Birmingham boss Chris Davies said midfielder Tomoki Iwata's long-term future may lie back in Japan, while Iwata remains central to his plans this season.
Davies on Iwata's future
Davies said: "We spoke to him last season – ‘You’ve been fantastic, we think the world of you’ – but he’s got a young family."
Davies said: "I think he’s got three now. He’s got an overloading midfield now, three vs two, and I think their future is back home in Japan."
No further move in talks
Davies said: "He was calm about it but we haven’t really taken it on any further. We’re both content with that."
Role this season
Davies said: "What I said to him at the start of the season is you’re going nowhere, you’re an absolutely critical player, you’re going to be a critical player this season and we’ll speak again as the season goes on and he’s happy with that."
Contact continues
Davies said: "We are in regular contact, me and him, about it and we’ll see how the next few months go."
Davies said: "You never know, he might change his mind if things start going really well."