John Ruddy may have felt as if he had a point to prove when Wolves went back on their decision to extend his contract during the summer transfer window, opting to let his deal run down before sending the Premier League veteran packing in June.
“This was probably six or seven weeks before the end of the season; they said ‘we’re going to take the option (to extend your contract)’,” Ruddy tells the Talking Wolves podcast.
“The day before the end of the season was the day they had to confirm the option. I found out they were rescinding the offer. (The way the situation was handled was) the biggest problem.”
A few miles down the road at Birmingham City, the-now 36-year-old goalkeeper is proving beyond all reasonable doubt that there is, indeed, plenty of life left in this old dog. Playing regular first-team football for the first time since 2017/18, Ruddy followed up a dramatic penalty save in Friday’s 2-0 win at promotion-chasing QPR with another commanding, near-faultless display during the goalless draw with Millwall.
Only Preston’s Freddie Woodman has kept more clean sheets than Ruddy’s seven.
John Ruddy shining at Birmingham City after Wolves exit
“John came to the rescue and made a terrific save,” beams John Eustace, the grateful Birmingham boss receiving the perfect birthday present from his former England international shot-stopper; another clean sheet the icing on Eustace’s cake.
“I never felt in danger at all. John has made two important saves in the last two matches. He has been great. John gets paid to be a goalkeeper, he has made a couple of good saves. Brilliant. It’s what I expect.”
While plenty of probing questions have come Wolves’ way following the controversial and rather baffling decision to send club captain Conor Coady out on loan to Everton, one wonders how much of an impact Ruddy’s departure also had on a presumably downbeat dressing room.
36-year-old Ruddy, The Athletic says, had a ‘huge’ influence at Molineux; his experience and character vital behind the scenes.
These days, it’s Midland neighbours Birmingham City benefitting from Ruddy’s inimitable presence.
“I’m enjoying myself. I don’t want anything to distract away from that,” the ex-Norwich ace says when asked about the prospect of extending his short-term contract at St Andrews (Birmingham Mail). I will speak to the club in the New Year. But I am very relaxed about the situation.
“Like I said, I am enjoying being here. It’s great to be back playing football. You don’t realise how much you miss something until you are not doing it. It’s been really good, I am really pleased with how it’s going.”
It seems unlikely that Birmingham will do what Wolves did and let Ruddy go without a fight.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
