Dugarry departs from Birmingham

Birmingham City FC have confirmed the departure of French forward Christophe Dugarry by mutual consent.

Injury trouble
The 31-year-old FIFA World Cup winner has been struggling with a recurring knee injury and failed to settle at the Premiership club, despite signing a permanent contract last summer. He initially moved to England in January 2003 from FC Girondins de Bordeaux and played a major part in the club's top-flight survival last season.

'Good terms'
"Frankly I was living on my own in the past six months because my family did not like living in England," Dugarry revealed to French newspaper L'Equipe today. "Since the club have nothing to fear nor to hope for any more we agreed to part company on good terms."

Playing on
This season, Dugarry has scored just one goal in 12 league starts but he is hopeful of getting his career back on track. "I am still very fit but I don't know where I will be playing next season," he added. "All I know is that I will ask my family first before making my decision."