Former Aston Villa and Liverpool star Stan Collymore has apologised to Birmingham City boss Alex McLeish for branding his tactical approach as "cowardly".

Collymore explained to the Birmingham Mail: "I do a column in The Mirror every Monday and the word 'cowardly' was used in my column which, although I didn't specifically use that word, it was used under my name and therefore I have to apologise for it, nobody else.

"Basically it cast aspirations of Alex McLeish's system 4-5-1 - and I stick to the fact that a negative 4-5-1 doesn't give anybody anything - and I read it, and I was horrified.

"I know that Alex, in the Birmingham Mail, when asked the question, said that some people should know better and that was a reference to me when I used the word.

"I totally agree. Cowardice happens in other fields, it doesn't apply to football at all, unless you are a kind of persistent cheat or somebody who is trying to get somebody injured, etc.

"So I texted Alex and sent him an apology, I said I would call him during the international break and apologise. When I go to Birmingham City next, I shall apologise to him and his staff.

"He is absolutely not a coward, in any way, shape or form."