BIRMINGHAM MAIL BY RATERS

When Birmingham City won the Carling Cup against all odds, it was the finest achievement in their history.

Relegation from the Premier League followed, Alex McLeish quit, the break-up of the Wembley squad began and Blues were plunged into financial turmoil.

Another summer later and Blues, after a near-miss in the play-offs, are managerless, the money woes have intensified and player sales are continuing.


That Carling Cup success, and even the fantastic Europa League adventure, are fading memories that have given way to grave concerns about the state and future of the St Andrew’s club.

The shock sale of Jordon Mutch, one of Blues’ bright young stars, following on from the departure of popular manager Chris Hughton, coupled with all the other off-field problems, has understandably left supporters at breaking point.

There is a fear Blues could be going backwards to the dark days of the 1980s unless the club changes hands or the current crisis can be somehow arrested.

For that reason the Birmingham Mail calls upon Carson Yeung, Peter Pannu, Vico Hui and the board of parent company Birmingham International Holdings Ltd (BIHL) to lift a veil of secrecy and silence from Hong Kong and provide supporters with answers and assurances.

Ten questions from Birmingham Mail readers

Dear Mr Pannu,

There is growing unease among Birmingham City fans regarding the financial stability and long-term vision for their football club, particularly after the departure of manager Chris Hughton to Norwich City and the sale of Jordon Mutch to Cardiff City.

Fans have been contacting the Birmingham Mail in large numbers, asking the newspaper to attempt to seek answers to key questions regarding the club.

We hope you, or a member of the Birmingham City board, can find time to answer these questions for publication in the Birmingham Mail at the earliest opportunity.

The ten key questions that Blues fans would like answering are:

1. Just how bad are the finances and is administration a possibility?

2. When will BIHL file their overdue accounts and the Football League transfer embargo be lifted?

3. Are Carson Yeung and BIHL actively trying to sell the club and if so, are they in negotiation with any group or individual at present?

4. What has happened to the mystery investor who had been ‘identified’, as written about in your programme notes in May?

5. What are the short, medium and long term plans for Birmingham City?

6. Is money raised by Blues going to Hong Kong to pay off Carson Yeung’s and BIHL’s debts?

7. Why were the rights to cash generated by the Xtep kit deal transferred to a subsidiary of BIHL on the basis of an informal agreement?

8. Why have there been no public statements by Carson Yeung and Blues chairman and BIHL chief executive Vico Hui about Blues’ current predicament?

9. How many players are likely to be sold this transfer window and can the club guarantee that, after Jordon Mutch’s exit, fellow rising stars Nathan Redmond and Jack Butland will not be moved on?

10. Will the new manager be given the necessary resources to improve the squad to make Blues genuine promotion contenders?

I look forward to your response.

Yours sincerely

David Brookes

Editor-in-Chief, Trinity Mirror Midlands

Editor, Birmingham Mail



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bluehag wrote:The blues board don't give a fcuk and nor do the mail, I know for a fact brookes the editor and montgomery the sports editor are staunch vilers, the only reason they've ran this is because of the stick they've taken about being ant-blues and the fact their readership is dropping faster than jordans knickers. Stuff em its us against the rest, always was..always will be. :ass