Franck Queudrue, the Birmingham City defender, said David Sullivan has apologised for his attack on the club's players. The co-owner singled out the Frenchman, who moved to St Andrew's from Fulham last summer, claiming the club "bought a pile of rubbish" ahead of their return to the Premier League.

"I spoke to him this morning," Queudrue said. "He apologised to me and it's OK. He was sincere. It shouldn't have become public. He regrets it now.

"He put so much into the club for 15 years and was frustrated, and he got a bit carried away. He named some players that he shouldn't have. He named me because I was one of the signings, it could have been anyone."

Sullivan is hoping to sell his stake after being the target of abuse from fans when Birmingham were relegated from the top tier on Sunday.

Queudrue, who has made only 15 starts since his £2 million transfer, indicated yesterday he would be seeking a move but has now hinted he could stay at the club. "We said what we had to say. It's still difficult. We'll find shortly an agreement to do something over the summer."

Birmingham's other close-season signings were Fabrice Muamba, Olivier Kapo, Garry O'Connor, Liam Ridgewell, Stuart Parnaby and Daniel De Ridder.