Birmingham City FC - 2022 - The Pershing Era

[PWC2017]

May 15th 2023​

Chairman’s Statement – Neils De Vos​

Birmingham City Football Club
2022–23 Season Review

“As we bring the 2022–23 season to a close, I want to extend my thanks to our supporters, players, and staff for their commitment throughout what has been a year of consolidation and progress for Birmingham City under the ownership of Pershing Square Management.

On the pitch, we achieved a 15th-place finish in the EFL Championship, providing a stable platform from which we can continue to build. While there remains work to be done to push higher up the table, we saw encouraging performances from a number of players, with Brandon Thomas-Asante finishing as the club’s top goalscorer with 10 goals across all competitions. Although cup results did not meet our ambitions—exiting in the third round of the FA Cup and the first round of the EFL Cup—the experience gained by the squad will be invaluable as we look ahead.

Off the pitch, however, is where the most meaningful strides have been made. This season we delivered significant increases in revenue, driven by improved commercial partnerships, stronger retail performance, and the continued expansion of our matchday operations. We also saw notable growth in ticket sales, supported by the unwavering passion of our fans. St Andrew’s welcomed its largest crowd of the season—28,005 against West Bromwich Albion in October—a reminder of the incredible potential and energy that surrounds this football club.

These encouraging financial and attendance figures place us in a stronger position than at any point in recent years. They also provide the foundation for what I believe will be a transformative period for Birmingham City.

As we look ahead to the Summer of 2023, there is a genuine sense of optimism throughout the club. We are preparing for an important transfer window, continued investment in football operations, and exciting developments across our wider long-term strategy. Our ambition is clear: to build a sustainable, competitive Birmingham City that our supporters can be proud of.

On behalf of everyone at the club, thank you for your continued belief and loyalty. We move forward together—with purpose, pride, and ambition.”

— Neils De Vos
Chairman, Birmingham City Football Club

 

[PWC2017]

SETTING THE SCENE - 8
​

By the Summer of 2023, Manson was starting the initial outline of the New World Pro-Wrestling business plan. Spending most weeks in discussion in New York with Pershing and putting together the first drafts of what he believed the new Pro-Wrestling organisation could look like. He still had an eye on Birmingham City and was involved in weekly Board Meetings but the ownership in NYC were happy with the first season in charge. Although a 15th placed finish didnt sound too great, the senior management knew the first year would be tough and staying in the League was the most important thing.

The first year was one of consolidating the league position, while expanding revenue streams so that income would raise considerably by 2023. The revenue of the club when Pershing took over was around £19.5M. The club projected that by May 2023 that revenue would rise to around £30M. This was due mainly to the two main kit deals with Adidas and Undefeated. As well as those deals, the increase in ST Sales from 12,000 to around 22,500 helped massively.

The confirmation of the land aquirement of Wheels Park in Bordesley Green was a big plus point for the ownership as it was one of the main reasons why Pershing pushed forward for the takeover in the first place. Communication was well under way with the local council as well as the government to obtain compulsary purchase orders on other businesses on the site as well as look at government investment in new public transport options.

The Summer of 2023 would see the end of lot of the old guard who had stayed at the club for many years but needed to leave so the club could freshen up and truly take it's self into a new era.

Work on the B and C teams had been a slow burn in 2022/2023 with Mike Rigg spending time to check over what the club had at it's disposal as well as start the process of expanding the new academy scouting network. The club would see the first signings into both the B and C teams in the Summer of 2023.

 

[PWC2017]

SUMMER 2023 OUTGOINGS

Most of the old guard had now been released as there contracts had expired. The only other sale was Jobe Bellingham to Sunderland. Although the club would have wanted to keep Bellingham, they knew he wanted to leave to be reunited with Kristaan Speakman. The £4M offer was accepted with a 20% Sell on fee.

The saving of wages, the new income and revenue streams and the £4M from the sale of Bellingham meant Birmingham City could compete with other top end Championship clubs for signings for the first time in a decade.

DATE	PLAYER	CLUB	FEE
1st July 2023	Zach Jeacock	RELEASED	FREE
1st July 2023	Maxime Colin	RELEASED	FREE
1st July 2023	George Friend	RELEASED	FREE
1st July 2023	Marc Roberts	RELEASED	FREE
1st July 2023	Harlee Dean	RELEASED	FREE
1st July 2023	Jordan Graham	RELEASED	FREE
1st July 2023	Troy Deeney	RELEASED	FREE
1st July 2023	Lukas Jutkiewicz	RELEASED	FREE
15th July 2023	Jobe Bellingham	SUNDERLAND	£4M
16th July 2023	Alfie Chang	WALSALL	FREE
20th July 2023	Scott Hogan	MK DONS	FREE

 

[PWC2017]

SUMMER 2023 INCOMINGS

With the new revenue streams and income from the Bellingham move to Sunderland, Birmingham City had more wiggle room in the transfer market to sign better players and start to build a very solid and competitive team.

The biggest and most eye catching signings were Jordan Zemura, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Callum Hudson-Odoi. Blues beating Udinese, Lyon, AC Milan and Nottingham Forest respectively to bring in Four of the most highly rated English based players in the Country.

The club decided to agree a £650K fee with Tottenham for Japhet Tanganga. The players contract was up in 2024 but the club decided to sign the player on a long term contract before a bidding war would be started.

DATE	PLAYER	CLUB	FEE
1st July 2023	Ainsley Maitland-Niles	ARSENAL	FREE
5th July 2023	Axel Tuanzebe	MAN UTD	FREE
5th July 2023	Romaine Mundle	TOTTENHAM	FREE
7th July 2023	Callum Hudson-Odoi	CHELSEA	£5M
10th July 2023	Jordan Zemura	BOURNEMOUTH	FREE
12th July 2023	Ruben Loftus-Cheek	CHELSEA	£9.5M
13th July 2023	Japhet Tanganga	TOTTENHAM	£650K
18th July 2023	Karl Dawlow	NEWCASTLE	£500K
20th July 2023	Ethan Laird	MAN UTD	£850K

 

[PWC2017]

Mens First Team - Squad List - June/July - 2023 / 2024

No	Player	Nation	Position	Age	Signed	Contract Ends	Signed From	FEE
1	Neil Etheridge		GK	32	2020	2024	Cardiff	£1M
13	Ryan Allsop		GK	31	2022	2025	Derby	FREE
33	Karl Darlow		GK	32	2023	2026	Newcastle	£500K
3	Jordan Zemura		LB	23	2023	2027	Bournemouth	FREE
5	Japhet Tanganga		CB	24	2023	2027	Tottenham	£650K
23	Axel Tuanzebe		CB	23	2023	2027	Manchester Utd	FREE
2	Ethan Laird		RB	21	2023	2027	Manchester Utd	£850K
18	Ainsley Maitland-Niles		RB/DM	26	2023	2027	Arsenal	FREE
25	CJ Egan-Reilly		CB	20	2022	2026	Manchester City	FREE
16	Jake Clarke-Salter		CB	25	2022	2025	Chelsea	FREE
7	Juninho Bacuna		CM/LM	25	2022	2026	Rangers	£450K
4	Ruben Loftus-Cheek		DM/CM	26	2023	2027	Chelsea	£9.5M
19	Jordan James		CM/AM	19	YOUTH	2025	YOUTH	N/A
20	Gary Gardner		CM	31	2018	2024	Aston Villa	Part-Ex
15	Romaine Mundle		LW/RW	20	2023	2026	Tottenham	FREE
14	Josh Laurent		DM/CM	27	2022	2026	Reading	FREE
45	Romelle Donovan		AM/FW	17	YOUTH	2025	YOUTH	YOUTH
11	Callum Hudson-Odoi		LW/RW	23	2023	2027	Chelsea	£5M
24	Brandon Thomas-Asante		FW	23	2022	2026	Salford	£400K
26	Victor Adeboyejo		FW	24	2022	2026	Barnsley	FREE

 

[PWC2017]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 2024

Birmingham City Confirms Steven Knight, Heatherwick Studios, and MANICA as Design Partners for the New Birmingham City Stadium​

Birmingham, UK — 13th March 2024 — Birmingham City Football Club is proud to announce that Steven Knight, Heatherwick Studios, and MANICA have been officially appointed as the lead designers for the club’s new, state-of-the-art Birmingham City Stadium, a centrepiece of the future Sports & Entertainment District at Wheels Park.

This landmark collaboration brings together three globally recognised creative forces, each renowned for innovation, architectural excellence, and transformative urban design:

• Steven Knight, Birmingham-born writer, producer, and creative visionary, will shape the cultural and narrative identity of the stadium, ensuring the project reflects the spirit of the city and its people.
• Heatherwick Studios, one of the world’s most influential design practices, will oversee the architectural concept, crafting a stadium environment that is both visually striking and welcoming, blending community functionality with world-class design.
• MANICA, a leading global sports architecture firm responsible for some of the most iconic modern sporting venues, will lead the stadium’s technical design, fan experience, and event-grade infrastructure.

The collaboration marks a significant milestone in Birmingham City’s long-term development strategy and the broader regeneration vision for East Birmingham. The new stadium will serve as the home of Birmingham City FC while functioning as a multi-use venue capable of hosting concerts, community events, and international fixtures.

“This is an incredibly proud moment for the club and the city,” said a Birmingham City spokesperson. “Steven Knight, Heatherwick Studios, and MANICA represent the very best in creativity, architecture, and global stadium design. Together, they will deliver a venue that symbolises ambition, innovation, and the future of Birmingham.”

More details on the stadium design, construction timeline, and public consultation phases will be released later in 2024.

 

[PWC2017]

Exclusive Interview: Steven Knight & Thomas Heatherwick on the Future Birmingham City Stadium​

A bold design inspired by East Birmingham’s brickwork heritage


20th April 2024 — Birmingham, UK


As Birmingham City FC unveils the creative team behind its new state-of-the-art stadium, two of the project's leading voices—Steven Knight, the Birmingham-born creator of Peaky Blinders, and Thomas Heatherwick, founder of Heatherwick Studios—sat down to discuss their shared vision for a venue that will redefine East Birmingham while honouring its industrial past.

Q: This project has captured huge excitement across Birmingham. What does being involved in the design of the new stadium mean to each of you?​

Steven Knight:
“Birmingham shaped me. It’s in my voice, my writing, everything I’ve ever done. So being part of a project that will become a landmark for generations is deeply personal. Football clubs aren’t just sporting institutions—they’re stories, communities, identities. This stadium is a chance to tell Birmingham’s story in a way that honours where we’ve come from while embracing where we’re going.”


Thomas Heatherwick:
“For us, this is an opportunity to create something truly original. Stadiums often fall into predictable patterns of steel and concrete, but Birmingham deserves something with soul—something that belongs unmistakably to this place. We want to design a building that feels alive, warm, human, and rooted in the city’s character.”

Q: The club has stated the design will pay tribute to East Birmingham’s history as a brickworks powerhouse. How is that influencing the vision?​

Heatherwick:
“East Birmingham was once known for the vast brickworks that powered the city’s growth. Entire neighbourhoods, factories, and civic buildings were shaped by that craft. We want to reawaken that heritage—not in a nostalgic way, but in a forward-looking one.


The stadium will feature a bold, sculptural use of brick, but not in the conventional sense. We’re exploring patterns, textures, and forms that allow brick to flow, curve, and fold in ways people don’t expect. It will be warm, tactile, and unmistakably Birmingham.”


Knight:
“Brick is Birmingham. It’s strength, industry, and craft. This design language tells the story of East Birmingham’s working-class history—where people made things, built things, shaped things. When supporters walk up to the stadium, they should feel that connection. It should feel like it could only have been built here.”

Q: What will make this stadium stand out internationally?​

Heatherwick:
“Authenticity. Too many modern stadiums feel like they were copied and pasted from somewhere else. Our goal is to create a venue that is iconic because it is unique, not because it is extravagant. The combination of brick-based architecture, sweeping organic forms, and an intimate, electric bowl interior will make this a stadium unlike any other in Europe.”


Knight:
“And it will bleed Birmingham. The ambition is to give the city something that becomes instantly recognisable—something that feels like a statement: This is who we are, and this is where we’re going.”

Q: What excites you most about what this stadium will bring to the community?​

Knight:
“This is more than a football project. It’s about pride, regeneration, and opportunity for East Birmingham. The stadium is part of a wider district that will bring jobs, creativity, culture, and energy back to an area that deserves it. I want young people who grow up here to feel that the world has come to their doorstep.”


Heatherwick:
“Design can transform how people feel about where they live. If this stadium becomes a place that brings people together, that feels loved and looked after, then it will have achieved something powerful. It’s not just about matchdays—it's about creating a civic landmark.”

Q: Finally, what message do you want Birmingham City supporters to take away as this journey begins?​

Knight:
“You deserve something extraordinary—and that’s what we intend to deliver.”


Heatherwick:
“We’re building a stadium with character, rooted in Birmingham’s heritage but looking firmly to the future. We can’t wait to share more.”

 

[Tommy MBE]

Did Knight do this for real ? Man he's a fantastic writer.
Its very interesting and informative this BTB.

 

[PWC2017]

Did Knight do this for real ? Man he's a fantastic writer.
Its very interesting and informative this BTB.

Actually yes. That part does mirror real life. Knight, Manica and Heatherwich are part of the new stadium design in real life. The design I will copy as I think it is pretty cool and bold.

 

[Tommy MBE]

Actually yes. That part does mirror real life. Knight, Manica and Heatherwich are part of the new stadium design in real life. The design I will copy as I think it is pretty cool and bold.

This my favourite BTB I've read on here. Its interesting as i like learning about other football clubs and has been informative and enjoyable.

 

[PWC2017]

This my favourite BTB I've read on here. Its interesting as i like learning about other football clubs and has been informative and enjoyable.

Cheers. This BTB mirrors the 2023 Knighthead Capital takeover of the club. But in this alternate universe, Pershing aquire the club in 2022 a year before.

 

[Tommy MBE]

When the world cup is out. Would you be interested in doing a game on here in the sports section? Ive got a few names already and have been asking all football fans .

 

[PWC2017]

 

[PWC2017]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 2024

Government Approves Major Funding Package to Deliver Metro Line Expansion and Rebuilt Adderley Station for East Birmingham Regeneration​

Birmingham, UK — 1st May 2024 — Birmingham City Football Club and its development partners are pleased to confirm that, following several months of detailed negotiations, the UK Government has formally approved a significant funding package to support major public transport improvements serving the future Sports & Entertainment District at Wheels Park.

The investment will deliver two key infrastructure projects:

• An extension of the West Midlands Metro Line, providing direct, high-frequency rapid transit to the new stadium and surrounding development zone.
• A full redevelopment of Adderley Station, transforming it into a modern, accessible, high-capacity rail hub designed to support matchday crowds, local commuters, and the growing East Birmingham community.

These transport upgrades form an essential part of the long-term Vision 2030 strategy and were integral to unlocking the regeneration potential of the Wheels Park site.

“This is a transformative moment for East Birmingham,” said a club spokesperson. “The Government’s commitment to improved transport links ensures that the new district will be accessible, sustainable, and fully integrated into the wider city. This infrastructure will serve not only football supporters but also residents, businesses, and visitors for decades to come.”

The Metro expansion and station rebuild will significantly reduce journey times, ease congestion, and encourage greener travel across the region. Both projects are scheduled to progress through advanced design and early construction phases over the next 12 months, with further public updates expected later in 2024.

The club and its partners extend their thanks to local authorities, regional transport bodies, and the Department for Transport for their collaboration during the negotiation process.

 

[PWC2017]

MAY 2024

WIKIPEDIA - OVERVIEW OF THE 2022/2023 SEASON.

OWNER	PERSHING SQUARE MANAGEMENT
HEAD COACH	JOHN EUSTACE
STADIUM	ST ANDREWS
CHAMPIONSHIP POSITION	1st
FA CUP	4th ROUND
LEAGUE CUP	3rd ROUND
TOP GOALSCORER	BRANDON THOMAS-ASANTE (11 GOALS)
HIGHEST ATTENDANCE	28,188 (VS LEEDS UNITED - 6th AUGUST 2023)
LOWEST ATTENDANCE	25,511 (VS WALSALL - LEAGUE CUP - 9th AUGUST 2023)

Birmingham City Football Club​

2023/24 Season Rundown​

Owner: Pershing Square Management
Head Coach: John Eustace
Stadium: St Andrew’s

Championship Season​

The 2023/24 campaign delivered one of the most memorable and successful seasons in modern Birmingham City history. Under the leadership of Head Coach John Eustace and the backing of Pershing Square Management, Blues captured the EFL Championship title, securing an emphatic return to the Premier League.

Final League Position: 1st (Champions)​

Record:

• Played: 46
• Won: 31
• Drawn: 4
• Lost: 11
• Goals For: 89
• Goals Against: 41
• Goal Difference: +48
• Points: 97

A dominant campaign saw Birmingham City finish comfortably at the top of the table, combining disciplined defensive structure with a vibrant attacking style that earned plaudits across the league.

Cup Competitions​

FA Cup​

• Result: Eliminated in 4th Round

Birmingham produced competitive performances before exiting in the fourth round after a narrow defeat to top-flight opposition.

EFL Cup​

• Result: Eliminated in 3rd Round

A rotated squad navigated the early stages confidently before bowing out in the third round.

Top Goalscorer​

Brandon Thomas-Asante – 11 goals (all competitions)

Thomas-Asante led the line with consistency and work rate, contributing vital goals throughout the league campaign.

️ Attendance Highlights​

Despite undergoing structural and commercial transitions, St Andrew’s remained one of the liveliest grounds in the Championship:

• Highest Attendance:
  28,188 vs Leeds United — 6 August 2023
• Lowest Attendance:
  25,511 vs Walsall (League Cup) — 9 August 2023

Blues maintained one of the strongest average attendances in the division, reflecting the club’s renewed momentum and supporter optimism.

Season Summary​

The 2023/24 season will be remembered as a historic turning point for Birmingham City. Stability in leadership, strategic investment from Pershing Square Management, and the tactical clarity of John Eustace delivered a Championship-winning campaign that reignited belief across the club and city.

With promotion secured and long-term redevelopment projects underway, the future at St Andrew’s—and beyond—has never looked brighter.