Carson Yeung completes Birmingham City takeover

The Hong Kong businessman Carson Yeung has completed his takeover of Birmingham City, bringing to an end the long ownership of David Gold and David Sullivan.

Yeung's company, Grandtop International Holdings, completed the purchase in October, two years after he first bought a 29.9 per cent stake in the club.

A long road

Yeung became the club's largest single shareholder in July 2007, with a view to taking full control. His first attempt to buy the rest of the club did not succeed, and the uncertainty over the club's future hung over it for two years, including through a relegation from the Premier League and promotion back again.

The Gold and Sullivan era

David Sullivan bought the club out of administration in 1993 for £700,000, and installed the 23-year-old Karren Brady as managing director. David Gold later joined him as a major shareholder and became chairman.

Under their ownership, the club rose from the third tier to the Premier League, reaching the top flight in 2002 for the first time in 16 years, and moved between the top two divisions in the years that followed. St Andrew's was also largely rebuilt.

Back in the Premier League

The takeover comes with Blues back in the Premier League after winning promotion at the first attempt last season under manager Alex McLeish. Supporters are hoping the new owner will provide money to strengthen the squad further.

With English football hugely popular in Asia, the new ownership could also help raise the club's profile in the Far East.

A new era

The change of ownership marks the start of a new chapter for one of the city's two big football clubs. Birmingham City, founded in 1875, have long lived in the shadow of their more successful neighbours, Aston Villa, and supporters hope new investment can help close the gap.

The Second City derby returned to the Premier League this season, with Villa winning the first meeting 1-0 at St Andrew's in September, with a late goal from Gabriel Agbonlahor.

For McLeish and his players, the priority remains avoiding relegation, but a new owner with ambitions for the club will give supporters hope that brighter days lie ahead.

Carson Yeung made his fortune in Hong Kong, where he has business interests including hairdressing salons and investments in other companies. He first became involved with the club when he bought his stake from Gold and Sullivan's group of shareholders in 2007.

Gold and Sullivan's time at the club saw St Andrew's transformed, with new stands replacing the old terraces, and Blues reach the League Cup final in 2001, where they lost to Liverpool on penalties in Cardiff. Many supporters will be grateful for the stability they brought after the club's years of turmoil in the early 1990s.