Gold sets target for Birmingham: Win the Championship title

Gold is in rejuvenated mood after being personally abused by supporters at the last game of the season against Blackburn when Birmingham’s relegation from the Barclays Premier League was confirmed.

It was a day that made Gold wonder whether he should step down as chairman but now he is ready to back Alex McLeish’s promotion bid.

Target: Birmingham City chairman David Gold (right) says manager Alex McLeish must lead the Blues back to the Premier League.

But he wants top spot at the end of the season as a contrast to what happened at St Andrew’s last month when supporters vented their fury by tearing down a set of  goalposts.

“The looks on those people’s faces and their anger stayed with me, the chants, the abuse, the goal being destroyed,” he said.

“It was a big majority of fans and I felt very down and depressed. After something like that you wonder if you’ve run out of steam and gone past your sell-by  date.

“But people were very supportive after and I slowly felt ‘hey,  there’s life in this old dog yet, I can go again.

Gold insists his title aim is not designed to put extra pressure on the manager or  players.

But he feels Birmingham belong in the top flight and need to get back there within 12 months.

“We have to set our stall out and not be afraid to say it’s what we want," he said. 

"The only way to make up for the hurt of being relegated from the Premier League is to bounce back in the best possible way and that means the title.

“A club of our size and stature should not just be hoping for second best. 

"I believe that’s the right message we should be putting out.

"I want is to be on course 10 games in and half-comfortable in the new year.”