Birmingham City co-owner David Sullivan has expressed his delight at the club being able to stick to their summer transfer pledge.
Lee Bowyer became Birmingham’s seventh acquisition during the pre-season transfer window last week and having vowed to bring in as many as ten new faces, the club’s board appear to be well on the way to delivering that promise.
Sullivan is particularly happy with the record signing for Ecuador international striker Christian Benitez, a deal the businessman describes as a “great coup”.
He admits that those who doubted Birmingham’s intentions in the transfer market are now being proved wrong.
“Believe me, some of the biggest clubs in the world were keeping tabs on Benitez so it is a great coup for us and I hope he proves to Blues fans just how good he is,” said Sullivan.
“We also sealed a deal to bring Lee Bowyer to Blues on a two-year deal. He showed his quality at the back end of last season and played his part in helping us gain promotion back to the Premier League.
“Bowyer’s signing was our seventh of the summer. Anyone who scoffed when we said a few weeks ago that we were looking to bring in ten new faces to bolster the squad may now be forced to admit that we meant what we said.”
“We are showing a sign of intent off the pitch too. As well as a £500,000 investment in undersoil heating and new pitch at St Andrew’s, supporters’ match day experience will also benefit from the introduction of a big screen and improved tannoy system at the stadium.
“We are also spending £1 million on the Main Stand, putting a new track around the perimeter of the pitch, improving corporate areas and Saturday saw the opening of the revamped Blues Superstore. Wast Hills training complex is undergoing a facelift too.
“These are really positive times for everyone connected to the club and with the fixtures having been released this week we now know exactly what we’ve got to look forward to.”
Meanwhile Per Jonsson, the agent of Birmingham midfielder Sebastian Larsson, has admitted that there is interest elsewhere for the 24-year-old Sweden international, although it is not yet serious. Jonsson said: “You could say there is interest from other clubs.”
