Dean is playing for his hero

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BIRMINGHAM captain Harlee Dean has revealed he used to wear a West Ham shirt with his manager’s name on the back.

The tough-tackling defender, 29, was an Upton Park season-ticket holder as a kid and looked up to midfielder Lee Bowyer.

And he insists playing for his boyhood hero has been as good as he imagined.

Bowyer appears to have seen off the Blues’ threat of relegation to League One with 10 points in his five games in charge.

And East Londoner Dean (above) said: “He’s been a breath of fresh air and it’s been enjoyable to be part of it.

“I was a season-ticket holder at West Ham and I had Bowyer on one of my West Ham shirts as a kid. I always decided what name to have on my back. I can’t remember who bought it for me but my dad said he did and he will dig it out!

“I knew Lee was from a similar area to where me and my family were from.

“He had a great career, scored goals and got about the pitch.

“You knew what you would get from him.

“He had that fight, that horribleness from where you’re brought up in East London, around Hackney Marshes, how you know football. That was what drew me to him.”

Bowyer had a fiery personality as a player but Dean insists he is entirely different as a manager.

He said: “I feel like I knew what he was like but you never know someone until you meet them in person.

“He’s a lot calmer to what I expected – relaxed, clear and concise. He’s exactly what we needed.

“I was quite taken aback by how slow speaking and calm he is. He never raises his voice, never changes the speed of his words.

“He’s chilled and laid back. If you’re confident in what you’re saying you don’t need to emphasise things.”

Birmingham appeared to be sleep-walking to relegation under Aitor Karanka but Dean believes Bowyer’s changes have lifted the mood.

Dean said: “We’re getting direction. We’re getting the team the day before and working with the team.

“Previously we found out the team an hour before the game and hadn’t worked on things.

“That’s made the big difference.”

The Blues will be all-but safe with victory at Rotherham, who have already played two games this week.

And Dean added: “I’m hoping our freshness will play a part as it has to have been hard on their bodies.”