RANDOLPH A COUP SAYS LEE

BIRMINGHAM boss Lee Clark claims the capture of Darren Randolph eases the blow of losing Jack Butland this summer.

Butland made the switch to Premier League Stoke and Clark moved quickly to snap up Motherwell keeper Randolph on a free transfer.

He’s made an impressive start to life at St Andrew’s, and Clark claims he can only improve the goalkeeping department with fellow Irishman Colin Doyle also in their ranks.

“I’d be surprised if there’s two or three better ‘keepers in the Republic than Darren,” said Clark.

“He has been brilliant, and what he has also done, in my opinion, is taken Colin Doyle to a new level as well.

“The training, the tempo, the work, the performances that they are doing has been great.

“It’s the whole package – the handling, the distribution, the communication and obviously the saves. It’s there for all to see.

“For us to get him the way we did was a coup. There were Premier League managers and goalkeeper coaches very surprised we got him here because they thought he would go to the Premier League. It was a top capture for us.”