Bruce hits out over Savage saga

Steve Bruce has hit out at midfielder Robbie Savage as he prepares to move from Birmingham to Blackburn, claiming: “If we all behaved like he has, there would be anarchy.”

And the Birmingham manager is also unhappy with the conduct of his former assistant Mark Bowen – now number two at Ewood Park – and insisted he had “an agenda” when trying to prise Savage away from Blues.

The transfer-seeking Savage is now poised to complete the £3m (€4.3m) switch to Blackburn that he has desired for several weeks.

The Wales international, not considered for Birmingham’s game at Charlton today because of a knee injury, has claimed being with a club nearer to his ill parents in Wrexham was a key factor in wanting to end his spell at St Andrews.

But he has had to endure claims of being “greedy” from Birmingham co-owner David Sullivan and Bruce is far from impressed with the way the transfer saga has been concluded.

Bruce said: “I have got a lot of respect for what Robbie has done here and he has played a key part in what we have achieved over the last two and a half years.

“But he is not in the right frame of mind mentally and when you hand in a transfer request it indicates you do not want to play for the club anymore. If you played him in front of the people who have been giving everything, like [Darren] Carter and [Stephen] Clemence and [Darren] Anderton, it would affect team spirit.

“What has happened is not personal and it will not become personal but if we all behaved like he has, there would be anarchy.”

Bowen was shown the door at Blues in the summer after a fall-out with Bruce over issues which have never been made public.

But Bruce claimed: “Mark was my former assistant and he has obviously got an agenda and is a bit bitter towards me. It is true that we are extremely disappointed at the way the whole thing has been handled but we live and learn.”

Bruce added: “Talks have been going for weeks with Blackburn and it is becoming a bit of a saga and they are edging closer to our valuation.

“We will see what develops over the next 24-48 hours and it looks like it is coming to a conclusion. My managing director Karren Brady is speaking with John Williams at Blackburn.

“The one thing we have said if someone wanted Robbie they will have to match our valuation. Over the next 24-48 hours, the respective clubs are holding talks.”