Phil Brown insists he has no regrets over signing Jimmy Bullard from Fulham in January.
Tigers boss insists record signing was no gamble
Hull City manager Phil Brown insists he has no regrets over signing midfielder Jimmy Bullard from Fulham in January.
The Tigers boss brought in the 30-year-old on a four-and-a-half-year deal for a club record £5million in the transfer window.
The jubilation over the swoop was short lived however as the former Wigan man injured his knee after coming off the bench for his debut at West Ham.
The club played down any link with the previous knee injury which kept him out of action for 16 months while at Fulham, but packed Bullard off to America to see renowned knee specialist Dr Richard Steadman as a precaution.
Brown expected his record signing to undergo minor surgery but the news to come out of Colorado was worse than first feared with Bullard needing a reconstruction of his knee which will sideline him for six months.
On signing the energetic midfielder the club admitted that the medical showed a meniscus tear but still Brown does not have any regrets over the deal.
"We made a big decision, more to a point the chairman and the board of directors made a big decision, to bring Jimmy to the club," he said.
"But I said to the chairman before the operation, 'when Jimmy wakes up, he is a Hull City player'.
"That is a bonus for me. We have got him for four-and-a-half years, albeit with the start if that career on a treatment table, unfortunately for us.
Gamble
"For me it wasn't a gamble, it wasn't a risk, to the extent people are talking about. For me it was an investment in an international player.
"There are no regrets whatsoever about signing Jimmy Bullard.
"The other night was like when my daughter was being born and I was in the waiting room.
"You are waiting for good news and obviously the good news didn't come through this time. But that is life. I am a big boy so I am going to get on with it."
Despite playing just 37 minutes of football for his new club Brown was confident that Bullard would make a successful recovery.
"It is disappointing, very unfortunate, very unlucky," he added.
"It is obviously highlighted by the fact we invested a lot of money in Jimmy. I spoke to the lad last night, he's distraught but very determined and very upbeat about his comeback.
"We wish him well and a speedy recovery. He is quite determined to be back in England, back in the changing room and doing whatever he can for the Hull City cause.
"It would be nice to have him on the field, of course it would but that will give someone else an opportunity.
"OK, it was a £5million record signing but it is an opportunity for someone else to step into his boots."
