Max’s joy at securing his St Andrew’s future
MAXIME Colin is delighted that his ‘first choice’ of remaining at Birmingham City has come to fruition.
The right-back agreed a new contract last week that will run until 2023 – a move by Blues that was greeted with a collective thumbs-up from the fanbase.
Colin, who was one of three players to arrive from Brentford on transfer deadline day in 2017, has proven to be a reliable individual on both sides of defence and has become particularly popular with Blues supporters.
A shoo-in under Harry Redknapp, Garry Monk and now Pep Clotet, Frenchman Colin is thankful that his long-term future is resolved and that his priority of remaining at Blues has been agreed.
“We’ve been talking for a few months now, so I’m obviously pleased it’s now done,” he said.
“I’m pleased we agreed everything and to commit to this club. When I first signed for Birmingham I knew it was a big club; the first step was to make a name for myself because people didn’t really know me when I first arrived in Birmingham.
“I wanted to commit a bit longer so I’m very pleased.
“My partner is happy here. I didn’t really see why I’d like to move, maybe one day I’ll go back to France – but it wasn’t priority at the moment.
“The stability was key for me. As long as we were able to agree everything I was happy to stay here. My first choice was to stay here, and if we couldn’t find a solution then I’d have found something else.
“But I’m really glad my first choice has been respected and I’m still here.”
Colin is the most recent in a line of Blues players to have committed their futures recently.
While Blues have lost influential pair Che Adams and Jota to Premier League teams, and failed to agreed a new contract with former captain Michael Morrison – he’s now at Reading – they’ve moved to tie down a number of other key members of the squad in the past week or so.
Striker Lukas Jutkiewicz, defender and new club captain Harlee Dean
and young keeper Connal Trueman have all been rewarded with fresh terms, something that Colin is pleased about.
“When you’re a new player, and you first come into the dressing room, I think at first you need to follow the group,” he continued.
“It’s what you try to install. When you arrive at a club and it’s going everywhere and you don’t know who to follow, and everyone is doing their own thing, I don’t think it’s the right move.
“That’s why I’m really pleased that Jukey, Harlee and Connal and a few others want to stay here a bit longer and do something with this club. The dressing room is the main thing because we are all in the same boat.
“If the dressing room is not strong, on the pitch you will see it.
“During the season we’ll have some tough times andn if we stay togethern it’ll be much easier to come through these things.”
Dan Crowley says the Blues are aiming to get promoted to the Premier League this season.
They sealed a dream start under new head coach Clotet with a 1-0 victory over Brentford at Griffin Park on Saturday.
And Crowley, who celebrated his 22nd birthday on Saturday, reckons they can finally mount a challenge in the Championship. “The reason I came here is because of the direction the club want to go and the football we want to play,” he said.
“We want to get promoted. It might seem a little far off – but we want that and we think we can do it.”
Crowley is one of several new signings this summer, and he has complete confidence in Clotet.
He said: “He’s a clever guy. He knows what will hurt teams and what will frustrate teams. He’s massive on the small details and I think that’s what won us the Brentford game.
“I came because of Pep. He really wanted me and I really liked how he wants us to play.”