'I’m not on social media, but by all accounts, I was getting slaughtered' - Alex McLeish on leaving Blues for Villa

The Scot won the Carling Cup in 2011 and was relegated months later with Blues

Alex McLeish explained that he was “undermined” by the powers that be at Birmingham City before he left the club.

McLeish won the Carling Cup and was relegated with Blues in the space of four months in 2011, and though he initially was expected to stay put as he did in 2008, he left for bitter rivals Villa.

McLeish claimed the “goalposts” had been moved and that he no choice but to depart St Andrew’s.

“It took me by surprise,” McLeish told ESPN in February 2017.

“I was backed into a corner when I left Birmingham. I felt that I was being undermined so I had to get out.

“The goalposts shifted and I had no alternative but to leave at the end of the season.

“But I didn’t anticipate the reaction of the fans on both sides. I’m not on social media, but by all accounts I was getting slaughtered.

“I made sure I didn’t get any feedback on that because that would have made it even worse.

“You don’t want to be doing training every day on a downer, with your head down.

“I was going in there every day with my head held up.”

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