BLUES RELOCATION BID BACK ON

31-01-2007

Plans for a Birmingham Sports Village which could also provide a new home for Birmingham City will step up a gear now that Manchester has been chosen to host the country's first supercasino.

When the city council backed the NEC rather than Blues' bid for a casino-cum-stadium at Adderley Park, it was widely believed that the dream of a move away from St Andrews to a 60,000 capacity ground was over.

But negotiations have quietly continued behind the scenes, with both the council and club keeping their counsel - not least because they didn't want to jeopardise Solihull's attempt to get one of the “second tier” large casino licenses.

Now that this hurdle has been successfully negotiated, we can reveal that Birmingham's hopes of capitalising on the Olympics have kept alive the possibility of a new stadium on the semi-derelict Washwood Heath site.

Birmingham's Cabinet Member for Regeneration Ken Hardeman said: “I am still committed to, and I believe others are equally committed to us getting the components of a sports city.

“In-depth talks have been going on for a considerable time for the relocation of Birmingham City on that site, and they've got new energy and impetus.

“We are looking at a potential development and relocation.”

Much would seem to depend on whether China, the United States or another leading nation can be persuaded to adopt Brum as their training base.

If they do, look forward to seeing a wasteland transformed.

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