Bruce devastated at losing out on Bowyer

BIRMINGHAM manager Steve Bruce has said he is unhappy by the apparent collapse of Lee Bowyer’s move from Newcastle because of opposition from some fans.

Bruce was poised to make Bowyer his second major signing of the summer after Mikael Forssell moved from Chelsea to St Andrews last week. But the Newcastle midfielder has now turned down the switch to Blues after some supporters organised an internet petition urging the club to drop their interest in the controversial 28-year-old.

Bruce said: “I can’t believe that something like this has cost us a really, really good player. I’m devastated to be honest. I was really excited about the prospect of Lee coming here after Mikael Forssell and, I believe, so were the vast majority of our fans.