Birmingham can defy the bookies, says David Gold
In his fortnightly blog, the Birmingham City chairman explains why he is proud to be a Premier League chairman and how much it would mean to him to remain so.
With the conclusion of this season drawing near, there is a lot to be said for the quality of the English game. The beautiful game has already been fruitful for many teams this season outside the Premier League, and now we are all caught up in the excitement of arguably the best league in the world - the Premier League.
Unfortunately, the position we find ourselves in at Birmingham is not indicative of a season in which we have had some incredible results. I have seen that the bookies have priced Birmingham as firm favourites to go down this year, at 1/7. Fulham and Reading hold more optimistic odds, but it would be fantastic, and not out of the realms of possibility, to see Birmingham beat those odds and prove the bookies wrong. We still have Blackburn to play at home in our final game, and with our home record, three points are achievable.
It is disappointing for us that Reading are going away to Derby, a team with only eleven points at the end of their Premier League campaign. With that said, Reading and Derby could potentially be playing each other in the Championship next season. In that situation you would fancy Derby to take three points, which I think puts such a match into perspective.
I would love to see the bookies, and pundits, proven wrong as they already have been this season. At the glamorous end of the table it was thought Manchester United would have the Premiership wrapped up with two months to go. This hasn't happened and the game has not shown the predictability many pundits forecasted at the beginning of the season.
Although the "big four" haven't monopolised domestically this year, they have done in the Champions League. I am proud to be part of the league which has supplied the two Champions League finalists, and will I be devastated if we have to leave. It is now about pride and that is what we are fighting for. I have been the proud chairman and co-owner of a Premier League football club for five of the last of six years, and there is no other place to be. Since losing at Fulham I have racked my brain over all the different scenarios this weekend could bring. But, ultimately all we can do is win; the rest is out of our hands.
Alex McLeish has an outstanding record at St Andrews and hasn't lost a home game since the match against Chelsea on the 19th January. I have full faith that he will deliver the three points we need this weekend, and continue to produce the quality we have enjoyed for the duration of next season.
Well, laddy, you were wrong.
Posted by: Allan | May 11, 2008 at 07:21 PM
Nice prediction Mr Gold, surely you know that you need to speculate to accumulate. Well, the only silver cloud to our relegation is that you might have a few less quid in your over sized pocket. Still, i´m sure it won´t be troubling your bankers too much you gold bentley driving c"·¿!
Posted by: Blues fan | May 11, 2008 at 05:35 PM
The Bcfc Board have once again let the fans down. Lack of investment has resulted in the position we deserve. Undoubtedly we will beat Blackburn on Sunday but it will be too little too late and we will be relegated. The teams above us will not slip up now. Shame on you Mr Gold and the rest of the Board !
Posted by: Wongy | May 08, 2008 at 08:34 PM
David Gold and the BCFC board are out of touch with the Fans. I am 63 years of age and have been a suppoter since the age of 8. The position BCFC are in is no more than fans like myself have predicted. Lack of investment in premiership quality players has resulted in our predicament. Every year season ticket holders are promised large investment in quality players and this has never been the case. Look at the spending this season, it is pathetic in relation to other clubs who have much lower attendances( Porsmouth and Wigan for example)
I am also a shareholder which has yielded me not one single benefit. Why not a discounted season ticket or a dividend payment Mr Gold ?
Undoubtedly we will win on Sunday against Blackburn but it will be too little too late and we will be relegated AGAIN. Shortsided Blues Board !
Posted by: Wongy | May 08, 2008 at 08:26 PM
I certainly hope we remain in the league, but I am not bullish over it. I think Alex Mcleish is a good manager though, and if we do go down he has a realistic chance of getting us back up. The area he needs to concentrate on is defence, we haven't had a solid back line all season, surprising given that Bruce, a defender himself, assembled it.
Posted by: Steven Hamilton | May 08, 2008 at 04:33 PM