Blues reject new Savage bid

Birmingham have rejected a second offer from Blackburn for Robbie Savage.

Savage submitted a written request to leave St Andrews on Monday, a decision which has prompted the club to react with 'surprise and disappointment'.

The Wales international wants to quit the Midlands club so he can move nearer to his parents in Wrexham, who are both ill.

Blackburn have been keen to offer Savage a route out of Birmingham, despite both places being almost equidistant from Wrexham.

Rovers' initial £2.2 million bid for the 30-year-old, who only signed a new contract last summer, was dismissed out of hand by Blues.

A slightly improved offer has now landed on Birmingham's desk but that has also met with another rebuttal.

Birmingham managing director Karren Brady also admits she can not fathom why Savage is keen to quit Birmingham for Blackburn, insisting the midfielder will not be moving to Ewood Park.

"We are all surprised and disappointed by the news of Robbie's transfer request, especially as it seems like he wants to swap Birmingham City for Blackburn Rovers which I can not understand," Brady told the club's official website.

"If Robbie has come to that decision because of the distance between Blackburn and Wrexham he should take a closer look at the map as it works out at about the same distance as it is from Birmingham, if not a little further.

"I have this morning received a marginally improved offer from Blackburn's managing director John Williams but it remains totally unacceptable to us.

"Therefore, the player will not be moving to Blackburn."

In a statement also issued by the club, Birmingham have vowed to help Savage with his difficulties in visiting his sick parents.

"The club fully sympathises with Robbie's documented personal problems and understands the strain of driving up and down the motorway to visit relatives in North Wales," read the statement.

"The club has therefore offered to provide a car and driver to chauffeur Robbie to and from his hometown of Wrexham at the club's own expense.

"However, Birmingham City Football Club feels that it is being backed into a corner and will not under any circumstances be bullied into making decisions which are detrimental to either the team or the club as a whole."

Despite the uncertainty surrounding his future, Savage is expected to be in Steve Bruce's side to face Bolton Wanderers on Tuesday evening.