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.
Source: AFP
