Purse Moves To West Brom

Purse, a key member of Blues promotion winning side, has fallen right down the pecking order at St Andrews following the superb partnership of Matty Upson and Kenny Cunningham at the heart of the Blues defence and the arrival during the last transfer window of Martin Taylor from Blackburn cast further doubts on the centre-back claiming a regular place in manager Steve Bruce's 16-man squad.

Purse, who signed for Blues from Oxford for £1million in February 1998, is keen for regular first team starts and with his family well settled in the Birmingham area a move to The Hawthorns is sure to suit him.

The Baggies will pay an initial fee of £500,000 for Purse with that rising to £750,000 based on appearances and the Baggies success.