Neil McDiarmid

Two members of the Blues backroom staff, head physiotherapist Neil McDiarmid and fitness coach Dan Harris, have today left the club.

Long-serving McDiarmid has decided to call it a day to concentrate on his private physiotherapy practice.

McDiarmid has been involved at Blues for 14 years since joining the club in 1994.

Blues boss Alex McLeish said: "I'd like to say a big farewell to Neil who has given the club long and fantastic service and we wish him well with his private business.

"We know that we've always got a friend there and someone we can call on if we need his advice on medical matters."

Harris, meanwhile, has worked at Blues for two years and been instrumental in setting up a comprehensive in-house sports science department to monitor players' fitness in minute detail.

Dan Harris

The 28-year-old has worked closely with the players on the training ground to ensure that the whole squad remain at the peak of physical fitness.

Harris is leaving to take up a similar role at Premier League new boys West Brom.

McLeish commented: "Again we wish Dan a successful future. It was great working with him and the players applied themselves and had the utmost respect for him.

"Dan has left a good infrastructure here on the fitness and science side of the game and it's important that we keep that intact because it's gathered momentum.

"We don't want to pull the rug from under any of that just now because it would mean we have to start again."