Aiden McGeady's Blues admission

Republic of Ireland international Aiden McGeady has revealed he considered joining Birmingham in January.

The 24-year-old finally left Celtic at the tail end of last week to play in Russia for Spartak Moscow, becoming the most expensive export from Scottish football after a £9.5million move.

McGeady had long been linked with a move to the Premier League as Blues and Villa were both reported to be interested, but neither managed to match the offer that the Russian giants had put on the table.

The winger also revealed that his mind was made up to leave Celtic at the start of the year and, if Blues could have come to an agreement with his club, it could have been St Andrew's where he was headed.

He said: "It was about January time I made up my mind about wanting to leave.

"If Birmingham had a bid accepted I might have gone there."

Birmingham have also been given leave to appeal to the High Court in their legal dispute with Investment Bank Seymour Pierce.

In April Seymour Pierce obtained a charge over Blues' shares and the club were forced to pay a £2.5million 'success fee' for the takeover by current owner Carson Yeung.

But judges have now sanctioned an appeal against the ruling.