Tony Pulis issues Knighthead warning and outlines Birmingham City's transfer challenge

Tony Pulis hopes to see Knighthead address a squad rebuild this summer should Birmingham City remain in the Championship - because only with the club thriving on the pitch can they hope to achieve their long-term plans and realise the grand ambitions in place. Things are moving in an exciting direction with Knighthead at the helm, and plans to build a new Sports Quarter have already been mapped out.

The story of Blues' season however has been a familiar one and Gary Rowett must now seek to eke enough points out of the squad at his disposal in the final couple of games of the season to stave off the very real threat of relegation - indeed the meeting at Huddersfield Town next Saturday is as significant as there has been in the club's recent history.

Emerge from that with a positive result, and Blues will then welcome Norwich City to St Andrew's on the final day of the season in the driving seat to survive - but clearly there is work to be done if they're to retain their long-held Championship status. Pulis knows Blues' prospects on the pitch must go hand in hand, long term, with what is happening off of it.

READ: Alex Dicken’s notebook: Bielik transfer reveal as Rowett considers fringe Blues ace

READ: Birmingham City defender Dion Sanderson to appear in court on drink driving charge

“They've got rich owners there now and it sounds as if they want to be progressive," Pulis told OLBG. "However, you can have the best stadium in the world but if your team is not winning matches, you're not going to fill it. Tom Brady and the owners' priority has to be staying up first.

"After staying up, they need to look at strengthening the team on the pitch so they can stabilise in the Championship. Talk of building stadiums and doing this or that is good, and I'm sure the supporters are excited, but if you ask the majority of supporters, they will want the team to be sorted out before anything else.”

Rowett returned to Blues in March after Tony Mowbray was forced to take a leave of absence after a medical diagnosis. Having joined as boss initially in October 2014, when there was still plenty of time in the campaign to reverse the club's fortunes amid a relegation battle, this is a rather different scenario - and the pressures and emotions of the situation must be dealt with.

“Managers like Gary Rowett, who are fighting to avoid relegation at this time of the season, have got make sure they manage themselves and control their emotions first and foremost," Pulis added. "The ones that can do that best will succeed. I really think that coping with this period of the season is why managers get paid the money they do.”

Do you think Blues will stay up? Have your say in the comments section HERE