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| Old News; Thursday, October 25, 2001 | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Dec 8 2005, 01:34 AM (110 Views) | |
| Letsby Avenue | Dec 8 2005, 01:34 AM Post #1 |
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Paul Tait
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This is old news, some of our younger fans might consider thinking on... A bitter exit for Birmingham chief Sullivan By Neil Moxley David Sullivan has put Birmingham City up for sale after being ridiculed in a fans' leaflet that made him the laughing stock of St Andrew's. Sullivan, the co- owner of the club, yesterday informed the City that he intended to put his 78 per cent controlling interest on the open market. A damaging photocopied flier is understood to be behind his decision, with the offending item passed around the 27,000-strong crowd at Tuesday night's 2-1 win over Gillingham. A caricature of Osama Bin Laden had been drawn, with Sullivan's face replacing that of the Saudi terrorist. Around the picture ran the words: 'Wanted - Dead or Alive - Ivor Bin Sulking. 'Lives in a bunker somewhere in Essex. Failed at boxing, failed at horse racing, failed at Birmingham City. Sick of Blues fans, sick of criticism and sick of Trevor Francis. 'Caution: Take care of any person less than five feet tall with a poisonous mouth.' It was a vicious attack on the Cardiff-born porn magnate, who feels he has not been given recognition for rescuing the club eight years ago. He would not comment further last night, 24 hours after the victory that put the club fifth in the First Division. Suggestions of a boardroom split were categorically denied by chairman David Gold, but feelings have been running high for the past three weeks - ever since the board and then-manager Francis fell out over the proposed £3million signing of Dane Christian Poulsen. It all came to a head last week with Francis's sacking and Sullivan's subsequent comments have served to alienate him further from a sizeable portion of the club's support. He placed Birmingham's failure to reach the Premiership squarely on the shoulders of former playing hero Francis, claimed the manager's tactics cost the club the Worthington Cup last season and criticised his signings, labelling them 'duds'. In two radio phone-ins since then, fans backed Francis ahead of Sullivan and 80 per cent of supporters were on the former manager's side in a poll run by a local newspaper. Two weeks ago, Sullivan said: 'I know what the supporters think about me. If Trevor or anyone else out there has got the money, they can come and buy the club. Until then, either put up or shut up.' Birmingham are owned jointly by Sullivan and brothers David and Ralph Gold, via Sport Newspapers. Last night, David Gold had started efforts to ensure that his business partner remained, saying: 'My first job is to dissuade David from doing what he's doing. I spent years trying to save Trevor Francis and now I'm trying to save David from himself. He is his own worst enemy. He loves Birmingham City but he feels he's being run out of town in the same way as Sir Alan Sugar (at Tottenham) or Sir Jack Hayward. Sir Jack stuck it out at Wolves and look at how well they're doing now. 'David believes everybody is against him - and he means everybody. It's my job to persuade him that it is only a small percentage. He received a bouquet of flowers from a group of fans yesterday, so not everyone is against him. Our shares are up for sale, too, because that's how it works. But my brother and I are still committed to Birmingham. We wouldn't rule out buying David's shares, even though we don't particularly need to increase our shareholding. 'It may be that a consortium comes in with us. But I can say that it was not my idea to put the shares up for sale and I have no intention of leaving the club. Fans see David as a bad guy, but he wears his heart on his sleeve. His outbursts get him into trouble. But I'll remind him that we are so close to realising our dream after eight years. He should stick it out. 'I don't want him to go, the rest of the board doesn't want him to go, Karren Brady (managing director) doesn't want him to go and many fans don't want him to go. We are not a club in crisis. We had 27,000 people watching us on Tuesday, we are fifth in the table and everyone is pulling together.' <_< No knee-jerk reaction there then :lol: :lol: . |
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7:08 PM Jul 11