Blues seal Bent deal

Striker signs three-year deal at St Andrews

Last updated: 16th July 2008

Marcus Bent Wigan

Bent: Birmingham new boy

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Birmingham have completed the signing of Marcus Bent from Championship rivals Charlton.

Bent appeared to be on his way to Cardiff only for the player to turn his back on the Welsh side after Birmingham made an offer for his services.

The 30-year-old has signed a three-year deal after agreeing personal terms and passing a medical at St Andrews.

Bent spent last season on loan at Wigan Athletic and impressed during his time at the JJB Stadium.

However, he failed to secure a permanent move to Wigan and Blues boss Alex McLeish has swooped to snap him from under the noses of Cardiff.

Anger

Bent's decision to snub a move to Cardiff in preference to Birmingham has earned him an angry rebuke from Bluebirds chairman Peter Ridsdale.

"You don't expect people to as good as look you in the face and give every indication everything is fine, and then say 'no'," Ridsdale told the South Wales Echo.

"At 10pm on Sunday evening I rang to check and everything was fine. I asked whether there was any risk that it could change and we were assured Marcus Bent was delighted with the move. The deal was done and the player was due in Cardiff for his medical to start (Monday afternoon). At around 1pm I was contacted and told he wasn't going to be at the medical.

"I have spoken to Marcus and he says a move to the Midlands suits him better. Why didn't he tell us that before? But we must stay calm and be professional. We will bring in the missing links to complete the squad as quickly as we can."

Ridsdale added: "We have been let down and not by Charlton Athletic, who did everything right and are a club I have major respect for."