Tom Wagner replies to Aston Villa question with Birmingham City’s Premier League challenge

Tom Wagner says Birmingham City will have the financial resources to compete from the minute they enter the Premier League.

The Blues are currently flirting with League One, but Knighthead’s aim remains unchanged: to return the team named after the Second City to the Premier League as soon as possible. And Wagner, who has set aside ‘two to three billion pounds’ to develop a Sports Quarter in the heart of Birmingham, believes the Blues have endless potential.

The American one day intends to bring the Blues back on par with their neighbours Aston Villa, whose upward trajectory has accelerated in the previous year under Unai Emery’s direction.

When asked if that is possible, Wagner replied: “If we do everything correctly on our end, we will be competitive in the Premier League from the moment we are promoted.” That sounds crazy, so you might wonder why.

“Birmingham City is a large club, and if and when we are promoted, the revenue we make as a club will be comparable to mid-table revenue in the Premier League from day one. In two years, our revenue base will compete directly with the parachute teams in the Championship.

“That’s unheard of for a Championship team to generate that much revenue. When you do the stats and see where we’ll be when we get to the Prem, you have a chance to compete. From there, you can expand the size and scope of your club by attracting commercial collaborations.”

The new Sports Quarter, which will include a stadium, training area, and academy facilities, will only boost the Blues’ revenue streams. Before developing plans for the vacant 48-acre site once known as Birmingham Wheels, Knighthead sought advice from athletes, one of whom is undoubtedly minority stakeholder Tom Brady.

Wagner continued: “As part of our effort in constructing this concept, which was developed before we bought the club, elite athletes and footballers advised us to build the training area near to the stadium. It virtually never happens, but what a huge advantage it is because you’re basically going home every day to train. When you’re there on match day, it seems right.”