The soap opera that is Birmingham City just gets worse for its ever hopeful yet ever disappointed supporters. They are staring down the barrel of relegation to League One in a season that started so full of promise under TTA.
New players were arriving in the summer while a new club record transfer fee was paid for Jota. There was plenty to be optimistic about. However here we are in February with Blues in the bottom three with just 12 games to save themselves from relegation to League One.
What the hell has happened since that wonderful day at Wembley in 2011 when they beat Arsenal to lift the Carling Cup?
Relegation from the Premiership.
Owner Carson Yeung going to Jail with his assets frozen and that meant selling the best players and in effect downsizing in terms of on the pitch quality and that was the reason Chris Hughton decided he would prefer to be at a more financially stable club
After a period in limbo under the receivers Trillion Trophy Asia take over ownership of the club.
The club have had seven managers since that day in 2011, Alex McLeish, Chris Hughton, Lee Clark, Gary Rowett, Gian Franco Zola, Harry Redknapp and now Steve Cotterill. 7 very different managers in terms of management and playing style etc.
Sacking Gary Rowett while the club were three points away from 3rd place bemused me at the time and I don’t believe the club has recovered since.
Not strengthening in January was a strange decision when it was obvious to everyone that the squad was not strong enough in depth and balance.
The parent company TTA have now announced big losses, leaving many wondering if they have or are close to contravening the FFP rules of 3 years of accumulated losses of no more than 39 million pounds. If they have it opens them up to the possible threat of penalties from the EFL.
Is it any wonder the club is struggling on the pitch- If ever a club and its fans needed stability it’s Birmingham City.