Contract worry for Birmingham keeper

Birmingham City goalkeeper Maik Taylor has concerns about his future as no negotiations have been held about extending his stay at St Andrews beyond the end of the season.

The 36-year-old Northern Ireland international, who joined Birmingham from Fulham in 2004 following a spell on loan with the club, has again indicated he wants to continue playing.

Taylor also said his determination to stay at the club is not conditional on whether St Andrews hosts Premier League or Championship football next season – but stressed no talks have taken place apart from a five-minute meeting between his agent and boss Alex McLeish.

Taylor told the Birmingham Mail: “There is no option at all on my contract, so it’s due up in the summer. And, contrary to reports, there has not been any negotiation about a new one, either. My agent had a five-minute meeting with the manager and all that was said was we would leave it and talk at the end of the season. It didn’t get any further really, that was it.

“There was no indication of which way the manager and the club would go. Is that concerning? It is a little bit; I would rather know one way or the other. But that’s where we are, and as far as I’m concerned I’m here at least to the end of the season and I will be trying to do my very best until then. I feel as fit as I have been. I feel I am playing well.

“I believe I can continue playing and give good service for a few more years yet. The family are settled and irrespective of where we are – what division – it would be great to sort something out. I fully understand what’s been said, that we will leave it to the end of the season and see where we are.”

McLeish mentioned the contracts of Taylor and Mehdi Nafti last week and said he would “rather people focused on the prestige of being in the Premier League rather than money and personal matters”.

And McLeish may have a point but it’s possible a player with a certain future would actually perform better than one who has no idea how he will earn is living at the end of the season.