I was delighted that Joe Hart signed on loan until the end of the season from Manchester City. I think he’s a top goalkeeper and one I think is going to be a world class stopper in the years to come. It was nice of him to say that when he joined Birmingham, it was because of me. I’m honoured he would say something like that and I am determined to get Joe performing on a regular basis and hopefully after a successful season with us he can make England’s World Cup squad next summer.

It’s a fantastic challenge for both of us, firstly to get Joe playing well in the Birmingham City first team, which will help us stay in the Premier League but at the same time our other challenge is to get Joe on the plane to South Africa next summer.

He’s a young boy with his own goals and knows where he wants to be so it’s great to have someone so determined to succeed. He has a very open mind when it comes to the modern world – he works with Prozone and watches video playbacks of his matches and training sessions to develop his game. He is a very determined lad and I hope we can make him a much better goalkeeper. Keep an eye out on his developments over the season.

Related categories: Championship, David Watson, Football

I thought I would start my first blog on here by looking at events at my old team Barnsley. It was sad to see Simon Davey leave the club earlier this season. He brought exciting times back to the area in the three years he was at Oakwell. His cup runs had ultimately kept him in the job up until recently; he took them on a phenomenal cup run a couple of seasons ago which increased the profile of the club and the town when they reached the semi-final of the F.A. Cup with a trip to Wembley.

With a very low budget, I think Davey’s side were punching above their weight in the Championship and I think he did a fantastic job keeping them in that league. A club like Barnsley need to be in that league and if they are ever to progress as a more stable club they will need to make changes at the top i.e., someone to come in with a bit of money but until that happens they will remain in and around the bottom of that league battling it out with other teams for survival.

Being my home town club, I would love them to do well. I still have friends who are season-ticket holders so I get to see the odd game here and there, but because of my commitments with Birmingham City it is hard to see them play. Obviously I would like to get down there more, but my contact with the club has diminished over the years and the only name I know there is the old kit man, Norman Rimmington.

Related categories: Championship, David Watson, Football