Right, where were we... ah, yes. Peter Pannu, whingeing about, accurate, press coverage. The bits below about the BIH AGM last Friday are but the tip of a curious corporate iceberg. So, this article is to become a trilogy. Good, eh?...no...wait...COME BACK... And just in case I didn't give due credit in part one, immense credit is due to the Blues Trust and the Often Partisan website for their amazing hard work on this matter, which makes Pannu's attitude to them all the more contemptible.
Birmingham City's handsomely remunerated but still acting chairman Peter Pannu recently responded to media focus on his financial affairs with a lengthy statement on the club's website. It said much about the man, his attitude and the Blues' off-field problems – little of it good. This morning 200% reproduces the statement, with Mark Murphy's comments interspersed in bold.
It is a comparison I have made before but it remains as true today as ever. If anyone outside Burnley has reason to be glad that the Rao family own Blackburn Rovers – bar Rovers' idiotic ‘global advisor' Shebby Singh – it is Birmingham City's all-powerful, increasingly rich but still "acting" chairman Peter Pannu.
It is exactly three years since the press-release heavy article in the Birmingham Mail newspaper announcing Birmingham City's new sponsorship deal with Chinese sportswear manufacturers X-Tep. But even allowing for the spin, it shows how large a failure Carson Yeung and his associates' Blues ownership has been.
The 1980s were a period of decline for football in the West Midlands. A decade which had started with one of its clubs, Aston Villa, winning the Football League Championship and the European Cup in successive season soon saw several of its most notable clubs hit hitherto unseen low points in their histories and one man, a scrap metal dealer from the Black Country, seemed to be at the centre of much of the tumult of the decade, with vitriolic anger being hurled his way from the supporters of two different clubs at which promises of a brighter future were lost amid desperate struggles to keep failing businesses afloat.
Which player has the best win percentage at every Premier League club that has played in the top flight of England from 1992-2013?
Some of the findings may surprise you. Out of the 45 teams who have played in the Premier League since it was founded, there are memorable names from the history of British football with greats such as Alan Shearer.
Most well-known for his UEFA Champions League win with Liverpool, current out-of-contract left back/centerback Djimi Traore is currently with the Seattle Sounders FC on trial. The invitee has a resume that also includes Stade Lavallois Mayenne, Lens, Charlton Athletic, Portsmouth, Stade Rennais, Birmingham City, AS Monaco and his last stop at Olympique de Marseille.
Jack Butland is set to join Stoke after a £4million offer has been accepted by Birmingham City. This could set off a goalkeeping merrygo round with Asmir Begovic touted by many of Europe's top teams. This is certainly a missed opportunity by Liverpool, the young keeper is highly talented and has impressed in the last two seasons at St Andrews.
QPR have triggered a release clause in Christopher Samba's contract at Anzhi, which could see the former Blackburn Rovers defender heading back to England. I, for one, would love to see Samba back in the top flight. He's a brilliant...
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QPR have triggered a release clause in Christopher Samba's contract at Anzhi, which could see the former Blackburn Rovers defender heading back to England.
I, for one, would love to see Samba back in the top flight. He's a brilliant defender, a greater header of the ball and is one of those footballers who can make a massive difference for any club, most especially Queens Park Rangers.
Liverpool face a Premier League transfer battle in the race to sign Lazio striker Mauro Zarate. The Reds are amongst a number of clubs to be linked with a move for the 25-year-old, with Sunderland and Stoke City also reported to be keen on the former Birmingham City loanee. And, after struggling to make an impact at the Stadio Olimpico this season, Sky Sports understands that English sides are now weighing up a move for the player in the final days of the January transfer window.
Birmingham City's Chairman Peter Pannu has admitted there have been talks with Liverpool football club over goal keeper Jack Butland and admits the club might have to sell the 19 year old due to financial reasons.
Birmingham City are on the verge of administration, and the only way they can avoid it is by cashing in on players who can command substantial transfer fees.
The controversy and drama resulting from Mike Dean's correct decision to award Newcastle United their second goal at Old Trafford from Boxing Day continues to roll on. In today's press conferences in England, there's been plenty of...
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With the transfer window coming up, we can all count on one thing for certain. There will be non-stop chatter about what teams must do if they are going to "push for the top" or "avoid regulation". Rumors and arguments ... Continue reading...
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With the transfer window coming up, we can all count on one thing for certain. There will be non-stop chatter about what teams must do if they are going to "push for the top" or "avoid regulation". Rumors and arguments will be rampant. The blogosphere will be on full hype 24/7. There will be no peace until the window finally, blessedly closes with people blathering up to the last minute about possible deals.
Liverpool have been warned that they will have to make an offer of more than £6million if they are to sign Birmingham City goalkeeper Jack Butland in the January transfer window. The England international has repeatedly been linked with a move to Merseyside in recent months, with the Mirror suggesting that both Liverpool and Everton are keen to sign the goalkeeper in the New Year.
Liverpool have stepped up their chase of English goalkeeper Jack Butland as Arsenal prepare to make an £8 million move to sign Pepe Reina. Goal.com has learned that the Merseysiders have made third-party contact with Birmingham City about buying Butland in January. Wigan Athletic's Ali Al-Habsi and Swansea City's Michel Vorm also feature on Liverpool's wish-list as they prepare the ground for the increasingly likely departure of Reina.
Pepe Reina of Liverpool (Photo by Clint Hughes/Getty Images)
The Daily Mail is reporting that Brendan Rodgers could be ready to part ways with Spanish goalkeeper Pepe Reina. The Spanish keeper has been under fire this season as he hasn't performed nearly as well as he has in his previous years with the Anfield outfit.
Liverpool and Stoke are set to fight it out for Lazio forward Mauro Zarate when the transfer window opens in January. The out-of-favour striker has featured just five times for the Serie A side this season and would be available for around €10million, but Liverpool and Stoke face competition from other suitors around Europe, including Malaga and Spartak Moscow.
Liverpool's interest in Birmingham City's Nathan Redmond has been heightened ahead of the January transfer window, as talks between the player and his club regarding a new deal continues to stall. The Daily Telegraph report that Brendan Rodgers has been targeting the inventive winger for the last 12 months, as he has progressively enhanced his reputation in the Championship after becoming Birmingham's second youngest ever player behind Trevor Francis.
Which Premier League is the biggest spender in the last decade? You may be surprised by the
results. According to a recent survey by Deloitte, Premier League clubs have spent more than
£4.4bn on players since the transfer window was introduced...
[I]t's been a torrid 2012-13 so far for Aston Villa and from the moment Robbie Savage pronounced that the club would most definitely be relegated last August, media pundits and fans of other clubs have been forming an orderly queue to have a bash. Meanwhile, Villa fans themselves have been lying low, largely defending manager Paul Lambert, but with their patience stretched to levels of high tautness and doubt creeping in by the week.
I can't remember the first time I listened the Men In Blazers podcast. The show launched in 2011, but I do remember laughing out loud on my first listen and instantly forming a bond with co-hosts Roger Bennett and Michael Davies. Their show is a journey through the Premier League complete with humor, prose and endearing stories.
Interview: Alex McLeish on Aston Villa, Birmingham, Everton, Rangers and those Scotland rumours... is a post from: Just Football
As part of their association with the League Managers Association (LMA), internet corporation Yahoo! sent over a transcript of an interview with former Aston Villa, Birmingham City, Glasgow Rangers and Scotland manager Alex McLeish.
Image: Julian Finney/Getty Images Europe. Congrats to the club's female contingent, who beat Birmingham City 1-0 to retain the Continental Cup. They will spend the next three days trying to force the damn thing into their trophy room, alongside the sixteen other trophies they have won since the boys lifted the FA Cup in 2005.
Jonathan Spector and Birmingham City beat Bolton in midweek Championship action, while Frank Simek and Carlisle United drew with Crewe Alexandria down in League One.
Jonathan Spector and Birmingham City hope to rebound after a frustrating weekend against Tim Ream's Bolton, while Frank Simek and Carlisle United look to climb the standings with a win against Crewe Alexandria.
Brad Guzan, Eric Lichaj, and Aston Villa drew with Newcastle, while Jonathan Spector and Birmingham
City notched their first win of the season over Peterborough United.
Relax Steven, it's just a loan Apparently the way to fix Toronto FC's leaky wingback situation which has led to many a last-minute heartbreaker... is to loan a centreback. Yes, TFC have reportedly gone back to mining the English Championship loan market again this time grabbing Scotland International and soon-to-be ex-Birmingham City defender Steven Caldwell.
As spring continues to blossom - in some places faster than others - it starts to be crunch time for MNT players abrod while the guys in MLS are starting to hit their full stride six weeks into the season. Plenty to watch this weekend... FRIDAY Jonathan Spector (Leicester City vs.
I can't remember the first time I listened the Men In Blazers podcast. The show launched in 2011, but I do remember laughing out loud on my first listen and instantly forming a bond with co-hosts Roger Bennett and Michael ... Continue...
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The Rao family at Blackburn Rovers have long since garnered the awards as the most gullible fallers for English Premier League (EPL) hype. But the original remain Hong Kong hairdresser Carson Yeung and his band of merry distant associates at Birmingham City. Yeung and Co, mostly "Co", threw £81.5m at the two Davids, Sullivan and Gold, to take the Blues off their sleazy hands in 2009 – two less deserving causes for the money it would be hard to imagine.
Two weeks ago we heard that out of contract central defender, Matt Besler had offers to play abroad instead of signing a new contract with Sporting KC. At the time there was no mention made of where Besler had interest from though. Today, Nate Bukay, Co-Host of The Border Patrol on Sports Radio 810am added to the speculation on Twitter posting 3 potential locations that he heard Besler had offers to trial at.
Say what you like about Keith Fahey but the man can grow facial hair at a fair old rate. One week into Movember and Birmingham midfielder Fahey's charity lip tickler already looks like this...
Dense, rich and delicious.
Given that the Movember rules state each participant must start clean-shaven on 1st November, we cancategoricallyconfirm that we're looking at a six-day growth here.
Seb Hines was back in Middlesbrough's starting lineup in their draw with Derby County, while Will Packwood and Jonathan Spector featured in Birmingham City's loss to Cardiff City.
Tomorrow, last season's Championship winners Reading travel to West Bromwich Albion, who are enjoying their third consecutive Premier League season. Biscuitman Lanterne Rouge asks Throstle Frank Heaven what other promoted clubs can learn from Albion's widely praised model. LR: On Sunday, I sat through one of the most one sided matches I have attended for some time as Spurs cantered to victory over Reading.
Liverpool have been drawn against Udinese, Young Boys Bern and FC Anzhi Makhachkala in the group
stages of the Europa League.
Brendan Rodgers' side ensured their place in the group stages of the competition with a nervy 2-1
aggregate win over SPL side Hearts on Thursday and went in Friday's draw in Monaco as top seeds.
