'No bitterness' if Lazaridis leaves
Stan Lazaridis has insisted there will be “no bitterness” if Birmingham decide not to renew his contract in the summer.
Winger Lazaridis is expecting his seven-season stay with Blues to be terminated, especially if the club lose their Barclays Premiership status, and his house is already up for sale.
But the former West Ham star, who has also had spells at left-back, is determined to end on a high by doing everything possible to keep Birmingham in the top flight.
The Australian international is the only regular first-teamer still at St Andrews who was not signed by current manager Steve Bruce.
Lazaridis has been a key performer during City’s four-year stay in the Premiership but has been dogged by various injury problems in the past 18 months along with the likes of Muzzy Izzet, David Dunn and Mikael Forssell.
The 33-year-old said: “The club have a 12-month option on me but if we do go down, the club will have to curb their expenses. It is probably more than likely that I will go but there is no bitterness at all if that happens.
“If I was to leave, I would love to leave with the club still in the Premier League. That would be great.
"Who knows? If the club decided to keep me, it will be fantastic.
“I have had seven great years at Birmingham. I think the world of this club and they will always have a place in my heart. If I go it will be the end of an era as I’m the only one playing really from before the manager came.
“But I am not really thinking about it to be honest. I am just thinking of doing a job here and keeping the team up. That would mean so much to me and everyone worked so hard to get Blues up.”
Lazaridis plans to return home to Australia with his children now approaching school age, although he admitted: “I’d like to play one more year in England before going back.”
Crystal Palace were interested in signing Lazaridis before the start of the current season and again in the January transfer window but were turned down by Birmingham.
