Foster: Baggies switch was easy

Goalkeeper Ben Foster said his "special connection" with the West Brom fans was a key factor in him making the permanent move from Birmingham to the Hawthorns.

Foster enjoyed a successful season on loan at Albion before moving yesterday for an undisclosed fee on an initial three-year contract which also includes a further two years in the club's favour. The 29-year-old was voted the supporters' player of the year and players' player of the year in helping the Baggies finish 10th in the Barclays Premier League. Foster said: "The fans accepted me so well and I always got such an amazing buzz off them last season. I've got a special connection with them and joining the club was a bit of a no-brainer because of that. "I'm quite a positive person and give everything all of the time and I think the fans appreciate that. They were with us throughout, were our 12th man at times and sometimes you need that."