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Yeung´s Birmingham takeover a boon for China

Hong Kong businessman Carson Yeung’s planned takeover of Premier League side Birmingham City is set to provide a massive shot in the arm for China’s beleaguered football players.

The billionaire is expected to complete his 130 million US dollar purchase of the club in the next three weeks after formally lodging a bid by sending out official offer documents to other shareholders on Tuesday.

He already owns 29.9 percent of the team and co-owners David Sullivan and the Gold brothers, David and Ralph, have indicated they will sell their 50 percent stake.

If he reaches a 90 percent stake that will then trigger the compulsory purchase of the remaining shares, which is Yeung’s declared objective.

But he also has another objective — helping develop Chinese football.

“Over the past 10 years China has had its sports boosted, but there has been no development for football,” Yeung told British reporters when lodging the takeover bid.

“So I would like to make my humble contribution. In the future, when the team is stabilised, we will recruit Chinese players who have potential.

“My biggest wish is to bring the English Premier League club to China, promote English professionalism and football concepts to the Chinese, and to let the Chinese know how a English football team is managed.”

Chinese football has long needed a saviour.

Despite being a country of 1.3 billion people, the national team has repeatedly underachieved, qualifying only once for the World Cup finals when they reached the 2002 tournament in Japan and Korea.

They crashed out of qualification for the 2010 World Cup at the first hurdle and are currently on their seventh coach since 2000.

Few Chinese players have successfully made a switch to Europe, with national captain Zheng Zhi one of the few exceptions, recently signing for Scottish powerhouse Celtic after three years at Charlton Athletic.

The mission to cure China’s football ills would reportedly include building a dedicated school, inviting Chinese coaches to St Andrew’s and even offering Birmingham as a base for the national team before big tournaments.

In a recent interview with Britain’s Daily Telegraph, Vico Hui, chief executive of Grandtop International, Yeung’s investment vehicle which has launched the takeover attempt, made clear China would be a beneficiary.

“We will become the first Chinese owners of a club in the Premier League. Our business will be idolised. We will be bringing glory to the Chinese people,” he told the newspaper.

“China has a huge market. We will try to promote the business. We may talk to the management about swapping players between China and the United Kingdom to improve Chinese football technique.”

Shareholders have until October 6 to accept the offer, which is being funded by a 57-million-pound bridging loan pending the completion of a planned share issue at the Hong Kong-listed Grandtop International.

Yeung first attempted to seize control of the club in 2007 but failed, triggering the departure of highly-rated manager Steve Bruce mid-way through a season that ended in relegation.

They were promoted back to the top flight last season.

SINGAPORE (AFP)

Tags: billionaire, Birmingham, birmingham city, Britain, captain Zheng, carson yeung, charlton athletic, chinese coaches, chinese football, chinese players, dollar purchase, english football team, English Premier League, football players, Hong Kong, hong kong businessman, hong kong businessman carson yeung, humble contribution, premier league, Ralph, shot in the arm, SINGAPORE, st andrew, Steve Bruce, takeover bid, world cup finals, zheng zhi, Zhi

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Hreidarsson commits to Pompey

Veteran defender Herman Hreidarsson has commmited himself to Fratton Park for 1 more year.

The news of the left back’s decision to stay on the south coast, has ended speculation of the 34 year-old moving for Middlesbrough switch.

The Icelandic International, who joined Portsmouth after a spell at Charlton Athletic, has been a key member in Pompey’s survival battle from relegation last year.

The new deal also includes the option of a further year should Hreidarsson play a certain number of games next season.

Executive chairman Peter Storrie told the club’s website: “Hermann’s been looking at his options and he’s decided he wants to stay.”

“He’s very strong and fit and had a great second half of last season.”

“Hermann’s a real character and a great influence in the dressing room, so we’re pleased to have him back.”

Written by: Abhimanyu Rajput

Tags: charlton athletic, dressing room, English Premier League, executive chairman, Fratton Park, games, herman hreidarsson, Hermann, middlesbrough, new deal, Peter Storrie, pompey, Portsmouth, second half, south coast, speculation, survival

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Scott Parker extends with West Ham

Midfielder Scott Parker has extended his deal with West Ham United, and will now remain at Upton Park until 2013.

Last month, Parker was frequently linked with Manchester City but the 28-year-old eventually opted to stay in London. "I am very happy, please and excited – especially after all the speculation in the transfer window," he said about his new contract.

Parker has played for Charlton Athletic, Norwich City, Chelsea and Newcastle United in the past, before joining the Hammers in 2007.

Written by: Jonathan Roorda

Tags: charlton athletic, CHELSEA, deal, English Premier League, hammers, jonathan, Jonathan Roorda, london, manchester city, midfielder, new contract, NEWCASTLE, newcastle united, norwich city, Parker, quot, roorda, scott parker, speculation, transfer, upton park, west ham, west ham united, window

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Ivorian striker joins Standard de Liege

Ivorian striker Gohi Bi Zoro Cyriac will spend the next five seasons at Belgian side Standard de Liege. The club announced this on Friday.

The forward is the current top scorer in Cote d’Ivoire, playing for ASEC Mimosas. Lille and Charlton Athletic were reportedly interested as well but Standard’s bid was more successful.

ASEC has been an important feeder for the Belgian league in recent years, having provided both Aruna Dindane and Didier Zokora.

Written by: Jonathan Roorda

Tags: aruna dindane, asec mimosas, belgian league, charlton athletic, didier zokora, feeder, five seasons, jonathan, Lille, roorda, standard de liege, top scorer, World Cup

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Billy Davies appointed as Nottingham Forest manager

It was announced today that forty-four year old Billy Davies was appointed manager of the Championship side Nottingham Forest.

Davies has signed a three-and-a-half-year contract.

He succeeds Colin Calderwood as manager.

Caretaker boss John Pemberton will still be in charge of Forest when they tackle Manchester City in the third round of the FA Cup on Saturday.

Davies, the former manager of Derby County, will be joined by David Kelly who will be his assistant when they officially take control on Monday.

Their first game in charge will be away on Saturday to Charlton Athletic at The Valley.

Written by: Dave Cohen

Tags: Billy Davies, caretaker boss, Championship, charlton athletic, colin calderwood, contract, Cup, dave cohen, david kelly, derby county, English Premier League, FA Cup, first game, Forest, forest manager, half year, john pemberton, man, Manchester, manchester city, Nottingham, Saturday, side, The Valley

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Man City ready to bid for Bellamy and Parker, British media say

MANCHESTER (SW) – Manchester City are reportedly ready to make a bid for West Ham United striker Craig Bellamy and midfielder Scott Parker, according to British media.

City have approached West Ham before but the Hammers then said to have no interest in selling these two key players. This however, doesn’t keep the Manchester outfit from trying again.

Bellamy, 29 years old, began his career at Norwich City in 1996 and has represented Coventry City, Newcastle, Celtic, Blackburn and Liverpool before joining West Ham in 2007.

Parker, born in 1980, played for Charlton Athletic, Norwich city, Chelsea and Newcastle United, after which he moved to West Ham at the same time as Bellamy.

Man City are currently 13th in the table, having climbed away from the relegation zone after a few positive results. West Ham are tenth.

City are said to launch a combined bid of 15 million Pounds for the two players.

Written by: Jonathan Roorda

Tags: blackburn, career, celtic, charlton athletic, CHELSEA, coventry city, craig bellamy, English Premier League, hammers, jonathan, Jonathan Roorda, Liverpool, man city, Manchester, manchester city, midfielder, NEWCASTLE, newcastle united, Norwich, norwich city, relegation zone, roorda, scott parker, striker, sw, United, west ham united

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