Blues move forward with stadium plans

Birmingham are renewing their attempt to build a new stadium, which could be completed by 2014 if all goes to plan.

Blues, who are working in conjunction with Birmingham City Council, have appointed a master planner to assess the potential site at Saltley, which is near their current headquarters at St Andrews.

The Midlands club would be prepared to spend £20m towards the cost of the new stadium but would look for other financial aid to help fund the project.

Birmingham had previously looked set to build a new stadium in the same area in partnership with US casino company Las Vegas Sands, but the council rejected the idea and opted for a rival project based at the National Exhibition Centre.

City managing director Karren Brady said: “Talks continue with the city council regarding a new stadium.

“We are in the process of appointing a master planner and someone to look at the land to see if a stadium can become a reality.

“But we have to have auxiliaries in place as we do not want to bankrupt this club by building a stadium.”

Meanwhile, Birmingham are expected to confirm at lunchtime today their shareholders have rejected an attempt by the club’s leading shareholder Carson Yeung to co-opt Steve McManaman and Fan Zhiyi onto the board of directors.

The proposal was heard at an extraordinary general meeting of the club held at St Andrews yesterday afternoon.

Hong Kong businessman Yeung – via his company Grandtop International Holdings - wants to elect former players McManaman and Zhiyi to act as his UK representatives.

But Brady recommended to shareholders they reject the bid by Yeung, who had angered chairman David Gold and co-owner David Sullivan by failing to complete his takeover after buying an initial 29.9% stake.

In reality, the proposal is already doomed to failure as Sullivan and Gold have increased their shareholding in Birmingham to nearly 50%.