Since Roman Abramovich has taken over Chelsea, Birmingham have benefitted more than most from signing our surplus players.

In 2003, we allowed them to take Mikael Forssell on loan for the season and he will also spend this season with Brum. Mario Melchiot and Jesper Gronkjaer have both signed up for Bruce this summer, after both players were not in Jose Mourinho's plans.

Bruce declared: "In our own way we have benefited from what has happened at Chelsea over the last 12 months. We have signed Mikael, Jesper and Mario and we have been helped by Mr Abramovich.

"We had all heard the rumours that Mr Abramovich would be spending again this summer and then we had to wait and see who was surplus to requirements at Chelsea.

"That enabled us to get after them early and the relationship between the two clubs has been great."

After all of the negative press we have been getting of late, it's nice to know that somebody likes us!