Damien Johnson, the Birmingham City captain, says Alex McLeish should be given the chance to make his mark on the club, even if they are relegated on Sunday.

Johnson, Birmingham's longest serving player, says even if the club drops into the Coca-Cola Championship, sacking McLeish would only cause more problems. Birmingham host Blackburn Rovers on Sunday, knowing that even a win will not be enough to save them should Reading and Fulham win their matches.

Johnson said: "I think chopping and changing managers isn't the way to go forward - for any team. Nobody is thinking about relegation and Alex's future - and they shouldn't be.

"Alex is definitely different to Steve Bruce but they are both good managers in their own way. Alex needs to be given an opportunity to stamp his mark. It was quite difficult for him when he came in. The transfer window was just about to open, he was trying to assess the squad and was working with someone else's budget.

"He was also trying to get his own ideas across and I thought he handled everything well. Alex needs to be given time. It is no good for anybody if things change again."

The Northern Ireland international added: "I'm sure Alex will love the summer when he can really get his teeth into things seriously. He might think he needs to make wholesale changes, he might not, but I'm sure he will want to do a few things."

Since arriving at St Andrews in November, McLeish has earned 21 points from 23 matches, in comparison to Bruce's 11 points in 14 games.

Karren Brady, the club's manager director, insists McLeish will not be sacked if the club go down.

Brady said: "One thing I'll make clear now, there is no way we are going to sack Alex McLeish. Alex McLeish has style - no whingeing or falsehoods in the wake of defeat."