Birmingham City boss Steve Bruce has revealed how they're revamping their scouting network this season.

"Behind the scenes now we have Stan Ternent, the old Burnley manager, who has been working for us for the past two weeks," Bruce told the Birmingham Mail. "Dave Watson, the old England, Norwich, Everton centre-back and friend of mine, he does stuff for us too.

"I think it's an area where we have to grow, our scouting network. If we are to be competitive, we have to be aware of the foreign market because - and I'm sorry to say this - there is not the quality in this country.

"Because we've been there last year, I know about virtually every player in every squad in the Championship. We all know about the ones in the Premier League.

"I would love to be getting in people in the Championship knowing that they would make a real difference for us. I know it's about opinions, some people might say that 'he's better than him you've already got', but believe you me, I know about these players and so do my staff.

"I do feel, therefore, that you have to know the market in France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Scandinavia and so on. And we need to know it better than what we have done in the past.

"That's why we've been putting a new network in place whereby Bernard Paintin, my chief scout, will have four or five people at his disposal. Already, for example, Stan has been to Turkey, he's been to Copenhagen. And what we will do is build profiles of players and teams we've seen so when people do become available, we will know the market better and what we're dealing with.

"If we are recommended a player, the scout who has seen him will report back to Bernard who will go and have a look and then report back to me, and then we'll take it from there. Same as if we watch a game and like the look of a player.

"The final decision comes down to me, and you always try to go and watch them yourself ultimately."