For Philippine goalkeeper Neil Etheridge, it was vital to find playing time after losing his place at Cardiff City FC last season. After sealing a move to Birmingham City FC on Friday, the Filipino shot stopper not only found a place to don the gloves again but discovered an ambitious project geared to bring glory back to St. Andrew's.
"It was all about me trying to find games and play games at a club I feel comfortable with," Etheridge told ESPN5.com. "Birmingham for me -- after speaking to the club -- working on this project together is really exciting for me."
The man spearheading the project at St. Andrew's is former Real Madrid and Athletic Bilbao defender Aitor Karanka. The Spanish manager himself is a new arrival at the club and has experience earning promotion into the Premier League.
Prior to Karanka's arrival, Birmingham City had a dismal run to close out last season and finished with just three points in their final 14 games. The Blues ended their campaign just two places above the relegation zone.
As part of the sweeping changes at St. Andrew's, Karanka has brought in new faces to strengthen the squad.
Etheridge -- who was unveiled by the club a day before their opening game of the 2020-21 EFL Championship season -- is the seventh signing for a Birmingham City team eager to turn their fortunes around.
From Etheridge's point of view, Karanka is "building something special" and has the pedigree to succeed.
"It's a project that the manager wants to bring in the right people for the job," Etheridge said. "The manager has had promotion before so he knows what it's about."
Etheridge clarified that he doesn't expect instant success, but his four-year deal suggests he is invested in what Birmingham is trying to achieve.
"A project doesn't happen overnight," Etheridge said. "It is something that I am going to obviously be committed to and with the duration of my contract have some security for everyone."
In the short term, Etheridge hopes to be part of a group that would bring optimism back to everyone involved with the club. The Philippine international felt the energy in his first training session with his new squad, and believes they are a team that can do just that.
"We need to bring the positivity to the club and the team and get some team spirit, you know? After obviously a tough back end of last season for them in the relegation zone," Etheridge said. "But for me, I see a lot of potential."
So what does Neil bring to Birmingham City?
In Etheridge, Birmingham have a keeper with Premier League experience and knows what it takes to earn promotion. The Philippine Azkals keeper is also just a year removed from earning the Cardiff City Player of the Year honors in their season in the top flight.
The last six months may have seen the newly-signed keeper on the bench often, but the body of work he accumulated in the past three years shows he is a proven winner.
Despite the recent success, Etheridge refuses to rest on his laurels and wants to use this new chapter to build on his past achievements alongside Birmingham City.
"For me, it's a new start again which is great," Etheridge said. "I have been very fortunate in the last three years of my career regardless of what has happened in the last six months. It has been a very successful time for me."
"Of course, I want to replicate that and do the same and be on this journey with Birmingham."