McLeish inherited the squad assembled by Steve Bruce in December and was only able to add James McFadden, David Murphy and Mauro Zarate in January.

Blues could be relegated from the Premier League on Sunday if either Fulham or Reading win against Portsmouth and Derby respectively.

But McLeish, although disappointed to be in the bottom three, believes he needs to be able to put his own stamp on the squad before a fair judgement can be made of his abilities.

He said: "When I came in December, the short-term goal, the outcome for me, was for us to be in the Premier League at the end of this season.

"I want to be a Premier League manager with this club - but when I came there also had to be a long-term vision as well.

"Until I am able to build a team myself, I would like to be judged then and that cannot happen overnight. I have been here five months, I have brought three players in. I think they have enhanced the squad.

"Of course we are not in the position I, nor anybody else, would have liked us to be in but we still have a chance on Sunday.

"Nothing has been settled and you have to believe. Things have changed around on the last day of the season before, even in the last seconds."

McLeish is determined to establish Blues as a top flight club and not see-saw between the Premier League and the Championship.

He said: "If you do get knocked down, then it's about how you get back up. I want to make Birmingham a bona-fide Premier League team, not a yo-yo club going between the divisions all the time.

I came here for the long term and nothing will change that."

The former Scotland boss always wants to exude and air of optimism and positivity around St Andrews.

He said: "What I have noticed since coming here is a wee bit of an air of gloom. We have to inspire people again, all of us - the players, management and board.

"There is massive potential at Birmingham and it's about harnessing that and all moving forward together and changing the mindset."