Blues boss Alex McLeish has reiterated the club's desire to keep sensibly pushing forward a well run ship after sitting down and discussing aims and ambitions with the club's owners.

Big Eck told bcfc.com he had a productive brainstorm with President Carson Yeung and Vice Chairman Peter Pannu and fans could rest assured plans were being put in place to take the club forward with longevity in mind and not crazy over-spending for short-term gain that could have long-term consequences.

McLeish said: "I had a very productive meeting with the owners and we have a shared desire to take the club forward.

"I think that both Carson and Peter and the financial people running the club now see what I was saying in January about being custodians of the club. They weren't hollow words.

"Figures were revealed by the new Board when they took over but there was no way I was going to spend £40 million. We were never going to do anything stupid, like paying huge wages and upsetting the dressing room.

"At some stage of course market forces will mean we'll have to hike up the wages a bit if we're going to bring more quality to the club and try and improve our standing because it's important not to stand still but it's equally important to bear in mind that 'if it ain't broke don't fix it'.

"We are all ambitious and want to bring success to this club but I believe that gradual change is important, rather than wholesale change."

During a press conference ahead of Blues' trip to the Stadium of Light to take on Sunderland on Saturday McLeish was also asked about the futures of those Blues players out of contract at the end of the season.

But the man at the training ground helm robustly stuck to the line that the focus is entirely on the football at the moment and continuing to pick up Premier League points despite safety having been achieved in early March.

"I'm not going to discuss anybody's future until the end of the season. I think it's important the players focus and give me everything they've got every day in training and when we play. There are still important games remaining and I want us to give our all in each and every one of them."

McLeish added that his own contract talks were ongoing but that his concentration was entirely on the action on the pitch, as should be that of all his players.

"Talks are ticking along. My advisors are trying to find a moment to meet the owners. I don't foresee any real problems but we haven't discussed the nitty-gritty of any deal yet.

"I know it's there but I'm concentrating on the games. It's not the be-all and end-all - it's not the priority for me because I just want to keep these players in a winning mentality.