Birmingham City have had a busy week in the transfer window, securing three players on permanent deals to bolster their squad. Equatoguinean international right-back Emilio Nsue has been joined by Turkey international winger Kerim Frei and talented left-back Cheick Keita as Blues have gone continental in their purchases. Excitement levels have risen considerably – no small thanks to nature of these signings.
It’s sixteen days into January and Birmingham City are still winless under Gianfranco Zola. That fact coupled with a lack of action in the transfer market has seemingly amplified the continued grumblings since the Rowett sacking. Is this the winter of our discontent?
An accusation that has been levelled oft times at the respective boards of Birmingham City and Birmingham International Holdings has been a lack of communication towards the fans of the club. Since he has been involved Panos Pavlakis has been the face of the board and the task of talking to the fans has fallen on him.
It looks like the transfer window is kicking into life at St Andrews with purported deals for Rene Krhin from Granada CF and Craig Gardner from West Bromwich Albion edging close to completion. While these transfers and more will be discussed ad nauseum on the internet, I wanted to look at the Krhin deal in particular as a change in focus at Blues.
The first inklings of what Blues will do in the transfer window were revealed today as news broke that Blues were bidding for Bakary Sako. The 28-year-old Crystal Palace winger is allegedly the subject of a £4million bid – an amount which dwarves anything paid for a player since Nikola Zigic in 2010.
I think it’s safe to say 2016 has been a controversial year in all walks of life. The sacking of Gary Rowett and the subsequent immediate appointment of Gianfranco Zola has been one of the biggest things to divide fans since the arrest of Carson Yeung on suspicion of money laundering.
Birmingham International Holdings have announced to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange the results of their AGM held today in Wanchai.
The accounts for both Birmingham City and it’s UK parent Birmingham City PLC have been made available at Companies House this week. Both sets of accounts are essentially the same (as BCFC is 100% owned by BC PLC and it’s sole asset) and paint a stark picture of how much trouble BCFC would be without the investment of Trillion Trophy Asia.
A second defeat in two games for Birmingham City under Gianfranco Zola has magnified pressure on owners Trillion Trophy Asia. With the transfer window opening in a matter of days the onus is now on the Blues board to provide funding to reinvigorate the Blues squad.
With all the fuss over Gary Rowett changes at board level have slipped under the radar somewhat. Two days before the sacking of Rowett three new directors were appointed to the club’s board. This week, a further two names have been added – who are they?
