Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Dunn takes parting shot at Souness on way to Birmingham

Kieran Daley
Wednesday 09 July 2003 00:00 BST
Comments

David Dunn finalised his £5.5m move from Blackburn to Birmingham yesterday and spoke of his sadness at the circumstances of his departure from his hometown club.

After becoming Birmingham's record signing, Dunn said: "There was no way I wanted to leave Blackburn because I've always supported them. But I was hurt and disappointed by what the manager [Graeme Souness] said.''

Souness prompted speculation about Dunn's lifestyle by suggesting he had "taken his eye off the ball".

The midfielder, 23, said: "I knew I had to get away and start again, and get back to the football I was playing when I got in the England squad last year.''

Dunn added he had rejected other late advances. "There were a few other clubs at the end who were interested but as soon as I met a manager of Steve's [Bruce] quality there was no other decision," he said, adding that the breakdown of his relationship with Souness had contributed to his decision.

Dunn believes that his form suffered through being played in wide positions rather than in the central role he favours. Steve Bruce, the Birmingham manager, hailed him as "one of a dying breed who can drop his shoulder, go past people and score, which is what we need in midfield".

Bruce admitted he was surprised at being able to attract a player of Dunn's calibre. "I didn't think it would be possible that we would be signing somebody of this fellow's quality," Bruce said. "He's got a big future ahead of him and I'm sure he's going to have a bright future for us."

Bruce also praised the club's owner, David Sullivan, for his role in the signing. "David Sullivan deserves a big pat on the back, he's negotiated it for maybe six weeks," Bruce said. "It's been a long, drawn-out time. He [Dunn] was the number one target, he was the one I wanted above anybody else."

There was some compensation for Souness yesterday. The Blackburn manager was on the brink of signing the Feyenoord midfielder Brett Emerton after the Australian international completed his medical.

Another Australian, the full-back Lucas Neill, has agreed a contract extension to stay at Rovers until 2007, so becoming the longest-contracted senior player at the club.

Vratislav Gresko also agreed a permanent contract with Rovers, and will sign in a £2m deal from Parma, from whom he was on loan. The Slovakian left back was given an ultimatum on his wage demands yesterday and decided to settle for the offer last night.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in