It was the best AND worst of times at Blues - Jerome

CAMERON Jerome's Blues career had more major events than most players ever have.

- By ALEX DICKEN

Highs and lows... Cameron Jerome with the Carling Cup at Wembley and, right, suffering the misery of relegation in the same season

In five years and 201 appearances, he managed 41 goals, two promotions, Blues’ best-ever Premier League finish of ninth, a Carling Cup victory and two relegations. It was certainly never dull while Jerome was at St Andrew's.

The striker was signed by Steve Bruce in 2006 after a goal-laden season at Cardiff and credits Blues with being the club that turned him from boy to man.

He learned from Blues icon Mikael Forssell and picked the brains of Premier League legend Andy Cole, whose five-game loan at the end of the 2006/07 promotion-winning campaign is often overlooked by outsiders, before becoming one of the main men under Alex McLeish during the club’s best Premier League year.

Jerome was unequivocal when asked whether the 2009/10 campaign, which saw him register ten Premier League goals, was his best.

He said: “For Blues? I'd say definitely the best. We had the players that season, it’s no coincidence we finished ninth”

The club's supporters hoped that would be the starting point for a prolonged period of success in the Premier League, but the financial backing wasn’t there, despite the promises of Carson Yeung, and that still rankles with Jerome.