Ex-Norwich midfielder David Bell revealed it was Championship rivals Coventry's ambition that convinced him to make a surprise January transfer window exit.

Ex-Norwich midfielder David Bell revealed it was Championship rivals Coventry's ambition that convinced him to make a surprise January transfer window exit.

Bell made a losing debut for the Sky Blues in Saturday's 2-1 reverse at Derby after moving to the Ricoh for an undisclosed fee following weeks of speculation linking the 24-year-old with a return closer to his family in the Midlands.

“When I heard Coventry was interested in bringing me to the club I was only too happy to come,” he said. “After sitting down and speaking to the chairman and the gaffer and listening to their plans for the club over the next few years I was delighted and I wanted to be part of that. I'd spoken to a few people about Chris Coleman and they all spoke very highly of him and from the start he has been spot on. I'm obviously delighted to be here and the lads have been fantastic since I arrived.”

The versatile Bell will play anywhere across the midfield in a bid to help Coventry secure a top half finish over the second half of this season.

“My preferred position is right midfield but I can play anywhere across the middle and on Saturday I was more than happy to do a job on the left,” he said. “I will play where the manager needs me to and if that can go some way to helping the team improve then that's brilliant.”

Former Norwich boss Glenn Roeder beat off competition from the Sky Blues in the summer to land the midfielder from Luton. Kenilworth Road officials have confirmed the cash-strapped League Two club are in line for a cut of Bell's latest Championship move.

“We've been asked not to reveal the transfer fee, but there is a little add on we will be getting,” said Hatters' director Antony Brown.