AT LAST, ZIGIC IS WORTHY OF THAT PRICE TAG

SINCE signing for Birmingham in 2010, Nikola Zigic’s £65,000-aweek wages mean he has pocketed a monster £13.5m.

So given that the cost of relegation from the Championship is an estimated £15m, the Serbian just about broke even last weekend.

Awful all day, Zigic scored one and made another as the Blues scrambled a lastminute 2-2 draw at Bolton to send Doncaster down in their stead.

Now blessedly out of contract, it was almost certainly his final act in a Birmingham shirt, yet even that is unlikely to ensure he is remembered fondly.

For the last three years, Zigic’s wages have crippled the club, burning resources like a blazing oil well. Though the absence of owner Carson Yeung is the root cause of Birmingham’s financial woes, their inability to sign players is a direct result of Zigic hogging the playing budget.

But Lee Clark was spot on in his defence of the 6ft 7ins striker. “It’s not his fault,” said the Blues boss. “It’s a grab your pen moment when that kind of contract is put in front of you. You just sign it.”

In retrospect, there’s no way Zigic was worth the money. He probably knew it himself. But if somebody was offering me a £13m contract, there’s no way I’d be uging them to think twice.

So yes, Zigic took Birmingham for a ride. But before anyone casts judgement, ask if you’d have done the same. If the answer isn’t yes, you’re a better man than me. GREAT to see David Nugent offered a new by promoted deal

Leicester. After a single cap for ill-fatedspell England and an

with Portsmouth, the was written 29-year-old

off as ‘Championship unable to cut it at the

striker’, highest level. It’s why, even after 20 campaign, goals and an ever-present

most expected him to summer. be jettisoned this

But Nugent has earned time. this last crack at the

It isn’t his fault he was big isn’t his called up for

fault that Harry England. It confi-denceby Redknapp ruined his

putting him up for sale a £6m move just weeks after

from Preston, nor that marooned in he was

the reserves without a chance. He’s bei n g i ven

had wretched luck. Yet as both Grant Holt Lambert and Rickie

have proved, old hands the top flight take

in their stride. It would be great if ‘Nuge’

followed suit.