CRAIG BELLAMY brought to an end seven months of misery at Newcastle United yesterday when he joined Blackburn Rovers, hours after being persuaded by Mark Hughes at a wedding party to forgo the opportunity of Champions League football to move to Ewood Park.

Hughes was Clayton Blackmore’s best man at the former Manchester United and Wales defender’s wedding in Glamorgan on Wednesday evening, but shortly before he was scheduled to deliver his speech, the Blackburn manager sat down with Bellamy, a guest, in an effort to convince the controversial forward to sign. It worked and after having a medical yesterday morning, Bellamy signed a four-year deal.

Blackburn refused to disclose the fee, but it is believed to be about £5 million and will be paid in instalments.

After talks with David Moyes, the Everton manager, last weekend, Bellamy, 25, had been expected to move to Merseyside this week, but the prospect of working with Hughes, with whom he enjoyed an excellent relationship when the Blackburn manager was Wales coach, proved too tempting to resist.

Hughes had tried to sign Bellamy in January before he was loaned to Celtic after his public falling-out with Graeme Souness, the Newcastle manager, but his £50,000-a-week wage demands and the lure of European football with the likes of Everton had made Blackburn rank outsiders to sign him. After such a tempestuous relationship with Souness, however, Bellamy, who is understood to have taken a small drop in wages to join Blackburn, felt the need to work with a manager he respects and trusts.

“Mark was the biggest factor,” Bellamy said. “I first played under him when I was 19 and know what to expect of him. I’m only 25, I need to improve as a player and he can do that for me. I look up to him, he is very professional. What happened at Newcastle still hurts a bit, some of the nights I enjoyed in Europe were incredible and the fans were amazing, but Blackburn are the club for me now.

“I want to play in the Champions League and after watching Everton qualify last season I don’t see any reason why we can’t do that same.”

Hughes said he was surprised how quickly the deal was done. “I thought we were going to miss out on him, but it’s a massive coup for us,” he said. “He will provide us with the pace and goal threat that was lacking last season and I’m delighted he’s here.”

Emre, the Inter Milan midfield player, is expected to sign for Newcastle today in a £4 million deal. The Turk also interested Everton.

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