Birmingham CEO Garry Cook makes January transfer window concession as Wayne Rooney is welcomed to St Andrew’s

Garry Cook has conceded Wayne Rooney’s spending power in the January transfer window will need to abide by financial fair play rules.

The Birmingham City chief executive made the admission as the club officially unveiled their new manager at St Andrew’s on Thursday.

However, Cook stressed that under new owners Knighthead Capital Management, the Championship club is putting the infrastructure in place and working hard to ensure revenue streams are improving all the time.

When asked if there would be significant investment available for Rooney in the January transfer window, Cook said: ‘Ambition is always determined by how much you’re willing to put on the table. Unfortunately, there are rules and regulations that prevent some of that. They’re all well-documented and every league in the world is confronting the same challenge.

‘What I think we’ve done, though, is build an organisation that is prepared to support the manager. So be very, very astute in our recruitment process, but also at the same time, ensure that we’re building the infrastructure to support the team, the facilities to support the team, and as you’ve seen, the owners are investing millions in that area.

‘When it comes to the players and the team, that is clearly going to be Wayne and Craig Gardner determining what that should look like.

‘But as you know, you have to grow your revenues - that’s a pre-emptive issue in football. If you don’t grow revenues then you’re going to limit your capability to succeed.’

Birmingham, who sit sixth in the Championship table, saw an overhaul of their first-team squad in the summer, with 13 new players added to their ranks.

Work continues on their St Andrews ground. Meanwhile, seven-time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady’s minority stake in the club will see him work closely with the board and the management team on global marketing efforts and the identification of new commercial partnership opportunities.