BRUCE AND BLUES ON THE UP

30-04-2007

Now that Birmingham City have secured automatic promotion, it’s hard to imagine that it was only two months ago that The Stirrer was asking What’s Gone Wrong At Blues. But the truth is that this has been a tortuous, if ultimately successful season at St Andrews.

Credit is, of course, due to Steve Bruce and his players - as well as the board of directors who stayed loyal to their manager. Last summer, few fans would have quibbled if Bruce had got the sack in the wake of their miserable relegation; fewer still would have argued if Messrs Gold and Sullivan had wielded the axe in October after a miserable home defeat against Norwich.

Against the grain of modern football - and in the face of enormous public pressure - they kept their nerve and have been rewarded with a prompt return to the Premiership.

Yet even now doubts remain about the best way forward for the club. In getting rid of the old guard and investing in (mostly) promising new talent, Bruce has (once again) proved himself to a good Championship manager.

Now he must show that he can cut it at the top level because for Blues - with their support and the resources at their disposal - mere survival will not be enough.

More than anything, the fans crave excitement and entertainment - qualities that have been in conspicuously short supply even though they could yet emerge as winners of the Championship.

They have players capable of the occasional flourish mind, and it will be interesting to see whether the likes of McSheffrey, Jerome, Campbell and Vine - all Bruce signings - can prosper in the Premiership; and indeed, whether old lags like Jaidi are capable of stepping up again to the top level.

One suspects that another rebuilding job - possibly as large scale as last summer’s - will be needed if Blues are to persuade a sceptical public that they are truly top flight material.

A note about prices too - with something like £30 million due to pour into the club’s coffers as a result of the new Premiership TV deal - this is a chance for the club to build bridges with many of their alienated working class fans by reducing admission charges.

For too long now, St Andrews has been our priciest local venue, but these days even playing at the top level is a guarantee of a full house.

So come on Blues, it’s time for lower prices and better football. Now that’s not really too much to ask is it?