Defender Alex Bruce says he had to leave Birmingham City due to press claims that he was only getting a game because his father Steve was the manager. Bruce junior joined the Blues on a free transfer at the beginning of August.

Bruce said: "I was being slaughtered by the press. I enjoyed working with my father Steve and his staff and the players were great, but I was put under so much extra pressure for being the manager's son.

"As a youngster trying to make his way in the game you expect a bit of slack, but the press were slaughtering me.

"In one report in a Sunday national paper I was rated three out of 10 with the comment 'If he ever plays a Premiership game for his father again it will be a disgrace.' If it had carried on my career could have been finished.

"The pressure was too much as I felt I was playing as well as anybody else. I had to get out - and I could not have wished to join a better club than Ipswich. Now I have settled in I am determined to prove the knockers wrong."

Bruce, who has picked up four bookings already this season, is unavailable for Saturday's game against Birmingham under the terms of the deal which saw him move to Portman Road.

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