Post by QPR Report on Aug 22, 2009 6:42:35 GMT
"...However, Alex McLeish almost lost his former Rangers defender to a mega-rich west London club.
“I went to QPR (on trial during pre-season) but the financial situation wasn’t good enough. It was difficult to find an agreement with my French club” Vignal said[/b
Birmingham Mail
Birmingham City - Gregory Vignal reveals his Champions League heartache
GREGORY Vignal chased a Champions League dream and it let him down.
The French left-back was lured to England by Liverpool as a teenager but spent more time travelling Europe while on loan than he did at Anfield.
That was when, after a year-long spell at Portsmouth, Vignal was sold a vision back in his homeland with Ligue 1 outfit Lens.
But the dream turned into a nightmare, Lens were relegated and Vignal went back on the loan circuit with Kaiserslautern and Southampton.
“I went back to French football because Lens signed me for four years.They wanted to play Champions League so I thought it would be a great opportunity,” said the softly-spoken 28-year-old.
“It was a strong squad and if you’ve got an opportunity to play Champions League then it is massive. But later there were too many problems; the club had been relegated and I realised after that I should have stayed in England.
“I could have signed for another English club after Portsmouth but I decided to go back to France.”
Despite hobbling off with a hip injury against Pompey on Wednesday night, Vignal looks to have brought a steady, experienced head to a problem area for Blues.
However, Alex McLeish almost lost his former Rangers defender to a mega-rich west London club.
“I went to QPR (on trial during pre-season) but the financial situation wasn’t good enough. It was difficult to find an agreement with my French club,” Vignal said
www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-sport/birmingham-city-fc/birmingham-city-fc-news/2009/08/22/birmingham-city-gregory-vignal-reveals-his-champions-league-heartache-97319-24503109/
“I went to QPR (on trial during pre-season) but the financial situation wasn’t good enough. It was difficult to find an agreement with my French club” Vignal said[/b
Birmingham Mail
Birmingham City - Gregory Vignal reveals his Champions League heartache
GREGORY Vignal chased a Champions League dream and it let him down.
The French left-back was lured to England by Liverpool as a teenager but spent more time travelling Europe while on loan than he did at Anfield.
That was when, after a year-long spell at Portsmouth, Vignal was sold a vision back in his homeland with Ligue 1 outfit Lens.
But the dream turned into a nightmare, Lens were relegated and Vignal went back on the loan circuit with Kaiserslautern and Southampton.
“I went back to French football because Lens signed me for four years.They wanted to play Champions League so I thought it would be a great opportunity,” said the softly-spoken 28-year-old.
“It was a strong squad and if you’ve got an opportunity to play Champions League then it is massive. But later there were too many problems; the club had been relegated and I realised after that I should have stayed in England.
“I could have signed for another English club after Portsmouth but I decided to go back to France.”
Despite hobbling off with a hip injury against Pompey on Wednesday night, Vignal looks to have brought a steady, experienced head to a problem area for Blues.
However, Alex McLeish almost lost his former Rangers defender to a mega-rich west London club.
“I went to QPR (on trial during pre-season) but the financial situation wasn’t good enough. It was difficult to find an agreement with my French club,” Vignal said
www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-sport/birmingham-city-fc/birmingham-city-fc-news/2009/08/22/birmingham-city-gregory-vignal-reveals-his-champions-league-heartache-97319-24503109/