Football Season Guide

Birmingham City

In


Adam Legzdins (goalkeeper, unattached), Jacques Maghoma (midfielder, Sheffield Wednesday), Maikel Kieftenbeld (midfielder, Groningen), Jon Toral (midfielder, Arsenal), Tomasz Kuszczak (goalkeeper, Wolves)

Out


Amari Bell (defender, released), Colin Doyle (goalkeeper, Blackpool), Will Packwood (defender, released), Darren Randolph (goalkeeper, West Ham), Nikola Zigic (attacker, released), Mark Duffy (midfielder, Burton, loan)

Gary Rowett turned Birmingham into a side upwardly mobile last term after he succeeded Lee Clark as boss at St Andrew's. He ensured Birmingham were far more defensively solid. The summer has been fairly quiet but he has strengthened the midfield with signings of Maikel Kieftenbeld and Jon Toral who offer excitement. The departure of keeper Darren Randolph is a less positive point but Tomasz Kuszczak has arrived so they should not be weakened in that regard. There remains problems behind the scenes in terms of ownership but that situation has improved slightly year on and Birmingham are in a far better place than where they were. They can now think more positively towards a push at the other end of the table after a few years fighting for their Championship lives.

Target


Automatic promotion is too big an aim but the play-offs are now a realistic target.