Birmingham MP reacts to new Birmingham City owners Tom Wagner & Knighthead

Birmingham City’s takeover has officially been approved after months waiting for approval, it was announced by the club on Thursday afternoon.

It was unveiled ahead of the final game of the 2022/23 season, against Sheffield United, that a takeover had been agreed but it has taken over two months since then for completion.

Blues fans won’t mind, though, as Knighthead Capital Management LLC has now communicated the transaction to take over 45.64% of Birmingham City Plc – as well as all of St Andrew’s stadium – has been put through. Tom Wagner, Knighthead’s co-founder and co-CEO, is the man who led the process and he will be one of seven board members along with Matthew Alvarez, Andrew Shannahan, Kyle Kneisly, Laura Torrado, Wenqing Zhao and Gannan Zheng.

The new ownership has been a long time coming for fans, with supporters holding numerous protests over the last 18 months against former owners Birmingham Sports Holdings Ltd (BSHL).

Under the ownership of BSHL, the club were found to have breached profitability and sustainability rules in 2019 after incurring losses of nearly £48.8m in three years, and were subsequently docked nine points. They avoided a second points deduction in 2020 despite losing an appeal to the EFL over a misconduct charge.

The club have also been forced to close the lower sections of the Kop and Tilton Road End at St Andrew’s due to structural issues with part of the stadium remaining closed last season. St Andrew’s was also hit with flooding at the weekend following flash floods across the city.

A number of areas at St. Andrew’s stadium are currently out of bounds, including hospitality boxes, lounges and suites at the stadium following torrential rain on Saturday and Sunday (July 8 and 9).

Ladywood MP Shabana Mahmood had previously urged the UK government to press ahead with plans for an independent regulator in English football - highlighting the ownership issues Birmingham City faced under BSHL. Following the takeover of Knighthead Capital Management LLC, she has released a statement on the new owners saying that she was ‘reserving judgement’ on the changes.

Birmingham MP Shabana Mahmood’s statement on Birmingham City owernship change in full

In a statement, Ms Mahmood said:“I welcome the news that Birmingham City FC is under new management. A change of ownership has been long overdue.

“I will reserve my judgement until I see real progress being made, but I hope that this change draws a line under the issues that Blues fans have had to put up with for years.

“Blues fans and our city have deserved better for far too long. I will keep working with supporters, the club and the wider community as they start a new chapter in the story of this historic club.”