Birmingham City: David Gold plans warm welcome for Villa directors, but is still waiting for Krulak "sorry"
Sep 12 2009 by Colin Tattum, Birmingham Mail
DAVID Gold plans the warmest of welcomes to Villa directors at St Andrew’s tomorrow – even though he is still waiting for a personal apology from General Charles Krulak.
Gold will extend the hand of friendship in the boardroom before the derby, which is likely to be his last in his present capacity as Blues chairman.
So it presents a final opportunity to end the ‘pig in mud’ controversy, should the General plan on attending the derby.
The affair has rumbled on ever since non-executive director Krulak posted a comment on a fans’ internet website about ticket pricing for the 2007 St Andrew’s derby.
Krulak wrote to Gold insisting his comment was not directed at him but at an issue. Villa said that Krulak had apologised but that’s not how Gold viewed the letter.
“I had almost forgotten about this largely because the General has gone very quiet in the time since,” Gold said. “You don’t really hear much from him now, do you?
“But I do have to say that – how shall I phrase it politely? – our ‘misunderstanding’ still leaves a bad taste and I think it would be nice if he did make a personal apology.
“If the General is there at the game, then he will get the opportunity. If he doesn’t then I’m a big boy, I will get on with my life.
“If I was his dad, I would suggest he goes up to the chairman and shakes his hand.
‘‘But I guess I don’t know what they teach you at General School when it comes to admitting if you are wrong.”
Gold said their paths didn’t cross at Villa Park in April 2008 as the away directors enjoyed hospitality in a separate room and Krulak was busy.
That afternoon was bad enough for Gold and his fellow board members as all around them Villa whooped it up in the directors’ box during the 5-1 drubbing.
