Birmingham set to miss out on Bowyer

Birmingham look set to miss out on the signing of Lee Bowyer after a petition by supporters which has infuriated club owner David Sullivan.

Bowyer will leave Newcastle this summer after an on-the-pitch incident between him and team-mate Keiron Dyer last season.

The Blues appeared to be in pole position in the race to sign the 28-year-old former England international but a section of fans publicised their opposition to his signing through an online petition.

Sullivan is “absolutely gutted” that the club could lose out on one of their main summer targets.

“It looks like we are now going to lose out on a terrific player due to a small minority of fans, and I am absolutely gutted,” he told the club’s official website, www.bcfc.com.

“English midfielders with his ability are so hard to find. Lee Bowyer would be a fantastic addition to our side.

“We are looking to build the best squad that this club has ever had and the signing of Lee would take us a long way down that road.

“But the player has now said that he doesn’t want to go to a club where he is not wanted.

“We are potentially going to lose out on a terrific player as a result of this petition and I can’t describe how disappointed I feel at the moment.”

The St Andrews club are yet to find a long-term replacement for controversial midfielder Robbie Savage who left the midlands to join Blackburn last season.

Sullivan revealed former Leeds star Bowyer was second only to last week’s signing Mikael Forssell on manager Steve Bruce’s wanted list.