As expected after a weekend of rumour, John Eustace parted company with Birmingham City on Monday morning, followed by his assistant head coaches Matt Gardiner and Keith Downing on Tuesday evening. While at the time of writing Wayne Rooney has yet to be named as successor, it is only a matter of time before the former Derby County and DC United head coach takes over at St Andrew’s.
There’s an old cliché about a week being a long time in football. It’s meant to symbolise how quickly things can change in the game and this hasn’t been typified more than the last fifty days at St Andrew’s since Shelby Companies Limited took over.
With just a week left in June the angst among some Blues fans is starting to ratchet up. The eagerness for the takeover to go through seamlessly knows no bounds but years of being a Blues fan means that some fans can’t help but worry that something is going to go wrong.
It’s been two months since news broke of the Often Partisan Limited bid to take over Birmingham City with very little updates on progress. Although the radio silence has been understandable after the Maxco fiasco earlier in the season, the longer it has gone on the more nerves are starting to show among Blues fans.
March is the time of year when clubs in the Championship file their accounts with the EFL to show their funding for the season ahead. As of yet there is no news of Blues having any issues with their filings but the same can’t be said for other clubs in the division. Four clubs are currently listed as being embargoed while others face potential points deductions.
It’s been another tough weekend to be a Blues fan. While a 1-1 draw at Wigan arrested a run of defeats, it did nothing to ease relegation fears and Blues remain just seven points clear of the drop zone. Meanwhile, a fire at the training ground on Thursday night / Friday morning was just the latest episode in the shitshow that is Birmingham City FC right now.
August has been a strange month for those of us who support Birmingham City. The month started for many with the hope that the proposed takeover of the club by Paul Richardson and Maxi Lopez would come to a quick conclusion and investment would be made in the team. As it comes to an end there’s been a palpable fear that the club would see a net outflow of players with rumours afoot of young talents being put up for sale.
While Blues’ Championship future has been secured for another season at least, there is an awful lot still up in the air as the final game of the season approaches. Fans still do not know what is happening with respect to the repairs of the lower Tilton and Kop stands, while on the pitch Lee Bowyer’s position as Blues boss seems very uncertain despite the remaining year on his contract.
Although the points differential between Blues and bottom three is still in double digits, it’s clear that there once again is a cloud of disheartenment surrounding Blues fans. Another poor performance in defeat to Middlesbrough has left some questioning the players and / or the manager while others are starting to wonder just how much needs to be done this summer to make things right at St Andrew’s.
I don’t often watch international football let alone write about it, but I wanted to put down on metaphorical paper my thoughts following the European Championship. I’d never really considered myself an England fan; I’ve always been very much a club over country person but the last month really opened my eyes. Euro2020 gave me every reason to be proud to be where I’m from – and unfortunately, in the end it also showed why I’ve felt shame.
