Birmingham City: Formal handover of power from Karren Brady to Carson Yeung takes place

Oct 12 2009 by Colin Tattum, Birmingham Mail

He is not being lined up for a coaching job, nor is he a threat to McLeish. The manager has already been told, privately and publicly, that he should not be fearful for his job.

And Yu, Pannu and Hui have been looking forward to discussing his hit-list of players for possible purchase in the January transfer window.

Retaining Premier League status is all-important to Yeung and his associates.

Most of their concentration this season will be focused on providing help and support for McLeish, his staff and players to ensure Blues do not suffer another relegation to the Championship after 2006 and 2008.

Yu will also meet with Academy manager Terry Westley at some stage this week as a feature of his detail is to help improve Blues’ youth development and, in particular, forge links and partnerships to cultivate the best young talent in China and the Far East.

Yu, Pannu and Hui were due to receive presentations from senior managers at St Andrew’s after being welcomed through the door by Brady, who has stepped down as managing director.

David Gold was offered a vice-president role but preferred to stay as chairman, which was not an option for the incoming owners.

David Sullivan and Ralph Gold had already severed their ties after also having sold their shareholding to Yeung and Grandtop. Finance director Roger Bannister has departed too.

Blues play at Arsenal on Saturday, where the new board should all be in attendance.

The first home match is on October 24, when Steve Bruce brings his Sunderland side to St Andrew’s, the first time he has been back since leaving for Wigan Athletic in November 2007 when Yeung’s initial takeover bid rumbled along painstakingly and ground to a halt.