BIRMINGHAM, England (AFP)
Experienced former Danish international forward Peter Lovenkrands
signed for Championship outfit Birmingham City on Monday to
become manager Lee Clark's first signing.
The 32-year-old - capped 22 times but not a member of the Danes
Euro 2012 squad - signed a two year contract and cost Birmingham
nothing as he had been released by Premier League side Newcastle
earlier this summer.
Clark, who filled the managerial vacancy left by Chris Hughton
when he left for Premier League Norwich City after the end of
last season, had not been able to sign any players because of a
transfer embargo imposed in March this year on the club for not
filing their 2010/11 accounts on time.
However, it was finally lifted last Wednesday allowing Clark to
delve into the transfer market and he was delighted with his
first capture.
"He (Lovenkrands) did very well for Newcastle, has scored goals
at this level and he played a huge part in getting them promoted
from this division, actually winning the league," Clark told club
website bcfc.com.
"When I spoke to him about the move he made a decision very
quickly.
"Once we got an agreement, he's bringing his family down, moving
to the area, doing that very, very quickly as well so it shows
you he's very committed to the job in hand and that can only be
good for us and the supporters.
"I have got to see him quite a bit and he's a very popular guy as
well. He has a good work ethic and he ticked all the boxes for me
in terms of not just being a good player but by being a good
character."
Clark has succeeded where his two immediate predecessors in the
manager's hotseat, Alex McLeish and Hughton, had failed in
persuading Lovenkrands to sign for the 2011 League Cup winners,
who were relegated from the Premier League in the 2010/11
campaign.
