No deals for loan pair

Last updated : 07 May 2003 By Brian Cartlidge
Piotr Swierczewski
Senegal international full-back Coly, who is believed to be interesting Sunderland boss Mick McCarthy, and Polish international midfielder Swierczewski will leave the club after the last game of the season against West Ham on Sunday.

Blues boss Steve Bruce told the Evening Mail: “It’s fair to say Ferdinand and Piotr will be leaving us.

“I feel a bit sorry for Ferdinand, who has been exceptional for the reserves lately. He came in for his debut against Arsenal and then had to play in what was our worst performance of the season, against Fulham in the FA Cup.

I brought Piotr in because, as with Ferdinand, the deals were great for us at the time. He has a good CV. He was the Polish World Cup and Marseille captain and he’s very experienced.

“If something had happened to Stephen Clemence or Robbie Savage he was waiting there. He was always brought here on loan as cover. Even though he won’t like me saying so, that was the case.”

“What also has to be remembered is that it was always going to be hard for them to adapt to our football straight away.

“And those who were in the team did nothing wrong anyway, they deserved to keep their places.”