Bruce is staying - Yeung

Birmingham City's new majority shareholder Carson Yeung has told manager Steve Bruce that he is to remain in charge at St Andrews.

Hong Kong-based businessman Yeung, who is poised to press ahead with a full takeover of the club in the near future, met Bruce for the first time this week.

He said: "He is a very good coach and a good leader. Of course he is going to stay. We have spoken to him and given him confidence."

Yeung has also revealed that he will not try and force Bruce to sign players from China - insisting that any decision on who signs for Birmingham will be down to Bruce.

Yeung added: "Maybe one or two may have the potential. I will bring them here then Bruce will choose whether they are good enough or not. I am a businessman. I am not qualified for management. I have confidence in him (Bruce)."

Yeung also wants managing director Karren Brady and chairman David Gold to stay on and help run the club on a day-to-day basis.

He said: "I would rather let them help us and we have spoken to them about this already. They would like to help us."

Meanwhile, until Yeung's takeover goes through, Bruce is just staying focused on what is happening on the pitch.

Bruce said: "I spoke to him for five or 10 minutes but until he takes over then I will not be side-tracked from anything else. I am just going to get on with it and when he takes over I will then find out what he wants to do.

"At the moment it is all speculation. I presume he is going to take over as he would not have paid £15m for his current stake not to do so. I expect him to take over at Christmas time. When that happens I will sit down and ask the relative questions of how exactly he sees the future."