Birmingham

It didn't take long for NFL legend Tom Brady to experience the roller-coaster ride of club ownership.

Brady is part of the group that purchased Birmingham City Football Club last August and he presumably watched from afar Saturday as the Blues were relegated from the EFL Championship.

Thanks to his fame and success on the gridiron, Brady's arrival was treated like a big deal despite him only obtaining a minority stake.

An official statement said the seven-time Super Bowl champion "will apply his extensive leadership experience and expertise across several components of the Club, including working alongside the sports science department to advise on health, nutrition, wellness, and recovery systems and programs."

Brady and Tom Wagner, the club's chairman of the board, didn't make a strong first impression, however.

Sacking manager John Eustace in October didn't go down well among the supporter base. At the time, Birmingham was sitting sixth in the Championship table and had realistic ambitions of getting promoted back to the Premier League.

Instead, moving on from Eustace and subsequently hiring Wayne Rooney as his successor proved to be a pivotal moment. Rooney got the boot in January after notching just two wins to nine losses in his 15 matches in charge. That run sent Birmingham tumbling down the table and into a relegation fight.

In defense of Brady and Wagner, Birmingham's relegation has been a long time coming thanks to dysfunction that predated their tenures. The club finished 17th or worse in each of the last seven seasons.

Finally going down to League One might be beneficial from the standpoint that Birmingham might be able to lay a more solid foundation. The effects of constantly fighting for survival were evident in the short-term mindset the club adopted. Now, Brady and Wagner have an opportunity to sketch out a more permanent vision.

NFL legend Tom Brady has taken an active role with Birmingham City after purchasing a minority ownership stake in the English soccer club, according to newly hired manager Wayne Rooney.

"I have spoken to Tom, he is very ambitious to move this club forward," Rooney told reporters Thursday. "It's great to have him here, it's important for the players to see Tom Brady have an involvement. It's very clear that Tom is fully involved in the club."

Birmingham announced in August that Brady signed on to become a minority owner and the chairman of the advisory board. Club chairman Tom Wagner called it "a statement of intent," seemingly alluding to Brady's success on the gridiron.

The seven-time Super Bowl champion acknowledged he was a relative neophyte with English soccer but added his understanding of what it takes to succeed "might translate pretty well."

However, whatever honeymoon period the 46-year-old enjoyed might be over since some supporters weren't thrilled with the decision to sack manager John Eustace.

Birmingham is sixth in the Championship table with 18 points through 11 matches. While the Blues are 10 points off an automatic promotion spot, they're on track to qualify for the promotion playoffs.

Hiring Rooney was a bit of a risk as well.

He finished 21st in the Championship with Derby County in 2020-21 after taking over for Phillip Cocu midway through the campaign. Derby was then relegated the following year, though that was due to a 21-point deduction after entering administration.

Brady and his fellow owners will get plenty of credit if Rooney gets Birmingham up to the Premier League. Should the club's final position worsen from its current standing, though, many will question whether letting Eustace go was the right call.

Controversial owner of Birmingham City Carson Yeung has been sentenced to a six-year jail sentence after his money laundering case in Hong Kong was concluded.

The news was confirmed on early Friday morning by Sky Sports' chief news reporter Bryan Swanson via Twitter:

BBC News quoted Judge Douglas saying the following upon delivering his sentence:

"Maintaining the integrity of the banking system is of paramount importance if Hong Kong is to remain an international finance centre," he said.

Adam Shergold of the Mail Online had previously confirmed that Yeung had been found guilty of five counts of money laundering.

Shergold reported that Judge Douglas Yau had said of the disgraced owner: "I find the defendant not a witness of truth. I find that he is someone who is prepared to, and did try to, lie whenever he saw the need to do so."

Yeung had denied laundering £55.4million through his bank account between 2001 and 2007, per Shergold's article.

The 54-year-old businessman bought into Birmingham City in 2007 and acquired the rest in 2009, per Sky Sports.

However, he resigned from the parent company—Hong Kong-listed Birmingham International Holdings Ltd (BIHL)—while he awaited the verdict of his case.

Birmingham's acting chairman Peter Pannu issued the following statement on Monday in reaction to the criminal conviction, via the club's website:

I regret to inform all supporters and staff of our beloved club that Birmingham City F.C's former president and benefactor, Carson Yeung, was today convicted of all charges he faced following a protracted period of legal proceedings.

 

I'd like to reassure all supporters and staff that today's verdict will have no impact on the day-to-day operations at the football club. 

The story of Yeung's integration and eventual exit from English football throws into doubt the process for buying clubs in the top divisions. The influx of foreign owners has been rife over the past 20 years, and is regulated by the FA. 

But as media presenter Richard Keys says, this process must surely be questionable. He tweeted:

Sky Sports reported that Yeung's defence lawyer had told the judge that the Birmingham owner, who built a business empire that included hair salons, fertiliser and real estate, "came from rags to riches, and he's likely to return to rags."

His lawyer pleaded for a light sentence and said there had been "no subterfuge" in Yeung's business dealings as the accounts in question were held in his own name and his father's name. Yeung's team and the prosecution painted very different pictures of how the tycoon made his money, during the trial.

The prosecution said the huge sums of money passed through five accounts from "unknown parties without any apparent reason." Yeung insists he accumulated his millions through stock trading, hair salons, business ventures in mainland China and investing in casinos in Macau.

Yeung is part of an army of wealthy businessmen who have tried to get a foothold in the game in England in order to gain access to the amazing revenue streams available in the sport. With billions of pounds on offer from TV money to club sponsorship, the size of the prize is too tempting for those that can afford the gamble.

The FA has always had the "fit and proper person" test in place for many years, but Yeung's case is proof that the current examination does not act as full protection for Premier League or Football League clubs.

The case now leaves the future of Birmingham City in doubt despite the reassurances of the acting chairman.

It is once again a warning to clubs who try and attract investment from abroad. The process of doing this needs to be more stringent to protect some of the oldest and most famous teams from England. 

The suitors are piling up for Birmingham City goalkeeper Jack Butland, as many Premier League giants begin their pursuit of the young star.

The 19-year-old began to turn heads when he joined Birmingham in 2010, but he didn't really take off until the world noticed him as Great Britain's top-notch goalkeeper in the 2012 London Olympics.

Now, Butland is one of the hottest commodities between the pipes as many big clubs try to bring him in as their future star. Many people in England think he'll soon rival Joe Hart for the national team's starting goalkeeper spot.

Let's take a look at the most likely destinations for Jack Butland, and the clubs who have expressed the most interest in him.

Fulham

Fulham weren't the first club reported to have interest in Butland, but they have emerged as one of the most likely candidates according to Brendan McLoughlin of Mirror.

The Mirror report states that Fulham are ready to make the first move for Butland, and that could very well make them the top candidate. Birmingham City are in dire financial straits, and they could jump at the money even though they'd be better suited waiting for a bigger offer.

Fulham are looking for a long-term replacement for Mark Schwarzer, who finishes up his contract this year.

Don't be surprised if it ends up being Butland in Fulham. Another Mirror report stated the 19-year-old won't leave to be a backup somewhere, which means many of the top-flight clubs courting him are likely out of the picture.

Fulham is a solid club that Butland would almost certainly start for right off the bat. 

Southampton

Back in the summer transfer window, Birmingham City rejected a £6 million offer from Southampton for Butland. But that scenario would likely be different today, as they need the money much more.

Near the bottom of the Premier League table this season, Southampton are certainly desperate to add to their club and begin improving their competence to avoid relegation. 

Adding Butland would certainly improve their minus-11 goal differential and bring an improvement to the final line of defense. To Butland's benefit, he'd likely play first-team football there as well and against top-flight clubs. 

Liverpool

The struggling Premier League club Liverpool looks to be among the biggest buyers in the January transfer window, and they're reaching to Butland according to this Mirror report. 

Liverpool will certainly spend as much cash as anyone on Butland, but the biggest question is if he'll welcome the move. He likely only would if he was assured he'd be the first-team option above Pepe Reina. 

If Reina's still on the roster, Liverpool would probably prefer to ease Butland into his permanent role. But if they decide to sell him to Arsenal as has been rumored, it would free up Butland to be the long-term goalkeeper for the Reds.

It’s not often that an international striker with 57 caps, 20 goals and two World Cups behind him is far from an automatic choice at Championship level. Yet this is the situation that Nikola Zigic, the 6ft 7in Serbian, finds himself in at Birmingham City, as they stumble unwittingly from one disaster to the next.

Uncertainty over the club’s ownership, with Carson Yeung facing money-laundering charges in Hong Kong, a disastrous home record of four losses from the last six and a deeply unpopular manager in Lee Clark have made for a potent mix of discontent.

After the warm glow of a League Cup win and European adventure, crowds have now fallen to the 14,000 mark, less than half the capacity of St. Andrew’s. Given financial limitations a side decimated by defensive injuries has been reliant on a cocktail of short-term solutions, selecting loanees, kids and players coaxed out of semi-retirement on one-month contracts.

This is where Zigic comes into the equation. Earning a reported £50,000 a week from a deal with over a year-and-a-half left to run, he has proved impossible to shift from the wage bill. Despite interest from Spain, clubs are understandably loath to match such generous terms.

Thus he is accused by some of being a parasitic blight, while to others he is a cult hero who can do no wrong after his goals against Aston Villa and Arsenal on the run to Wembley. A divisive figure in general, he can by turns be an unstoppable aerial threat or meekly uninvolved; last season he scored four at Leeds one week and was anonymous the next.

However, after a prolonged hiatus from the squad for a supposedly poor attitude and then a suspension for a sending off against Huddersfield, Zigic has started the last three games as performances, if not results, have improved markedly.

When motivated and with the team playing to his strengths, as in the visits of Bristol and Hull, he can be brutally effective. Both defences had a torrid time dealing with his sheer physicality, while two towering headers set up goals for strike partner Marlon King. In time-honoured tradition to that most mystifying of cliches, he also has rather good feet for a big man.

Improved performances won’t convince all of the doubters, and even the most ardent advocates of Nikola Zigic find him maddeningly inconsistent, but he has been a real bright spot in recent weeks. And although Birmingham City continue to languish down in 19th, unable to find even a semblance of form, at least the former Valencia forward has begun to show what he’s all about.

Squeaky Brum Time

As the season draws to a close and the race for the title intensifies, the battle against relegation also begins to reach a fever pitch, and with the bottom of the table being such a closely fought campaign this year there is still time for several twists and turns before the end. 

This article will look at the holder of the first piece of domestic silverware of the season, Birmingham City.

The second City's blue and white contingent will be thankful for the international break currently underway as it offers an opportunity for the convalescence of several key Birmingham players. Recent injuries have plagued the normally resilient midland squad, with stalwarts like Scott Dann, James McFadden,  Barry Ferguson and Lee Bowyer out injured. Add to this Craig Gardner, Martin Jiranek and Nikola Zigic as well as Seb Larsson and David Bentley (both to a lesser extent) and the list makes grim reading.

Birmingham's relatively small squad has meant calling a hideously error prone Curtis Davies and inexperienced youngsters, Nathan Redmond and Jordan Mutch (who have both impressed), into the starting team.

The injuries have also highlighted Birmingham's over-reliance on a few players, namely Barry Ferguson and former figure of fun, Nikola Zigic, without whom goals have been hard to come by. Birmingham are also blighted by a long term injury to Scott Dann. Czech enforcer Martin Jiranek has impressed since coming into the first team but a succession of injuries have seen him replaced by Curtis Davies, a player completely lacking in first team football in the long term who has looked uncomfortable and has made at least one costly mistake every time he has played.

Ultimately, Birmingham have a decent fixture list in the final stages of the season, playing only Chelsea of the traditional top four and Tottenham too, both of whom may be involved in distracting European fixtures. They also welcome the likes of Bolton, Sunderland and Wolverhampton Wanderers to St Andrews but form will have to pick up following a dire loss to Wigan.

Manager Alex Mcleish has already worked one managerial miracle this season, taking an unfancied side to Carling Cup glory, and he now must perform another to cement himself as one of the most successful Birmingham managers of recent times. He has proven himself more than capable and will back himself to save the club from what would be a depressingly familiar sensation for the fans, relegation.  

A relegation would be catastrophic for the allegedly financially troubled club, and it would likely see the departure of several big names like Scott Dann and Roger Johnson, both of whom should stay (if Birmingham stay up) now that Birmingham have European football to look forward to next season.

Prediction

Looking at their fixtures, Birmingham can be reasonably expected to escape their predicament. Bear in mind they are a mere four points from twelfth position with a game in hand. Wins against a Sunderland team with little to play for and a fairly uninspiring Fulham alongside away draws against Wolves and Newcastle should be attainable.

Do you agree or are Birmingham destined for the drop? Let me know below