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Harry Redknapp insists he will make Birmingham a better team without John Terry.

Blues boss Redknapp was willing to pay Terry £100,000-a-week to lure him on a Bosman to lead City’s promotion bid.

But Redknapp says he is not downbeat after Chelsea legend Terry opted to join Second City and Championship rivals Aston Villa instead.

The veteran boss plans to spend the money he has saved on Terry’s wages to pay for five or six other new players instead.

Redknapp said: “I have been a great John Terry fan forever, I think he is a fantastic player. I would be a liar to go ‘Oh well I didn’t want him anyway’.

(Image: Neville Williams)

“But after the initial offer we made John – we made him a great offer - I started to think maybe I need five or six players.

“Rather than putting all my eggs in one basket I can spread John’s money and I can improve the squad more.

“They have signed a good player but I am hoping to sign five or six good players with the budget I had for John.

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“If I can do five or six people it will give me a better all-round team rather than having one fantastic player.”

Redknapp was speaking after Brum’s first day of pre-season training which included new goalkeeper David Stockdale and centre-back Marc Roberts.