Birmingham City: Details of plans for academies in China and Hong Kong backed

Sep 19 2009 by Colin Tattum, Birmingham Mail

ALEX McLeish has welcomed Carson Yeung’s desire to help Chinese football help itself through Blues’ expertise.

The prospective new owner plans to boost the game in the People’s Republic by tapping into the club’s existing ‘professionalism, methods and concepts’.

Football academies are likely to be formed in China and Hong Kong and educational coaching links and exchanges set up.

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Yeung even has a vision of allowing the China national team to use Blues’ Wast Hills headquarters as a base before matches and for training camps. And, naturally, Yeung’s long-term dream is for Blues to recruit the best players China has to offer.

“I think it stands to reason that Carson Yeung would want to have that kind of connection with China,” said the Blues manager, who is keen to sit down with Yeung and his associates as soon as possible.

“It could be a potential business venture for the club and could put us on the map over there.

“At the same time I can see, reading the between the lines, that he’s a very ambitious man and so am I.

“I look forward to working with him if things go through, which it looks as if they will. I will hammer home my ambitions as much as I’m sure he will do his to me.”

McLeish has no problem in assessing Chinese players for Blues should they be recommended to him.

But, more immediately, he would like to address requirements for the January transfer window with Yeung and ascertain what funds would be available.