Birmingham City manager Lee Clark has admitted that he needs to be realistic about the club's ambitions for the forthcoming season.

The Blues only retained their Championship status on the final day of the last campaign, and while Clark is optimistic about their chances this time around, he isn't contemplating anything other than trying to finish in the top 10 in the table.

The 41-year-old is quoted by the Birmingham Mail as saying: "Everybody at this time of the year has got the hope and the belief that they can get out of the division and get promoted.

"Obviously where we have come from in terms of just missing the last relegation spot and building a completely new squad, we have got to get a bit of realism in there.

"But I would certainly like, by the turn of the year, to be in the top half of the table, the top 10. Then who knows where you can go from there if you have a good second half of the season."

The Blues have made as many as eight signings during the early period of the summer transfer window.