No new deal before survival, says Bruce

Birmingham manager Steve Bruce will not discuss new contracts with his players until the club’s Premier League status is secured for another season.

Midfielder Robbie Savage, whose current deal ends in the summer of 2005, has intimated that he would be willing to sign a new long-term deal with the club.

Goalkeeper Nico Vaesen has also expressed hopes of holding talks about a new contract “around or just after Christmas” following his return to fitness after a cruciate ligament injury.

The Belgian is out of contract in the summer along with the likes of midfielder Bryan Hughes, defender Jeff Kenna and US international Jovan Kirovski.

But Bruce is adamant any thoughts of new deals will be put on the back-burner until City are assured of their top-flight status.

Despite currently being in the top half of the table, Bruce has constantly stressed that Blues could be one of the sides sucked into a relegation battle.

He said: “There won’t be contract discussions with anyone until we know what league we will be in next season.

“When you know what division we’re in, we’ll take it from there. It is more beneficial for the players to know that too.”

Savage has constantly expressed his desire to commit himself to the club long term after being linked with a move to Everton last summer.

He said: “I’ve 18 months left of my current contract and I’m ready to move from my Leicester home to one in Birmingham as long as I can sign a new contract.

“If the will is there – and it certainly is in my case – then I am sure we can come to an arrangement pretty quickly.

“I feel I am playing the best football of my career and much of that is down to Steve Bruce. If he is going to be around for another five years, then I want to be here with him.”