Birmingham City striker Jay Stansfield has discussed his relationship with chairman Tom Wagner and his new position in Chris Davies’ set-up.
Jay Stansfield is striving to embrace ‘football arrogance’ in order to take his game to the next level.
Birmingham City’s record signing is in the early stages of a pivotal season as he approaches his 24th birthday.
Long regarded as one of the best young forwards in the country, Stansfield is settling into a position behind the striker after been moved around by boss Chris Davies previously.
“It’s been enjoyable,” he told Sky Sports before Saturday’s win against West Bromwich Albion. “I’ve had a role that allows me to be more flexible. It is quite suitable for me.
“As a nine, you have to be up there holding balls up and winning headers, so being able to play alongside attackers and run off them really helps my game.
“I also have the confidence in myself to drop into different areas to get on the ball.
“Last year, I kind of went into my shell and didn’t express myself as much as I could. This year, my confidence is growing, and I’m moving into new places, dropping deeper, going out wide, and becoming more fluid in my game.”
There were times last season when it was evident Stansfield’s confidence was low. He went through two lengthy goal droughts, and his record away from home in especially received criticism.
Stansfield scored only once away from St Andrew’s last season, a penalty against Blackburn in August, and he hasn’t scored from open play on the road since April 2025.
Stansfield is working with Davies to improve his performance outside of St Andrews.
“He talks to me about having football arrogance in a good way, not to be cocky,” stated the attacker. “Last year I struggled a lot away from home, I let things get to my head – referees, fans – and it affected my game a bit.”
Confidence and objectives go hand in hand, and Stansfield’s recent record will serve him well. The former Fulham striker was a consistent goal scorer in his first two years with the Blues, but he has only scored three times in 41 games since last November.
While his new role has taught him that there is more to football than just scoring goals, Stansfield remains preoccupied with statistics.
He went on to say, “When you play as a nine, it’s goals, goals, goals, and as a ten, you obviously want your numbers to be higher, but it’s a long season, and I’m confident I’ll pick up goals and assists. My major goal is to grow as a person and a player in that position in order to benefit the team, but I also want to focus on one position and ensure that I excel at it.
“In the last few years I’ve been playing on the left, striker, 10 and someone can ask me what’s my best position and I enjoy all three, but I want to really focus on one position and make myself the best player in that position for the team and myself.”
Stansfield’s only goal of the season came against Wolves, which was attended by Blues chairman Tom Wagner.
Wagner became Stansfield Blues’ most expensive player in 2024, and the two have a bond that is not always shared between chairman and player.
Stansfield said: “When I first came here, he believed in me, he supported me all the way, and even when things got tough in League One, he always messaged me saying,’stay confident, do this, do that.'”
“I had a message from him before the Wolves game saying, ‘Just go out and be yourself, I’m sure you’ll score,’ and that occurred, so it was a tremendous feeling and a fantastic day.
“I cannot thank him enough for giving me the opportunity to return to this football club. We developed a fantastic relationship during our first season in the Championship; he enjoyed how I pressed, moved over the pitch, and demonstrated my ability. For him to believe in me and bring me back at a critical point in my career… I was considering it because I needed first-team football every week, and many people asked why I moved back to Birmingham, which is definitely a choice I’ll never regret. It has changed my life, as well as the lives of my family.
“He’s a father figure, and even the little messages he sends inspire you to go out and do it.
“I’m really privileged to wear a Birmingham City shirt and have a special relationship with him.”
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