Dion Sanderson opens up on Birmingham City exit and how he's changed since relegation
Dion Sanderson wandered back into the dressing room at Birmingham City's Henley-in-Arden base last week and discovered a notification awaiting him. The centre half, who has become Chris Davies' fourth choice centre half this season after the additions of Christoph Klarer and Ben Davies, was presented with an opportunity to reunite with former boss John Eustace.
Just like that, Sanderson - who only signed for Blues on a permanent basis in the summer of 2023 after a successful loan spell the season before - was making tracks up the M6. For the third time in his career, he'd working under Eustace, who he'd already played under before Blues, when Eustace was a coach at Queens Park Rangers.
The former Wolves defender, who also joins up again with former teammate Danny Batth at Ewood Park, has explained how he jumped at the move when it emerged that a deal could be struck between the two clubs and, despite the fact that he is currently out of favour at St Andrew's, Sanderson has been able to jump up a division and back to the Championship. He has settled in quickly into his new surroundings.
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"I had my first session on Monday and I settled in really well," Sanderson told local BBC radio. "The boys are really loving, caring and look out for each. The manager and his staff I've obviously known for quite a while now, so it's nothing I'm not used to.
"It all happened quite quickly. I'd just come back in from training and I looked at my phone. There was a message from my agent to say Blackburn were interested. Straight away I was just like 'get me down there'. I didn't have to think about anything.
"As soon as I heard about the interest the gaffer called me to talk about the club, the players, the ambition and what he wants to achieve. It rang alarms in my head. I was ready, I was buzzing that there was interest and I am just glad and happy to have got it over the line.
"I've got nothing but good memories under John. The time he was at Blues, we had a strong half season and he built that connection with the players, even the lads who weren't playing felt involved. We were just all one, all together, us versus everyone and we loved it as players.
"It was quite a shock when he was sacked. It was quite upsetting as well for some of the players around the building, but it's football and it's just another day in the business, I guess. I'm glad to be reunited with him. He's a great person. Tactically he's great, he works with what he's got. He's really ambitious and dedicated to his job."
A move away from Blues, just 18 months after penning a permanent deal, was likely this month for Sanderson, who last played in the league in the 1-1 draw with Northampton Town. Otherwise, he's been pretty much limited to EFL Trophy and EFL Cup run-outs since pre-season.
The centre half couldn't help prevent Blues from slipping into the third tier at the end of last season, but he believes that he himself has grown up as a player and a man since Eustace was sacked in September 2023 and replaced by Wayne Rooney.
"It was tough," he reflected. "Emotionally, mentally, it was very tough. We had a lot of players out of contract, so you can imagine at the time it was trying to motivate them to keep such a big club up. It was hard, but I learned a lot in the six months, when the gaffer got sacked. I've grown up as a person, matured quite a lot.
"It was a shame, but football is about how you bounce back as a person and as a player. I've still got ambition, I'm still hungry to learn and I'm glad to be here. Even just being in training, it was exciting. It felt good. I can't wait to get down to the stadium, see the boys, see the fans and it'll be a great time for me."
