Often Partisan

A Month of Progress?

If May was a month of stasis, then June was certainly a month of change. June has seen the appointment of a new manager, a new backroom staff, a new kit deal and changes with the parent company in Hong Kong. There has been a lot to keep up with, and I hope now that July will be a month of progress.

Like many people, I held off renewing my season ticket for about as long as I could before I’d lose the discount. There was a feeling of a general malaise around the club and although I try to be an optimist I was feeling it too. The departure of firstly Chris Hughton to Norwich and then Jordon Mutch to Cardiff only seemed to focus those feelings into a tighter knot of uncertainty – where we going as a club?

However, as I write this I can honestly admit I’m feeling a lot more chipper about things. Blues have appointed a new manager in Lee Clark – and rather than going for a manager who has been around the block a few times and is looking for just another job, we’ve got a bloke in who clearly wanted to make this one his. I’ve heard talk of Clark’s enthusiasm, his desire to get cracking and to continue the momentum started by Hughton last year and really give us something to be happy about. Whilst I’d have given any manager who took on the role a chance I will say I’ve only heard good things about Clark since he took on the hotseat at St Andrews and I’m hoping that Blues will benefit from his drive and his hunger to show that the good things he did at Huddersfield were not a fluke.

It also appears that there have been some major changes behind the scenes – and I think that these will also benefit the club massively. The Xtep kit deal was a massive millstone hanging around Blues’ neck and I’m confident now that with a new manufacturer sourced in Diadora it will be for the benefit of the club financially; the more money that the club can bring in the less likely it will be that they have to sell on players and the more self-sufficient they will become.

Furthermore, it appears that BCFC are gaining more autonomy from the parent company to get on with things and the hope is (from me at least) that this will help Blues in their quest to get the transfer embargo lifted. There is an argument that the club have operated for twelve months since the year-end of the delayed accounts without defaulting on anything – tax, transfers or wages – and I’m guessing with the money brought in over the last month the club can probably show the league that they have the cashflow to manage this season comfortably as well.

July sees the proper opening of the transfer window, with Bosman deals now officially being able to take place and pre-season training starting relatively soon. I’ve no doubt we’ll see more stories of players being touted around clubs from the national press but I’m also hopeful that the “firesale” that some people have forecasted may not now happen. If Blues can get to the end of the transfer window with the core of the squad intact and maybe a few useful additions we could be in for a decent season. Let’s hope that come the end of the this month that we’ll be able to reflect on how much further Blues have come.

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51 Responses to “A Month of Progress?”

  • boy from oz says:

    I am only just getting back into a regular sleeping patern and find I’m only thinking about blues during my waking hours now. Never a dull moment at our beloved BCFC. Some positive signs at last and hopefully a lift in morale. I am concerned about the transfer window and the poaching of our more desirable players; particularly davis & burke. I’m sure Norwich and the new boys in the prem will be sniffing around soon, but such is the roller coaster we ride at Stans. Thanks once again Al for keeping us in front of the tabloids for updates particularly for those of us on the otherside of the planet. Been a supporter and fan of blues since 1954, what can you do when it’s in your blood. I wish every blue nose good luck and good health for the coming season. KRO.

  • evesham blue says:

    I think with the size of the squad we have currently we cannot afford to sell anymore players on anyway surely?

    It would be nice for a change to sign somebody albeit with special dispensation from the league. Surely the transfer embargo must be lifted soon? Maybe they are working on getting this years accounts finished first with our cash flow projections?

    Like you say it is welcome that we seem to be severing some ties with HK and operating on our own. Seems the trouble makers have been booted out of our parent company.

  • Paul Carter - The Voice Of Reason says:

    Well this Blue is certainly tons happier having renewed at last.

    A bit of communication was all I wanted and I got it so I renewed the next day.

    I was fretting like hell about not renewing.

    Well done to all those who held back as i think we forced Pee Pees arm and he realised he had to start talking.

  • Adam says:

    Great piece again mate
    Maybe you could do a article on how the young players can get into the first team and who they all are as we do have a small squad and they could be a part of our team next season

  • Mez says:

    The most positive thing for me, if true, is what Pannu said about the finances. Player sales & cost cutting over the last year have enabled the club to run at a profit & to remain “self funding”. Hopefully puts to bed people’s fears that we’ve been selling players & losing the money to HK.

  • Bluenosesol says:

    Well my group of 4 had a get together yesterday and decided to renew. Not so much because we are delighted about our prospects next season, more that as very long term season ticket holders, at the end of the day we just couldnt bear to turn our back on the club. It took me 5 hours on the phone, so 0/10 for efficiency but ho hum, that will all be forgotten if we make a bright start. Now we have taken the plunge I am feeling optimistic and less obsessed about how the executive shannanigans are panning out. Now lets come to our happy abode!

  • bluenoserob says:

    seems to me the danger of selling more players will come when the embargo is lifted.If blues can pick up cheap replacements ,then will must fear further departures……..more happy days to look forward to.

  • moseleystew says:

    I also class myself a true blue and yes i was upset about c/h leaving .And told myself enough is enough but as bluesnosedol said i will not and can not turn my back on the boys in blue so ill be back in the tilton as usual block 11 keep right on….

  • Blueboy 88 says:

    June has been positive , lets hope July brings a lifting of the transfer embargo .
    Then we can begin a frenzy of transfer speculation.

    With the recent sullying by Xtep of our Club logo , does anybody have an opinion on putting the
    City of Birmingham Coat of Arms back on our shirts ?
    Another draw to that is I don’t think the Vilers are not allowed to have it on their shirts , as we are the only team that can carry our Great Citys name forward.

    • almajir says:

      That won’t happen – purely because BCFC cannot copyright the coat of arms and thus would be powerless to stop anyone ripping off their products

      • Paul Carter - The Voice Of Reason says:

        Al

        Maybe the council could enforce it though if they own the coyright and have licensed us to use it.

        The first season ticket I bought in 72 had the brum coat of arms on it as did 73 & 74, the ball and the world came in in 75. Not sure when we stopped having the coat of arms on our shirts but I’d guess late 50s

        • almajir says:

          Nope – because you cannot copyright a coat of arms… a bit of heraldic law there…

          • Paul Carter - The Voice Of Reason says:

            Peasy then, we use a slightly amended version or the original alongside something modern.

            Lavly.

          • almajir says:

            I’m sure PP will okay that no sweat…

          • Blueboy 88 says:

            We could have both the Clubs Logo & the Citys Coat of Arms.
            One above each breast…

        • BhamCityJulian says:

          Absolutely not. I wouldn’t want to give the council a penny above business taxes. They’ve done nothing for us. On the contrary they’ve put up obstacles wherever possible.

          • Blueboy 88 says:

            The coat of arms is the heraldic emblem of the City of Birmingham.
            Worn as a badge to indicate allegiance & pridein the great City that our football club in named after.

            Not a political statement.

    • Wingman Blue says:

      If we’ve had the ball-and-globe for 37 years why do we need to revert to a device only carried from after 1910? The Brum coat of arms is just as applicable to The Vile, whereas the ball-and-globe is ours, and ours alone. At a distance we are currently clearly unique: a coat of arms could be any one of at least a dozen clubs. With everything else changing around us, why do we need to change our logo as well? Keep it – it’s a strong brand image. All we need to do now is strengthen the brand….

      • Paul Carter - The Voice Of Reason says:

        The Brum coat of arms is just as applicable to The Vile

        Not really as Aston only came under Birmingham from around 1910, before that it was under Lichfield.

        Imitation Brummies

  • KRO21 says:

    As you mentioned June also signals the end of the 11-12 financial year for BCFC Plc;

    This may be a stupid question, but I was expecting the filing deadline for the June 12 financials to be 9 months, (falling due on 30-Mar-13). However I’ve just checked companies house this morning and it is showing the filing deadline to be due 31-Dec-12? Have I missed something as to why this is only 6 months now?

    http://wck2.companieshouse.gov.uk/d94f567a14887e8169bd2476e9d19d13/compdetails

    • almajir says:

      I can only imagine that the rules have been changed.

      The BIHL accounts for 11/12 are due by 30 Sep 12 … although they can’t come out until the 10/11 accounts are done.

  • AL-LAD says:

    Al can you confirm if RationalFX are still the clubs sponsor for the 12/13 season?

    More positives than negatives of late, still few concerns, Clarke has said we currently only have 14 senior players, and I still expect bids for Burke, Davis, Butland, Redmond if the club chose to sell or not will effect fan moral as in the case of Mutch. Bringing in players with an embargo doesn’t appear to be a problem, as Pannu has eluded to, we can still sign players we just need permission from the FA.

    Some good freebies out there that could benefit Blues, Somen Tchoyi, Ricardo Fuller, Peter Løvenkrands to name just a few.

    • almajir says:

      From what I hear, no, RationalFX are not sponsors this season – they only signed a one year deal last year.

      As for what Pannu said… I think there was a lot of hubris in that. I’m amazed so many people are taking it at face value.

      • Paul Carter - The Voice Of Reason says:

        Agreed

        At least he spoke though

        • Blueboy 88 says:

          Hubris – Good Word Almajir

          Hubris ( /ˈhjuːbrɪs/), also hybris, means extreme pride or arrogance. Hubris often indicates a loss of contact with reality and an overestimation of one’s own competence or capabilities, especially when the person exhibiting it is in a position of power.

          Now who’s going to tell Peter Pan ?

          To be fair everything else he communicated last week has come to bear..
          so is it inconceivable he maybe right on the embargo ?

          • Paulo says:

            I just love it when random / new words are thrown in! Then the oxford english definition pops up ..it’s all gone a bit ‘countdown’ lol.

            ..but yes, I agree ..PP did add too much ‘hubris’ in that!!!

  • steve stretton says:

    The biggest thing now is to get the embargo lifted because i feel we need to replace the loan players we have lost & get the the squad up in numbers yes bring some of the young players in during the season but you need hardened seasoned players to get out of this division

  • mitchell says:

    Selling Mutch was a huge shock but Foster was always on the cards; need to keep hold of the others if we are to challenge again this year.

    I quite like was Clarke has to say, he sounds very similar to CH in that respeect; calm. confident and has decent backroom staff.

    KRO

  • tony says:

    its amazing how a token statement from a dubious pp can change everyones perception of whats been happening to our club.Although it pains me as ive had one since 1985/86 i won’t buy a season ticket until cy and the rest of the leeches have left our club.Thankfully i will still go to all the away games .I like everyone else wish Lee Clarke every success in what will be a very difficult job.

    • Blue in Spain says:

      Are you saying CY is a leech that has taken money out of the club? Then you are deluded.

    • The Flying Pig says:

      I would also like a change in the ownership, but is it fair to brand Carson Yeung as a leech? Is Carson simply guilty of being a bit of a fool with his money? I never sing the “Carson” song because, amongst other things, I don’t think we can say he doesn’t care about BCFC. His ultimate aim may well have been to make some money out of owning us, but I do think he wanted us to be successful and it seems he sanctoned expenditure [gambled] on players like Bentley.Hleb etc and it didn’t come off.

      His happy face in February 2011 doesn’t mean he has, like most posters here, got the Blues in his blood, but he was at that moment very much one of us as a supporter.

    • BhamCityJulian says:

      Let’s have a little respect and care please. There is no ‘e’ in Clark.

    • John says:

      Call yourself a bluenose,Tony I don’t think so. Support the team.

  • mitchell says:

    Carson Yeung and the board have been to the ground 3 times in 18 months; hardly dedicated owners. Granted Carson’s attendance since last year is a tad difficult but what about the other board members?

    If he had come out and said anything to the fans since his arrest then most of us would give him some backing.

    I don’t think anyont doubts he wanted the club to be successful; his gamble didn’t pay off, as it would appear some of his other projects.

    Fully appreciate being in prison has it’s restricitions but a statement once in a while wouldn’t go a miss.

    KRO

  • BhamCityJulian says:

    “Fully appreciate being in prison has it’s restricitions” (sic). This has to go on Harry Hill’s TV Burp as ‘The Bleedin’ Obvious Understatement of the Week’ LOL, Brilliant.

    • almajir says:

      Except Carson isn’t in prison … he’s just on bail with travel restrictions.

    • mitchell says:

      Don’t give up the day job Julian.

      In prison/on bail with travel restrictions; whatever the circumstances he aint here. I mentioned the prison issue as you could guarentee a pro CY would have stated; how can he be at the ground when he’s (not) in prison.

      Plus I can’t see Harry Hill being that short of material………

      • Julian Glass says:

        Amazing how some people don’t see a joke (however weak) for what it is and take it literally. There can’t be any of us on here that don’t know that CY is on bail and what that means.

  • nicky wicky says:

    Looks like all those who want to see the back of Ziggy may be in for a bit of good luck. According to the Mirror the clubs about to sell him to Espanyol!

  • Paulo says:

    I’m just crossing my fingers that the HK lot finally get the push this year and we can relax a little! Well, I can but hope.

    • Blueboy 88 says:

      Talking of Whom Almajir –

      It was rumoured that Carson Yeungs “secret” financial backer was China’s richest woman ,
      Casino Billionnaire Pollyanna Chu .

      Is there any truth in that , & has she , or does she , currently have any stake within BIHL ?

  • andy says:

    I cannot believe people are suggesting changing the club badge on the shirt. An absolutely ridiculous idea!! That badge is the envy of many, a fantastic design and one which we are proud of. Shall we change from Blues to Reds? Thats how stupid it is.

  • Jay Sidney says:

    Good shout, andy. The world and ball (or is it globe and ball?) is a cracker of a badge and certainly far superior to the utterly depressing vision of some over-sized yellow cat which looks as though it has been pumped full of steroids and then run over by a steamroller…

    Would I be right in thinking the bit about Blues to Reds is an allusion to the situation at Cardiff City? Traditional colours matter and should be left alone.

    Also agree that this current BCFC board has to go sooner or later (preferably sooner) because they’ve wrecked the club.

  • AuldBlueEyes says:

    Comments about BCFC logo:
    Let’s keep what we’ve got or else we could end up with some awful piece of graffiti
    such as the olympic logo!

  • Gez says:

    always enjoy this blog and some real journalism from a local rather than what passes for such in the local press. impressed by your ability to look past the scores and performances to some of the deeper issues at BCFC. Looking forward to reading what new boy Clarke can do from down here in Oz. keep right on etc…


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