Marc Roberts has expressed his gratitude to Birmingham City fans in a heartfelt farewell message after ending his seven-year stint at St Andrew’s.

The experienced defender is one of five senior players released by Blues as their contracts expired. Alongside Roberts, Neil Etheridge, Gary Gardner, Ivan Sunjic, and Scott Hogan have also departed the club.

While Birmingham has offered new contracts to John Ruddy and Lukas Jutkiewicz, they’ve also extended Keshi Anderson’s contract by another year. Additionally, several youngsters, including Marcel Oakley and Tate Campbell, have been released.

Roberts, aged 33, amassed 197 appearances for Blues across all competitions since joining from Barnsley in 2017. His final goal for the club was scored in October 2021 during a 2-0 victory over Middlesbrough at The Riverside.

In an Instagram post following Birmingham’s confirmation of his departure, Roberts conveyed his gratitude to everyone involved during his time at the club, including past and present staff, players, and managers.

He thanked the fans for their unwavering support during both highs and lows, acknowledging their role in the journey. Roberts expressed his appreciation for the constructive criticism received from supporters, recognizing football as a game of diverse opinions.

Despite the disappointment of parting ways, Roberts cherished every moment representing the club and remained optimistic about Birmingham’s future under the current ownership.

Lastly, he expressed profound gratitude to his wife and family for their unwavering support throughout the years, reflecting on their journey from relocating to Birmingham to now leaving with a beautiful family.

Roberts’ farewell message encapsulates the bittersweet emotions of leaving behind a club he deeply cherishes while looking forward to the future with optimism and gratitude.

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