Dugarry quits Birmingham

Birmingham have confirmed that Christophe Dugarry has left the club by mutual consent.

The 31-year-old striker insisted he had parted company with Blues in L'Equipe this morning, citing family problems, and the club's official website www.bcfc.com have now confirmed his claims.

Dugarry, a World Cup and European Championship winner with France, joined the club on loan in January 2003 and proved an unexpected hit at St Andrews, inspiring the club to a late-season run which kept them in the Barclaycard Premiership.

He signed a permanent deal on the final day of last season but has struggled with a recurring knee problem this season and, it now transpires, family issues.

Dugarry explained in L'Equipe today that life had become a nightmare for him as his wife and children were not happy in England and returned to Bordeaux a few months ago.

"Frankly I was living on my own in the past six months because my family did not like living there at all and my son had problems at school," Dugarry said.

"Since the club have nothing to fear nor to hope for anymore we agreed to part company on good terms."

Dugarry has scored just one goal for the midlands club this season and has made just 12 league starts.

Dugarry added in the French newspaper: "I am still very fit but I don't know where I will be playing next season.

"All I know is that I will ask my family first before making my decision."

Dugarry's departure will not cause many eyebrows to be raised around St Andrews and only yesterday a senior source said: "We do not expect to see Christophe back at Birmingham."

Dugarry's last game for the club was against Aston Villa just over a fortnight ago when he limped out of action with a recurrence of his season-long knee problem.