Birmingham manager Alex McLeish has slammed weekend reports of a rift existing between himself and chairman David Gold as "wide of the mark."

McLeish has steered the Blues back to the Barclays Premier League in his first full season in charge at St. Andrews.

And the former Scotland boss insists he has a solid relationship with the long-serving Gold and his full support.

McLeish said: "People ask me if I have had a rift with the chairman and I think that is wide of the mark. I am astonished to hear that.

"He is in the dressing room every week wishing me well. I get text messages from the chairman when it is has not gone so well, keeping the support up.

"I really appreciate that. That is a godsend when you are on a low, when you get a text message from your boss when you are a bit down."

Gold echoed McLeish's sentiments as he revealed his desire to see Birmingham establish themselves amongst the elite after two relegations and two promotions in the past four seasons.

He said: "I read 'I have not got a relationship with Alex McLeish' and that drives you mad.

"You were bound to get the stories with no foundation with no quotes on the day of the biggest game of the day.

"I repeat, there is no foundation to that.

"It has been a very long season and we have had our ups and downs and it has been tense at times.

"People were saying that sometimes we weren't playing the right kind of football and system but I remember at the start of the season saying 'Alex - get us promoted'.

"I didn't say 'how' but the job was to get us promoted and the manager has delivered and you can't ask for more success than that."