Birmingham City: Out of the Frying Pan...

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Hindle Signs New Birmingham Deal.
10th November 2013

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Mikey Hindle has put pen to paper on a
new deal that will see him in the Birmingham
hotseat until 2015.

The popular young manager, who's seen instant
success in his first professional managing role,
signed the new deal with Managing Director
Peter Pannu and current day-to-day handler
Michael Wiseman present.

"We felt as a board that Hindle had to be
rewarded for his achievement here. We
are in the playoffs, and this cannot be
understated." Pannu told Sky Sports.

Hindle was, as ever, in a positive mood
as he met journalists following the signing.

"It came out of nowhere, I just got a call from
Michael saying Peter wanted to meet to discuss
a new contract. I agreed right there and then;
Birmingham is where I want to be."

"It's early days, but it's going so well that I can't
really see myself anywhere else. Now I know that
barring disaster, I'm going to be here next season."

Premiership bottom club West Ham were reported-
ly eyeing up Hindle as the man to replace under
fire Sam Allardyce, who is expected to be sacked
before the end of the month.

After fifteen games, Birmingham sit in sixth place,
with twenty-three points. Had they not entered
administration and been deducted ten points, the
Blues would be top on goal difference.


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Blues Back Under Embargo.
24th November 2013

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Birmingham City have once again been placed
under a transfer embargo; although this time
it may be a positive sign.

The embargo has been put in place by Blues
Managing Director Peter Pannu, and the rumour
is that pretty soon the club may have new
owners. Pannu is currently in London with
his legal team, reportedly ironing out the last
few details of the takeover.

Little is known about the consortium, which
was originally believed to have been spear-
headed by Geoff Horsfield, other than it is
well funded and has at least some link to
the city of Birmingham.

One fan is quoted as saying; "I'm not sure
whether to believe it. Last Time we got
stung by this kind of thing. I'll celebrate
when the money is secure."

We'll be following this story as it develops...


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That Can't Be Roy-ght.
30th November 2013

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Birmingham's takeover saga took a
bizarre twist after Peter Pannu was
spotted having lunch in a London
restaurant with former Man Utd man
Roy Keane.

The former midfielder, who also had a spell
as a manager, is now odds on favourite to be
installed as new Blues chairman. Fans are
understandably shocked at this latest news, but
most seem to supporting the idea with the
knowledge that Keane has invested his career
earnings well so far.

Manager Mikey Hindle, who was seen shaking
hands with Keane after his side played Barnsley,
maintained his philosophy of focusing solely on
the football.

"He came to watch the match, that's all I know.
He left a message asking whether he could see
me after the match and the only things said
were entirely football related."

"He wanted to congratulate me on my good
start here. As far as I'm aware that was
reason for coming to the match."

Hindle also confirmed that the club had missed
out on getting Jake Kean in time for the
free transfer deadline, but was confident of
a deal being done in January.


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Birmingham: November in Review.
1st December 2013

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With rumours of a takeover finally being
completed, November's results may
have been a little bit lost under
the flurry of activity at the club.

Yeovil 2:3 Birmingham (Championship)
Zigic
Burn
Lovenkrands

A game filled with drama, and high emotion
at both ends of the spectrum. Three very
well worked goals from the blues was
almost undone by some truly insane keeping
from underachiever Darren Randolph- who
was dropped following this game despite the
final score.

Birmingham 3:0 Leeds (Championship)
Lingard
Burke
Burn

Colin Doyle was the star of an awe inspiring
performance from the Blues. The keeper was
considered by most pundits to be a pretty
big gamble, but several key saves at nil-nil
saw the gamble pay off.

Bolton 2:1 Birmingham (Championship)
Adeyemi

For the first time this season; Birmingham
coupled a loss with a good overall perform-
ance. Niggling injuries saw several key
players miss the game, and were only really
undone by the attacking genius of Craig
Davies.

Barsley 1:2 Birmingham (Championship)
Zigic
Lingard

Same level of commitment as the last game,
yet a reversal in the score. Zigic is now at
15 league goals for the season (a personal
best for him) and the Blues end the month
in a playoff place.


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Hindle on Moyes Sacking.
14th December 2013

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Birmingham boss Mikey Hindle tonight admitted
that David Moyes' sacking could impact on his
side, and that he was hoping he'd survive the
season for mostly selfish reasons.

"We don't get on." Hindle stated. "We worked
together several times in three years at Everton.
I helped with their youth development. There was
a respect there, from a professional point of view."

"I think that's why we were able to deal with
each other without incident. I got Jesse Lingard
pretty much without strings because of that
working relationship that worked pretty well."

Hindle isn't sure how the sacking will affect
Jesse Lingard.

"He's with us until the end of January, after
that? Not sure, his loan deal has a recall
clause so I'm sure a new boss who liked
him would take him back in a heartbeat."

Hindle has laughed off any speculation of
him taking the Old Trafford hot seat.

"It's not going to happen; they don't want
me and I don't want to go. Simple. I'm doing
a job here and United need to go with a
more experienced head I think."

There is still no news on the proposed
takeover of the Blues, with the January transfer
window looming.


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Second Blues Takeover Collapses.
23rd December 2013

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Birmingham City may not have an entirely
merry Christmas, following the breakdown
of a second takeover attempt this season.

Peter Pannu confirmed that the current
board had received "no evidence" that
the consortium had the funds to buy the
Championship team.

It is uncertain what this will mean for the
club's finances, with the last failed bid
becoming the final nail on the Blues'
administration coffin. Pannu denies that
this will be the case this time round.

"We are stronger now, than we were back
then. This is frustrating for us all, but not
as scary as the first pulled bid."

Manager Mikey Hindle didn't seem too
saddened by the news of yet another
financial set back.

"I think we've all learnt a lesson from
the last time. My focus has to be on
our season, and I feel I can achieve
what is asked of me with the team I
have, and any free agent or loan player
who forces me to make a move."

"It would have to be an amazing player.
We're still following Jake Kean, who would
prefer the Midlands to moving down south,
and he is the kind of player that would
make me think twice. I still have hope we
can do a deal with him."



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Birmingham: December in Review.
1st January 2013

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A mixed bag of results, off field stresses and
rumoured player exits dominated December,
as Birmingham City failed to end the year on
high.

Birmingham 0:2 Charlton (Championship)

The worst possible start to the month, and
an abject performance from the players who
had carried Birmingham up into the playoffs.

Birmingham 4:1 Derby (Championship)
Mullins
Adeyemi
Novak
Zigic

Injury ravaged Derby will certainly want
to forget their trip to St. Andrew's. The
Blues exploited every weakness, every
absence, and got another crucial win
to get morale back up.

Huddersfield 5:1 Birmingham
Lingard

Birmingham suffered a second hammering
of the season at this ground, and with
the only positive being another fine goal
from Jesse Lingard, everyone at the club
will want to forget about this display.

Birmingham 3:1 Ipswich
Burke
Zigic
Mullins

Another good way to bounce back from
a loss, and Birmingham's yo-yo in and out
of the playoff places continued at St.
Andrew's.

Blackpool 2:3 Birmingham (Championship)
Eardley
Mullins
Zigic

A bizarre game for a few reasons, as
Neal Eardley elected to take a penalty
against his former side, skipper Hayden
Mullins got a fourth goal for the month
and Nikola Zigic scored with a sliding
tackle.

Birmingham 0:1 Nottm Forest (Championship)

A sour end to the year, but a deserved three
points for Forest. Whether he likes it or not;
Mikey Hindle has to strengthen in January if
he wants these wasteful losses to stop every
time a first team regular is injured or suspended.



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Table at the halfway point, I can't grumble considering without the deduction we'd be top.

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Top scorer and the player I feel is tied as our performer of the season so far. He's tied with...

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Lingard! One of my best ever signings. Best thing is he now rates me as a favoured person, and if I can shift a player or two in January I'm going to try and sign him.

Wish me luck!
 
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Kean Joins the Blues.
1st January 2014

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Birmingham have finally completed the signing
of talented goalkeeper Jake Kean on a free
transfer.

Kean, 22, mutually terminated his contract at
Ewood following a humbling and very public
dropping in favour of Paul Robinson, and despite
earning his place back following Robinson's
injury, Kean was not properly convinced of his
future.

"Jake felt very strongly about his treatment at
Blackburn, that's all I know, but it means we
got him for nothing and that makes the details
quite irrelevant to me." boss Mikey Hindle said.

Kean is expected to go straight into the side
for their 2014 opener against Brighton, with
Darren Randolph confirmed to be on the radar
of several clubs.

"There's interest. He's a skilled keeper, I still
maintain that. I don't know if it's the money
situation or my tactics that have made his
season so dark so far. A new club might be
just what he needs."

Andrew Shinnie has joined Brighton for around
?900k, although he won't join in time to play
against his former club.


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Lingard Loan Made Permanent.
5th January 2014

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As Darren Randolph made his way down to
London to join Millwall for around ?1.5m, the
money (along with that made for Andrew
Shinnie and that given to Hindle at the start
of the month following a change in season
expectations) was already being spent.

Jesse Lingard has joined the club for a massive
?2.7m, having clearly been out of new United
boss Andre Vilas-Boas' plans for the future.

"I was unsure, but the offer was a very good
one. It's not all about the money for me, but
I had to be sure that moving here full time
made sense from that point of view." Lingard
said upon signing.

"I've had such a good time here this season,
and I think playing regularly here in a proper
consistent team will help my career more in
the long run than loans all over the country
at United."

Manager Mikey Hindle, who has a very good
relationship with the young winger, was
delighted to get his man, and praised his
Manchester United counterpart for his part
in the deal.

"He runs the club so much differently to how
Moyes ran it. No more taking bids 'under
consideration' and a lot more actual, useful
negotiating."

"He was clearly willing to cash in on Jesse,
and when Peter (Pannu) informed me I could
spend the money made of player exits if need
be, I made my mind up right there. Jesse will
be a leading star for this club."

Jonathan Spector is expected to be the next
Blue to exit the club, after publicly admitting
he wanted a move to Crystal Palace in the
summer.


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Duo on Radar as Unhappy Spec Exits.
11th January 2014

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Derby defender Mark O'Brien and Wolves winger
Zeli Ismail have been earmarked as 'must-haves'
for Birmingham boss Mikey Hindle following the
sale of Jonathan Spector to Crystal Palace.

Spector was unhappy at St. Andrew's, yet Ian
Holloway still had to pay ?2.4m for his man.
Hindle appears to have set his heart of prising
away the two promising youngsters.

"There's a bit of money from that sale, and
two very good young players that may be
available within that budget. Can a deal be
done? I certainly hope so."

Hindle also confirmed that a bid had been
rejected for key man Chris Burke.

"We've had an offer, so short of his actual
value that at first I was unsure if it was a
serious bid. I don't want to sell Chris and
I'm certainly not going to offload him for
peanuts."

Darren Ambrose, who's not played in two
months following his own demands to leave,
is rumoured to be a target for several clubs.


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Transfer Window Updates: Birmingham.
14th January 2014.

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Another busy day at St. Andrew's, which has
seen two new signings, one new contract and
possibly the shortest negotiation in Football
League history.

11:00: Mikhail Silvestre has been officially
confirmed as a Birmingham player. He's
been at the club for a couple of days now
but boss Mikey Hindle hadn't wanted his
signature to effect the Mark O'Brien deal.

12:15: Promising defender Will Packwood
has turned down a move back home to the
States to sign a new contract at St. Andrew's.

14:20: Derby, upon receiving a ?1.2m bid
for Mark O'Brien, demanded ?11.75m plus
several conditional fees. The Blues hung
up the phone.

16:00: Mark O'Brien may be staying put, but
Zeli Ismail has arrived in Birmingham for a
whopping ?2.5m. The general consensus is
that Hindle overpayed, although he disagrees.

RUMOURS:

Darren Ambrose may join St. Johnstone
before the close of business today, he
certainly isn't wanted by the Blues; he
hasn't played since admitting he'd like
to leave.

Wolves striker Jake Cassidy could follow
Ismail to Birmingham; but only if Chris
Burke AND Paul Caddis can be sold.

Nikola Zigic has apparently agreed to
hold crisis talks with Mikey Hindle, after
his agent admitted the fallout had
galvanised his entire season.


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Hindle Praises 'Humbling' Loyalty.
17th January 2014

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Birmingham boss Mikey Hindle has admitted his
shock following a double turnaround that saw
key men Chris Burke and Nikola Zigic renew
their commitment to the club.

Zigic, who admitted his first impression of his
manager was 'wide of the mark', has signed a
new contract complete with a dizzying 55%
wage-cut.

"It ties him down until the end of next season,
unbelievably. I never expected him to accept
such a huge cut, but bonuses in other places
are a small price to pay." Hindle told us.

Burke was on hand to show his commitment in
a wholly different way; rejecting a move to the
more stable Middlesbrough to remain at St.
Andrew's.

"Chris wasn't keen on a move to begin with,
but with Birmingham beginning to sort out
contracts with their players he saw a real
opportunity to remain right here." his agent
Tim Andrews confirmed.

Unlike Zigic, Burke is expected to be offered
a slight wage increase, with his ?8k packet
within the limits of Hindle's wage structure.


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Cass: It Had to Be Blues.
18th January 2014

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New signing Jake Cassidy may have come a
bit cheaper than expected, but the youngster
is determined to justify the spending of every
penny.

Paul Caddis' late decision to join the League
One outfit meant Cassidy arrives for a measly
?195k plus future incentives, and although
this is considered to be a fraction of his actual
value, he sees it as a reason to give everything
to his new club.

"It's still a lot of money, more than I'd expect
to swap hands over the right to play me." the
modest youngster said.

"This club is building an enviable collection of
young players, but the attraction for me was
probably the opening that perhaps Zeli hasn't
got."

"He's up against players like Chris Burke and
Matt Green on a weekly basis, with Jesse
Lingard able to play on the right wing if need
be."

"Strikers aren't in abundance here, like at
Wolves, and that means there's less pressure
which tends to helps the younger players
to thrive."

Ismail's chances of breaking into the first
team did improve a small amount with the
sale of Darren Ambrose to St. Johnstone
for around ?170k.


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Birmingham: January in Review.
1st December 2014

View attachment 389082


With all the goings on at the club this month
it felt at times like it would never end, but
now that it has Birmingham will surely feel that
they could have done better.

Birmingham 2:0 Brighton (Championship)
Upson OG
Novak

A perfect start to the month, with new keeper
Jake Kean settling in wonderfully and Lee Novak
finally seeming to find some form.

Birmingham 0:1 Bournemouth (FA Cup)

A lacklustre performance that barely ever really
started for the Blues, and falling at the first
hurdle in this competition means, once again,
no money run.

Birmingham 4:2 Leicester (Championship)
Burke
Novak 3
Bartley S/off

Birmingham were one-nil up when Kyle Bartley
picked up his second yellow, with around ten
minutes of the first-half remaining. They rallied
after the sending off and Lee Novak was the
star of the show once again.

Burnley 2:0 Birmingham (Championship)

Mikey Hindle refused to criticise his team
despite their two-nil defeat, claiming the
performance was positive enough to take
the edge off of a second loss for the month.

Birmingham 5:4 Blackburn (Championship)
Lingard 2
Dann OG
Lowe OG
Novak

Three goals in injury time gave Birmingham,
drawing 3-3 with two minutes to go, all the
points in a defensively bemusing display of
football at St. Andrew's. Neither team seemed
capable of clearing the ball or successfully
tackling in their own half of the pitch after
the restart, which is reflected by the tight
2-0 scoreline at half-time. Very nearly yet
another collapse for Birmingham.

ALSO:

Scouts Jacques Lichtenstein, Mogi Bayat and
David Healy have joined the club, with assistant
manager Ian McLeod expected to wrap up a
new contract soon.

Emmanuel Frimpong, transfer-listed at Arsenal,
could make a ?110k move to St. Andrew's- if
he can resist Nottingham Forest's money.



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Frimpong Likes 'Next Gen Feel'.
1st December 2014

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Emmanuel Frimpong has revealed that he turned
down Nottingham Forest for Birmingham because
of Mikey Hindle's commitment to building a team
for the next generation.

Frimpong, 22, became the latest promising young
player to move to St. Andrew's as Hindle plans
for the future of the club. Frimpong was impressed
by that vision.

"Arsenal hold a similar practice for youth, and
it gets said that you can't win anything with
kids. Maybe you can't, but they won't be kids
forever."

Frimpong also believes Birmingham are poised to
see him return immediately to the Premiership.

"Four points off top with a game in hand is a
great position after twenty-seven games. I'm
not saying I'll be unhappy if we don't get back
there, I just think it's in our hands."

Blues fans are apparently happy with the arrival
of the Ghana international, but are also fuming
with the ?210k sale of David Murphy to promotion
rivals Wigan, who sit top.

"He turned down a new contract, and it was either
accept that low bid or let him walk for nothing
come June. I'd rather he payed for Manny on the
way out." Hindle reasoned.


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banger93 said:
Great story mate! Your doing unbelievably well!
Click to expand...

Thanks! It's funny; I've never done this well in my first season with a club before, so it happens when I decide to do a story on here. The only problem I can foresee is us getting promoted, I just don't see us being able to compete with other Prem teams while
the current board is here.
 
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