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Birmingham owners speak out amid fan protests with ‘laughable’ claims made

Birmingham City owners speak out for the first time amid fan protests with ‘laughable’ claims made when talking to talkSPORT.

The radio station were told that the club is ‘not for sale’ and have also sent a message of apology to disgruntled supporters.

Blues fans have set up a campaign against their club’s owners after years of growing discontent with the team stuck in the Championship.

The hashtag #BSHLOUT [Birmingham Sports Holdings Limited] has been doing the rounds and trending every other day on Twitter with unrest continuing.

talkSPORT reporter and Blues fan, Ian Danter, has stated that supporters feel ‘disenfranchised’ by the current ownership group, and don’t even know who is really is in charge.

Simon Jordan also spoke on the situation, claiming both manager Lee Bowyer and player Troy Deeney had ‘been sold a pup’ following their moves to St Andrew’s last year.

In response to the growing discontent, club director Edward Zheng has told talkSPORT that the club is not for sale, and has explained the lack of communication.

“This club is not for sale and we have no intention to sell this club,” Zheng said.

“I think this is just because of the culture differences for Chinese, we are humble, quiet, and we just do our business. That’s what we are, we don’t like to show off everywhere.”

Zheng added: “I don’t know, for myself I have no idea who they are.

“The major shareholder is Paul Suen. I don’t know why we have so many rumours surrounding everywhere.”

Birmingham lost their place in the Premier League in 2011, the same season they beat Arsenal in the League Cup final.

The club have since failed to return to the top flight, losing a playoff semi-final against Blackpool the following campaign, and haven’t finished higher than 10th over the past decade.

The club brought back former player Bowyer as manager last March to lead their charge up the table, as well as Deeney, but it hasn’t been enough for their ascent to begin.

Technical director Craig Gardner spoke with talkSPORT about the club’s current position, insisting that funds are available as they aim to push towards Premier League promotion.

“People know that we put two or three bids in for a certain individual two or three weeks ago and people can say ‘yeah you put bids in’ but these were three proper bids,” Gardner explained.

“We weren’t messing around, I’m not here to play a game, I’m here to try and make a difference, with the senior management team and the board we all want to pull together and bring the good times back to the club.”

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Gardner also talked about the lack of communication towards fans, admitting it’s something that needs to be improved.

“We’ve obviously realised that the communication levels from the club to the fans haven’t been great,” Gardner confessed.

“You’ll ask Edward [Zheng] in a minute but he was the one that come out and said we’re sorry, we have to put this right, and that was on behalf of the board, the senior management team at the club, so we want to invite everybody here so you get to see the truth, you get to hear the truth.

“If [reporters are] going to go out there and they’re going to speak, which is absolutely fine by the way, but if they’re going to talk about if there’s any money to spend at the club, come and ask me, report the truth.

“Ian [Danter] is a great guy, but please next time come and speak to the club.”

talkSPORT reporter Ian Danter previously said that he had been blocked by Zheng earlier this month, though the situation has since been put right.

Gardner joined the club’s coaching staff last year, before being appointed technical director in June, and thinks they club has what it takes to challenge for promotion.

“In my head I’ve got a three-year plan,” he said.

“At the minute the money side of the things are outweighing the on-field performance side, so we want to basically reverse that and start getting performances better, results better, whilst we’re bringing the wage structure down to a decent budget.

“So we’re working really hard on that to try and be creative, that’s this year. Next year is about stability with this club, we have to grow and say, ‘right we’re here now, we’re a stable club’.

“In year three we’ve got to compete because I don’t want to be involved in a stable club for four, five, six years, so our recruitment is very important.

“You can probably see the players that were trying to recruit, we’re trying to recruit pace, trickery, the kind of players that excite the fans because the fans need exciting.”

Twitter users reacted as Birmingham owners speak out amid fan protests with ‘laughable’ claims made…

@Gilharry2: Who is Wang Yaohui, Mr King, the shadow owner/money man? Why has he got 9 passports? Who is Vong Pech? What are his intentions? Why is Paul Suen not bothered and leaving it to this pair?
the chairman Zhao says nothing. Cheng says nothing. are they puppets for the owners?

@Gilharry2: what is BSHL reason for being? Why is BSHL loaded with £120 mil debt. why have they done NOTHING to St Andrew’s – and sold it to a mysterious woman Kang Ming, via a BVI firm? total mismanagement on and off the field. league positions BSHL 19th, 19th, 17th, 20th, 18th, current 18th

@DoctorRock101: Its a travesty what is happening to Birmingham City. A traditional English football club that if they had a bit of success would be the biggest club in Brum without a doubt.

@carolbradycpcm: I’m pretty sure they told us they had a three year plan to get us into the PL 2 years ago. So was it really a 5 year plan back then or is it just more made up BS from the board now? #BSHLOUT

@theraffleboy: Bit like me having a 3 month plan to lose weight………..it ain’t gonna happen

@B31villa: It’s weird how all of a sudden they come out with this drivel when the fans start protesting.

 

@ChrisCOB_OB:
Simon Jordan being quite concise on @talkSPORT about Birmingham City
It’s becoming clear to everyone more and more now.
The positive movement regarding the clubs ownership from media is slowly starting to happen now. 👍
Keep up the correct momentum.
Paul Suen needs to come out

@zdpj_: Embarrassing as per #BSHLOUT

@Wrighti1: April 1st already ? This year is going so fast!!

@1875cal: We have been in the first year of this three year plan for about five years and I’m tired

@bcfcxjack: constantly making us a laughing stock. i hate it here

@AdamClinton9: Birmingham City Football Club, the gift that keeps on giving. #AVFC

@andrewstone85: They’ll be lucky to still be in the championship/existence in 3 years time

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