Jonathan Spector: our gratitude to a model professional

Being the longest serving player at Birmingham City doesn’t take a herculean effort. In recent years, players have come and gone with such briskness, you’d be forgiven for failing to remember just who can wear the royal blue jersey come three-o-clock on Saturday.

But with Jonathan Spector, that’s not the case. The versatile American defender has today been linked with a move back to his native country to join a club plying their trade in the MLS.

Now 30, no soul could criticise Spector for showing an interest in returning home. His time at Blues has been profoundly undervalued. Signed by Chris Hughton in 2011, Spector wasn’t bought in to be an edge-of-the-seat type of player. Yet over his 179 appearances, be it at right back, centre back or central midfield, he has been a solid player and a model professional.

He’s had his fair share of critics – and injuries – but, with three different Blues managers all offering him fresh contracts, his worth hasn’t been ignored internally.

Whatever the future holds for Spector, he will depart St. Andrews with the best wishes and our gratitude for serving our club admirably for half a decade.

Good luck, Jonathan.