BLACKBURN Rovers' chief executive John Williams said the club had no option but to sanction David Dunn's transfer to Birmingham City.

Dunn finally brought down the curtain on his Rovers career last night after agreeing a £5.5 million club-record move to the Midlands club.

The 23-year-old midfielder is expected to put his signature to a four-year deal later today after undergoing a medical.

But although Williams admits to feeling a tinge of sadness at the player's departure, he insists Rovers' hands were tied once Dunn rejected the offer of a new contract at the end of last season.

"With a town team like Blackburn, it's always good to have local lads in your team if you can so in that respect it is sad," said Williams.

"But from our point of view, once David declined a new contract, it was inevitable.

"You have to accept football mimics life. Things move on, change is inevitable, and we've got to make sure the club goes from strength to strength."

Dunn and his adviser spent the whole of yesterday at City's Wast Hills training ground locked in talks with managing director Karren Brady, before finally shaking hands on a four-year deal worth £25,000 a week.

That marked the end of a six-week quest by the Blues for the gifted midfielder, who was always manager Steve Bruce's number one transfer target.

And now Bruce has vowed to help the former England Under 21 skipper revive his international career by predicting he can become the 'new Gazza.'

"He's got similar qualities to Gazza," said Bruce.

"David is the kind of player who will really excite our fans because he is a special player.

"He has been the player I have wanted all summer. He has been my number one target and I rate him very highly so I am delighted we have finally got him.

"David has great passing ability. He can go past people and he scores his fair share of goals, too."

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Speculation regarding Dunn's future had been raging for months following the player's public fall-out with Rovers boss Graeme Souness back in January.

Souness, who is currently on holiday in Spain, accused Dunn of 'taking his eye off the ball' and claimed he had become distracted by things going on his life 'outside the game.'

The player, in the meantime, felt he was starting to get picked on by his manager and he also became increasingly disillusioned at being played out of position.

Matters finally came to a head at the start of the summer when Dunn made it clear he was not prepared to sign a new contract and, from that moment on, a move seemed inevitable.

The only question which remained was 'where to?'

Chelsea, Newcastle and Everton all registered an interest but it was Birmingham who made all the running from the start.

Their two initial bids were rejected then finally, earlier this week, they managed to strike a deal which was acceptable to Rovers.

Dunn then headed for St Andrews yesterday to discuss personal terms with Brady as Middlesbrough's late attempt to hijack the deal came to nothing.

"We are thrilled," said City's co-chairman David Gold. "We are pleased it is all 'dunn', even if does mean breaking another club record, but I know Steve wanted him desperately."

One of Dunn's first appearances for his new club could be in a friendly against Burnley at Turf Moor next month.