Sullivan U-turn a surprise to Birmingham City board

Nov 26 2009 by Colin Tattum, Birmingham Mail

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CARSON Yeung’s camp were pleasantly surprised by David Sullivan’s remarkable U-turn.

But the Hong Kong tycoon and his Blues regime were today still considering what course of action to take in response.

Sullivan wrote an open letter to Yeung, for exclusive use in the Birmingham Mail, yesterday.

In it he apologised for his ‘rude’ comments and conduct, and pleaded that an end was brought to their squabbles.

Sullivan insisted he wanted to meet with Yeung and his associates to settle all differences.

He also stressed that lawyers would be the only winners should Yeung pursue civil, or push for criminal, action against the old board.

Sullivan sent a text to Peter Pannu informing him of the Mail exclusive, and the Blues board digested the detail when our newspaper hit the streets yesterday, and on-line.

Pannu, Blues’ vice-chairman executive and finance, said: “The response is short.

“David Sullivan has been in contact and I have told him in no uncertain terms that his goodwill is appreciated by me and that I am speaking to Carson Yeung and shall come back to him in due course.”

Pannu gave nothing else away, and until Yeung has decided what to do – probably after consulting with the full board and his legal advisors – there is likely to be a lull in what had become an increasingly bitter battle.

It would be a surprise if Yeung conceded much ground to Sullivan, however.

Last week Pannu, one of his closest aides, threatened to release documentary email evidence relating to various contentious issues.

And he said: “Our doors are always open if someone wants to talk sense. If it is ‘non’, then let’s not waste each other’s time.”

And the very fact that they called in the West Midlands Police Economic Crime Team after undergoing post-acquisition due diligence showed that they meant business.