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The Circus at Birmingham City Football Club:

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On the pitch, Birmingham City are having an indifferent season.

After bidding farewell to fan favourite Chris Hughton in the summer, Lee Clark was deemed suitable as his replacement at the helm. Despite competing in Europe and falling to Blackpool in the play-off semi final, last season was considered successful by many Bluenoses. Indeed, as in excess of twenty first team players followed former boss Alex McLeish out of St. Andrews in the summer of 2011, there was concern as to whether the second city team would be able to compete in the second tier.

Hughton, however, did a remarkable job in charge, with minimal resources. The likes of Craig Gardner, Ben Foster, Seb Larsson, Cameron Jerome and Roger Johnson all found pastures new, and they were replaced with the club’s youngsters alongside largely free transfers and loan deals. Nathan Redmond and Jordan Mutch were given chances to shine, as was David Murphy, who for so long had played deputy to regular left back Liam Ridgewell.

The Blues would count themselves unfortunate for not qualifying from the Europa League group stages with a competitive 10 points, thanks to memorable victories over Maribor home and away and a 99th minute winner in Brugge. They took eventual European champions Chelsea to a replay in the FA Cup, while only losing their title of Carling Cup winners at the home of the eventual Premier League champions. These achievements were not to go unnoticed, and Norwich snapped up Hughton as a replacement for Paul Lambert, who replaced ex-Blue McLeish at neighbours Aston Villa.

So, Geordie Clark was to try his hand in the Championship for the first time since retiring as a player, following an impressive record at Huddersfield Town. Mutch, Ridgewell, Foster (permanently) and Jean Beausejour departed. The likes of Boaz Myhill, Chris Wood, Andros Townsend and Guirane N’Daw ended their loan spells. Stephen Carr and David Murphy would be long term injuries, and Keith Fahey was granted a lengthy compassionate leave. Blues required reinforcements. Following a transfer embargo for failing to publish accounts on time, they brought in experienced pair Papa Bouba Diop and Paul Robinson on monthly deals, while Paul Caddis, Rob Hall and Ravel Morrison all made loan moves.

Peter Lovenkrands, Hayden Mullins and Darren Ambrose all arrived on frees. Jack Butland was made number one goalkeeper, and the likes of Mitch Hancox, Will Packwood and Callum Reilly have all had first team opportunities. The likes of Wade Elliott, Chris Burke, Curtis Davies and Marlon King remained, and on paper it looks a squad that could challenge for promotion.

But inconsistency has been a major concern so far this term. Very much a second half team, Blues often leave themselves too much to do, the 2-3 home reverse to Hull a prime example. All this football going on- and, knowing many Bluenoses, they will be Keeping Right On regardless- yet there is a large degree of uncertainty ‘upstairs’. With majority shareholder Carson Yeung under house arrest in Hong Kong for accusations of money laundering, acting chairman Peter Pannu is supposedly entertaining takeover bids from the far East, but also from a consortium led by the notorious Gianni Paladini.

Paladini, who has lived in Solihull for many years, was part of the initial regime at Queens Park Rangers alongside Flavio Briatore and is renowned for his interest in the purchase of Birmingham, although nothing is concrete as of yet. Paladini has said this week that he and Pannu are set to meet at some point this week in order to thrash out a deal, although it was admitted by the Italian it would be difficult to sort something out in the build up to the Christmas period.

With Yeung’s trial being delayed until April, there is a fear that the January transfer window will be used as an opportunity to begin a quickfire sale of the club’s promising youngsters, something Paladini has made clear he firmly disagrees with.

This merry-go-round in the boardroom requires an urgent solution that is beneficial to Lee Clark, the players and the fans otherwise Birmingham City will continue to sell and won’t move forward.

Sources: Birmingham Mail

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