Boss keen to keep Bowyer

Birmingham manager Alex McLeish has spoken about how he is keen to keep Lee Bowyer at the club after gaining promotion to the Premier League.

But a lot rests on the player`s wage demands, it is feared that he may ask too much meaning Blues will have to look elsewhere.

Bowyer, signed from West Ham on a temporary basis in January, played a major part in helping City regain their place in the Barclays Premier League at the first attempt.

McLeish said: ‘Lee would be a worthy addition to the Birmingham squad, a free transfer, although it depends on his demands.

‘If his demands are too high, then we may have to look elsewhere, but it is not often that you don’t have to pay a big transfer fee as well as big wages as well.

‘We have to take everything into perspective. Stephen Carr is another who has been excellent since coming on a short-term basis initially.

‘The quality he has shown from his experience with the Republic of Ireland, Tottenham and Newcastle also brought a lot to the team.’