Bruce expecting to be sacked as Blues boss

anhydrouscoppersulphate SG

Bruce expecting to be sacked as Blues boss

Birmingham boss Steve Bruce fears he will be axed should prospective new owner Carson Yeung take control of the club.

Bruce has been anxiously waiting to see if Yeung would approve a new contract that was agreed in May with the current board after he steered City back into the Premier League.

However, following a summer holiday, Bruce returned to St Andrews in July to find Yeung declaring his interest in buying Blues.

The Hong Kong businessman already has a 29.9% stake and he expects to be in full control within the next couple of months.

That could spell the end of Bruce's six-year reign with the Blues as he said: 'I have to say it doesn't look very good at the moment. I found out off Mr (David) Sullivan on Friday night that the vibes coming back from the Chinese consortium were negative.

'I know where I stand, that's for sure. I've 20 months to run, so I'll just get on with it and see when the new people do eventually take over exactly what plans they have got.

'But I don't think at the moment there is any talk of a further contract. There's effectively a block. There we go, I'll accept that.'

Yet Bruce, who has so far held just two very brief conversations with Yeung, has vowed to plough on.

'I'll continue to give my utmost,' added Bruce. 'I've been here six years, and I'd like to think I've done a decent job in that time.

'But as we all know with any employment, if a new guy comes in, he usually sweeps clean. We'll see what develops, but I have to say it doesn't look rosy.

'They have not yet taken over the club, so I've not had a chance to speak to them, but when they do, we'll speak further.'

WiNtEr'SkiLL SG

he has been good as the manager of Birmingham.. he brought in Kapo and some other quality players

iveco SG

Sekali the Chinks decided that Moaninho is the man for them. Laughing

Brum become next powerhouse if that happens.

dragg SG

with new money coming in they should go for a better and proven manager.

omgukilledkenny SG

Damn, this takeover has been going on for ages.

iveco SG

HONG KONG (AFP) - - The Hong Kong businessman trying to buy Birmingham City said Friday he was "shocked" manager Steve Bruce had quit the Premier League club and remained confident the stumbling takeover would proceed.

Carson Yeung said he had met Bruce three weeks ago and had played no part in Bruce's decision to leave the English club and return to his old side Wigan.

"We had a very good conference with each other," Yeung told reporters, following an extraordinary meeting of the board of Grandtop International, the company through which Yeung is hoping to buy Birmingham.

"I would have let him stay, but unfortunately he left. This is a shock, a bit of a surprise. I never expected him to leave and I am very appreciative to Steve Bruce."

Sammy Yu, Grandtop's chief operating officer, said the company had no authority to act on any staffing decisions at the club, and would play no part in choosing Bruce's successor.

Grandtop took a 29.9 percent stake in Birmingham City in June, but has still not raised the extra 30 million pounds (480 million Hong Kong dollars) to gain total control from Birmingham chairman David Gold and co-owner David Sullivan.

Birmingham chairman David Gold has given Yeung a December 23 deadline to complete the takeover, although Yu said such a deadline would not be a factor.

Yu added that Birmingham were dragging their heals on providing information that could speed up the deal, which would see the 47-year-old Yeung become the latest foreigner to take hold of a Premier League team.

Speaking for Yeung, who speaks English, Yu said the company was still confident the deal would go forward.

"We want it (the takeover) to be done as soon as possible," Yu said.

"(Birmingham) could do a lot. You can see they cannot even settle themselves down. They have problems with Steve Bruce regarding the image rights, so perhaps they are in quite a difficult time," he added.

"We don't want to push them too hard, but we have hope that they can help whenever they can, so (we can go forward) as quick as we can."

Bruce has not been officially unveiled as Wigan's new manager, reportedly because of a dispute with Birmingham over payments for image rights.

gunner77 SG

Laughing tinking toooooooooo far