McFadden wants to leave Birmingham, but McLeish says he's 'not for sale'

James McFadden wants to leave Birmingham - just five months after joining the club from Everton in a £5million deal.

McFadden, 25, signed a three-and-a-half-year contract at St Andrew's, but could not prevent Alex McLeish's side from being relegated.

The former Motherwell striker is reluctant to play outside the top division and might consider a return to Scotland with Celtic.

His agent Willie McKay said: 'James has told me he wants to leave.

He was happy when Alex McLeish gave him an opportunity to play first-team football every week but it's a short career and he wants to play at the highest level.'

But Birmingham boss McLeish said: 'James is vital to our plan. We're not in the business of selling our best players.'