BCFC: Unity
As the foofaraw about the transfer embargo rumbles on into a second week, Blues fans seem to be divided between those who are confident it will be all over soon and those who think the embargo is the end of the world.
Author: Almajir
FFP: One Week On
A week has passed since news broke of Birmingham City being placed under a transfer embargo with no news of any change. With the transfer deadline now 24 days away, what needs to happen for Birmingham City to be released from this period of limbo?
Editorial: FFP and Pedersen
Yesterday, I broke news about issues within Birmingham that have caused the club to be subject to a transfer embargo by the EFL, along with the decision of the league not to register Kristian Pedersen as a player. There was a lot of attention to that post and a lot of questions, and with that in mind I have put together this article to explain as best as I can what is happening.
BCFC: Pedersen Not Signed
Despite the club announcing his arrival on the official website on June 25, this website can today confirm that Danish left-back Kristian Pedersen is not in fact registered as a Birmingham City player. It is understood that the EFL have declined to allow Blues to register the full back as a player and have since placed the club under a transfer embargo.
BCFC: Caveat Spectator
With rumours flying around about the possible purchase of Lewis Grabban by Birmingham City from Bournemouth, the question of Financial Fair Play raises it’s ugly head again. However, the question isn’t so much about if Blues are breaking FFP rules now – but more to the point, does anybody care?
HK: The Elusive Mr King Part V
Previously on almajir.net I’ve written about a group of large shareholders in Birmingham Sports Holdings I’ve termed “The Faceless Four”. Today I have spent time investigating two of those shareholders to find out more about them and who they are.
HK is not China
One of the big themes for protest here in Hong Kong is that “Hong Kong is not China”. While the former colony is a Special Autonomous Region (SAR) of China, it has its own government, money and legal system. Today I spoke to Tobias Zuser, who is a researcher in Sports & Cultural Policy, Hong Kong Baptist University and an expert in Hong Kong / Chinese football about how that difference between the SAR and the Chinese mainland affects Blues.
HK: Anonymity and Understanding
One of the biggest things I want to achieve while I’m out here in Hong Kong is to help the fans who want to know more about the ownership of the club to understand how it all works. I know it’s not something everyone cares about – but I believe it’s important so that we know what to expect from Birmingham City’s owners and what to hope for.
HK: Engage!
While things at St Andrew’s Trillion Trophy Stadium have been much calmer and less chaotic than our friends over the expressway, there still remains a slight cloud of secrecy over just where Blues are going.
BSH: The Faceless Four
Dragon Villa will become the second biggest shareholder in Birmingham Sports Holdings (and thus by extension BCFC) once the share subscription announced on Thursday goes through. Their holding will take them above the 10% threshold that ensures that their owner Lei Sutong has to take the much-maligned Owners and Directors Test. Just who are these people?