New era dawns at Birmingham as Yeung finally takes control

HONG KONG businessman Carson Yeung finally gained control of Birmingham yesterday as he took his shareholding beyond the 90% mark.

Yeung’s investment company Grandtop Holdings can now complete a compulsory purchase of the remaining shares with a view to taking the club off the Alternative Investment Market and into private ownership.

The news represents the formal end of the David Sullivan, Ralph Gold and Karren Brady era at St Andrews, although David Gold is poised to remain as chairman.