had been for his country during their run at the European Championships.

To be fair, the main reason for that was the knee injury he picked up against Newcastle in March. The cartilage problem required surgery and meant he not only missed several weeks but when he did come back, he was unable to inspire as he had before.

THE financial implications of falling out of the top flight were laid bare once again yesterday as Alex McLeish admitted defeat in his efforts to sign Celtic defender Bobo Balde.

The Guinea international became the latest central defender to escape the Birmingham City manager, who conceded he could not meet Balde's wage demands as he looks to build a squad capable of returning to the Premier League at the first attempt.

McLeish has been trying to bolster his defence since January when he thought he had done enough to bring Gary Cahill to St Andrew's, only for the player to decide he want to leave Aston Villa for Bolton Wanderers instead.

And Balde, who has spent the last seven years in Scotland, is another who will have evaded the former Rangers manager even though he is available on a free transfer.

Birmingham were in the bidding with Sunderland's but cannot meet the player's terms.

WITH the Championship season about to start in just two days, Birmingham City's board and supporters received the news they have craved as Carson Yeung officially called off his bid to take over at St Andrew's.

The Hong Kong-based businessman has become increasingly exasperated at the refusal of his fellow owners, chiefly David Sullivan and the Gold brothers, to grant him a say in the running of the business and, according to his advisor Sammy Yu, is no longer interested in turning his majority share-holding in a controlling influence.

As things stand, Yeung holds the biggest stake having spent £15 million on 29.9 per cent just over a year ago, but his relationship with the men who sold him that share is no longer workable and he does not now want to buy them out.

CAMERON Jerome fears he will be overlooked when Birmingham City open their Championship campaign on Saturday but insists he still has a future at St Andrew's despite the presence of four other strikers.

The 21-year-old, who joined for £3 million from Cardiff City two summers ago, has been a marginal figure under manager Alex McLeish and even spent the end of last season playing out of position in midfield.

That situation has not changed in warm-up matches - he came off the bench on to the right wing at Leicester City last week and on to the left flank against Fulham at the weekend - as McLeish shuffled his attacking options without ever alighting upon his England Under-21 international.

Having brought in Kevin Phillips on a free transfer and paid more than £1 million for Marcus Bent, both established Premier League performers, the Scot has rotated them with star player James McFadden and his international team-mate Garry O'Connor. That has left Jerome looking like the proverbial uninvited guest and expecting that the team will walk out at home to Sheffield United in two days' time without him in it.

However, he is not even certain of that. Jerome says he is not sure where he stands in McLeish's thinking.