BLUES: FROM SLEAZE TO SLAVE LABOUR?

12-06-2007

Latest rumours are that one of Birmingham City’s suitors is Britain’s richest man, Lakshmi Mittal. Wot - the same Laskshmi Mittal caught up in allegations of “slave labour” at the weekend? The very same.

Come on, let’s face it. It wouldn’t be St Andrews if there wasn’t a whiff of scandal.

For the last 14 years the place has been run by wank mag millionaires David Sullivan and the Gold brothers - now it’s being coveted by a bloke who runs a coal mine in Khazakstan where unions say 90 workers have died in the last three years (more details here)

Miners claim that going underground is like undertaking a “suicide mission” and that conditions are worse than in Soviet days (click here to see more)

Mittal’s success derives from his family’s ownership of the Arcelor Mittal steel company which he helped to build from humble beginnings in India.

His personal wealth is estimated at £19 billion and he’s got a track record of giving to charity - helping out out aspiring Indian athletes and giving £1 million to Comic Relief.

He’s also a benefactor toanother well known good cause - the Labour Party.

Entirely coincidentally,Tony Blair told the Romanian government in 2002 that selling off the country’s steel company to Mittal would help with their application to join the EU.

Isn't it nice to have friends in high places?

Oh, and he lives in London too - which would maintain Blues’ tradition of long distance ownership.