Dickov return caps busy day

Last updated : 27 May 2006 By Ben Collins

I'm sure we're all pleased that Richard Dunne has signed a new deal. City's Player of the Year for the last 2 seasons has committed himself to the Blues until 2009.

Meanwhile, Stuart Pearce has told Danny Mills he is free to leave, despite having 3 years left on his contract.

Mills is a former England international and at 29, one of our most-experienced players.

But bearing in mind he's a high-earner and was kept out of the side for much of the season, I think it's a good decision by Pearce.

I'm not too sure about the signing of Paul Dickov, though. The former City striker, now 33, signed a two-year deal from Blackburn today.

Firstly, you have to remember he wasn't good enough for us when we let him join Leicester in 2002, and 4 years on, he's our first major signing of the summer.

I know many of you still see him as a City legend... but not me. He was a City legend, not just for scoring THAT goal but for putting in 110% every game and for saying how much he loves the club.

For me, he stopped being a City legend when he scored against us for Leicester in an FA Cup tie in Jan 2004 and went on to celebrate right in front of us - that showed how much he felt about us.

However, looking at his quotes today, it looks like maybe he does really like us. After all, he did turn down a new deal with Blackburn and interest from elsewhere to come back.

Dickov said he can't stop smiling, which reminded me of Robbie Fowler going back to Liverpool - he sums up Liverpool, Dickov sums up City. That may not be too glamorous on our part but I said after all the Joey Barton and Fowler fuss in Jan that I was sick of having players who don't want to play for us.

Dickov clearly wants to play for us so I guess I'm happy for him to show me again that he really is a City legend.

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