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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.

Karren and David's arrests are a violation of their human rights

I feel compelled to address the issue that set a cloud over Birmingham City last week, and express my disdain over how Karren Brady and David Sullivan have been treated. Their arrests have tarnished and tainted their reputation unjustly.

It was, to put it mildly, unnecessary to arrest David and Karren, but the police did so to ensure all questions were answered over monies paid. I can guarantee to the fullest that both Karren and David have nothing but the best interest of the club in their hearts and they have received no personal gain in any transfer deal. 

David Gold answers your questions

In the latest of his fortnightly blogs, David Gold, the Birmingham City chairman, takes time to answer your questions on the Premier League's 39th game and other major footballing issues. If you would like to respond to the points he makes, or have any other questions you would like answering, please fill in the comments box at the bottom of this blog post.

Mr Gold, everyone who knows Eduardo's personality knows that he would never lie and he has told Croatian TV that Taylor DID NOT visit Eduardo in hospital.
Please can you explain how you claim that he did?
Frank

David Gold: I can assure you that Martin Taylor visited Eduardo on Sunday morning following the tragic accident at St Andrew's.  The meeting was brief and difficult due to the language barrier. Ourselves and Arsenal investigated the validity of this report you mention, and found that not only was there no footage of an interview with Eduardo, but he didn't say anything of the sort to the television station.

Swimming against the current

To some, it may appear that I am swimming against the tide in choppy waters with regard to the 39th game proposal. But I am not about to take the easy way out and clamber aboard a life raft, far from it. I still believe there is merit in the idea and the hysteria surrounding it should stop. I have been shocked by the universal condemnation of the 39th game by media and fans alike.

I agree that there are features that need addressing, but I still believe in its principles. I have listened to the arguments, some of them valid, and have formed my own opinion, in support of the extra game. People should consider for a moment the good points behind the idea and think of it as an exciting spectacle. The draw for the 39th game, for example, will create a buzz similar to that of the FA Cup draw, something I find a thrilling prospect.

The '39th Game' is a good idea, says David Gold

In the first of his fortnightly blogs, David Gold, the Birmingham City chairman, explains why he is all for the Premier League's plan to take games around the world. Let him know what you think in the comments box below and Gold will respond in his next blog.

It’s been an animated week for the Premier League, especially in terms of the proposal to extend the season to 39 fixtures and host games abroad. This is an incredibly exciting innovation put forward by Richard Scudamore and his board and I believe that the idea has a great deal of merit. The proposal offers a fantastic opportunity for the Premier League as a brand to go global, which is such an exciting prospect for the future of English football.