Blues' ambition drives Liam Ridgewell

Birmingham defender Liam Ridgewell has pointed to the club's "driving" ambition as the main factor in persuading him to sign a new contract at St Andrew's.

The 25-year-old put pen to paper on a new three-year deal yesterday and admitted the arrival of £12million duo Ben Foster and Nikola Zigic convinced him Blues, who finished an impressive ninth place in their first season back in the Premier League, are on the up.

He said: "I am pleased to sign on the dotted line and get it done. The ninth place finish came into play because I want to be at a successful club and this club is driving on.

"There have been some good signings. Ben Foster is a world class goalkeeper and, coming from Manchester United, he is a good acquisition for us.

"Filling in Joe Hart's boots will be hard for anyone and anyone in the world. Ben will come in well and get into the running of things. I think he will be brilliant for us.

"The big man coming in up front in Nikola Zigic also gives us something different in that department."

Ridgewell is now looking forward to pre-season after missing the previous one with a broken leg.

He added: "I can go away with the team on pre-season this year unlike last time when I was stuck at home in the gym.

"It was a bad pre-season but I'm looking forward to this pre-season when it comes around. We normally go to Austria but China is an interesting place to go to. I can't wait.

"Survival will still be the main thing next season. After doing so well last season people will be wondering how we are going to do, but our aim is to stay in this league and hopefully push on from that ninth place."