Gardner’s heart is with Blues
Wednesday 27th January 2010, 8:48AM GMT.
Birmingham new boy Craig Gardner has risked the wrath of Villa fans by revealing he is a lifelong Blues fan.
Gardner, 23, completed his £3m switch to St Andrew’s yesterday on a four-and-a-half year contract but was not registered in time to be eligible for Birmingham’s trip to Chelsea.
The Yardley-born midfielder came through the ranks at Villa’s academy but confirmed his heart has been with the Blues since childhood.
“I’m over the moon especially being at the club I supported as a boy,” he said. “I just can’t wait to get out there, put the shirt on and do well for the club.
“I have not slept properly for the last three or four days waiting until the deal to be done. Now it’s done it’s unbelievable.”
And Blues boss Alex McLeish believes the signing of Gardner, who made just three appearances for Villa this season, is a sign of how far the St Andrew’s club have come in a short space of time.
He said: “I am building a squad. We have to have a squad of players and it is about enhancing the quality as you go along – and Craig Gardner will enhance the quality of the squad.
“From two years ago to now, this is a major signing for us because we wouldn’t have been able to do this two seasons ago.
“We will be adding a player who is dynamic, can play in a couple of positions and is bursting to play for Birmingham and is another great character to go into our dressing room.”
He becomes McLeish’s second signing of the current transfer window following Michel’s arrival from Sporting Gijon and the Scot hopes he isn’t the last this January.
McLeish said: “Are any other deals close to being completed? There is nothing close but we are trying a couple of things.
“We have spent a long way short of the £20-40, that was bandied about (by owner Carson Yeung). I have no intention of spending that amount with the way this team has played.
“But I still believe we have to spend some more money to bring in a striker and a wide man for more cover in the squad before the window closes.
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