Birmingham City Football Club

• Nickname:Blues
• Founded:1875
• Manager:Lee Clark

• Ground:St Andrew's
• Capacity:30016

Gold won't deny Hammers link

15 Aug 2009 - 11:58:44

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Birmingham City chairman David Gold has refused to play down speculation linking him with a takeover bid for West Ham United.

Gold, who once owned a stake in the Hammers alongside business partner and current Blues co-owner David Sullivan, has been linked with a return to the Hammers should Carson Yeung complete a takeover at St Andrew's.

"I'm the chairman of Birmingham City football club. I have been for 16 years. I've got a serious football match coming up on Sunday (against Manchester United) and I'm focusing on that," he told BBC Radio 5 live.

"Does it surprise me that there's speculation? I've had great ties as a young man (to West Ham) and as a boy.

"I played for West Ham as a 13 to 16-year-old boy, so it's not surprising.

"I did, at one time, own 30 per cent of the football club, along with my partner, David Sullivan.

"All of my young life I spent there, so I'll always have an affiliation with West Ham until the day I die. I can't not have that.

"But, by the same token, I'll have an affiliation with Birmingham City for the rest of my life."

Yeung made a takeover offer for the Blues a couple of years ago but a deal failed to materialise.

His Grandtop company currently holds a 29.9 per cent stake in Birmingham City.