JONATHAN Spector swapped one relegated club for another in the summer – and reckons both have a great chance of returning to the top flight.

Spector left West Ham United and joined Blues on a Bosman free transfer and has become a key cog in Chris Hughton’s team.

Although West Ham appear well set for automatic promotion and Blues are still striving to break into the play-off zone, Spector believes the prospects at St Andrew’s are good.

Blues face the Hammers this evening (5.30pm), pairing the side with one of only two unbeaten home records in the Championship against the side with the best away record.

“There was originally talk of an offer and we tried to negotiate it but it just went away,” recalls Spector.

“So when Birmingham came in I turned my attention to them. It’s a big club and I felt they had the ambition to try to attain promotion to the top division.

“That’s still the main objective and with the experience the manager has in getting a team promoted, that was appealing to me.”

It made no difference to Spector that Sam Allardyce was about to take the reins at West Ham when he was considering his future.

“The chronology, the time frame – my memory’s not best,’’ he said.

“Sam had just become manager but by that stage I had already been in contact with Birmingham and the opportunity was there for me to make the move.

“I think it’s good I got a fresh start. I’m happy with where I am right now. Things may have been different, there are so many variables that can change but I’m happy to say the split with West Ham was amicable.