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Friday 12 May 2006
Captain Kenny fires parting shot
Bruce and board blasted by Kenny

Outgoing Birmingham captain Kenny Cunningham has passionately hit out at the club following relegation from the Barclays Premiership, blaming manager Steve Bruce and the club's board.

City dropped to the Coca-Cola Championship after a disastrous fourth season in the top flight. Former Ireland skipper Cunningham, 34, was thought to have been discussing a contract extension with the club but the centre-half has burned his bridges by labelling Blues as "like a stiff corpse" with "no heartbeat" and "no soul".

The passionate defender has slammed the club for starting the season with only three strikers and criticised Bruce for tactical decisions and his recent revelations that two players - who he would not name - refused to play against Bolton on Sunday.

The former Millwall and Wimbledon defender believes relegation was largely "due to a lack of organisation, preparation and attention to detail at the football club".

He told the Birmingham Post: "Unfortunately, and I take no pleasure in saying this, the only person who must take responsibility for that is the manager.

"I fear that while things remain the same the fans and players will never experience the kind of success which I feel they deserve".

Cunningham lamented the lack of passion at St Andrews compared to his time with the notorious Dons: "Birmingham seems like a stiff corpse in comparison to that. It has no heartbeat and, more worryingly, no soul."

The club have expressed their "disappointment" at Cunningham's comments.

A statement on their website, www.bcfc.com, said: "The club is currently experiencing an extremely sensitive period, yet Kenny, who remains an employee, has chosen to publicly express his views through the media, without seeking prior permission or consultation, and not directly to any member of the board, despite limitless opportunities to do so.

"As a player that has now been released, Kenny Cunningham has no knowledge of the club's financial position or the ambitions and plans in place to achieve success."