Crisis-hit Birmingham City face player exodus

Posted Thursday, July 28, 2011 by The Sun

BIRMINGHAM stars are queuing up to jump ship because of the club's cash crisis.

Ben Foster, Scott Dann, Cameron Jerome, Liam Ridgewell and Nikola Zigic are looking to go with the threat of administration looming.

Brum owner Carson Yeung is facing money laundering charges and has had his assets frozen.

With Yeung due back in court in Hong Kong next month, relegated Brum are in crisis.

And the club have finally admitted they are in trouble and need to raise cash.

Defender Roger Johnson and midfield man Craig Gardner have been sold on.

Now keeper Foster is heading on loan to West Brom, while Stoke are interested in striker Jerome and defender Dann - who has also been watched by Liverpool.

But if Blues cannot pay off their debts - with HSBC already putting them under pressure - they could be put into administration should they default on what they owe.

The bank have the power to take control and Brum would be left trying to fend off a 10-point deduction.

A source close to the players said: "This will speed up the exit of those who want to leave and will be sold.

"It's the ones left behind who should be worried. There seems to be a real chance the club could now go into administration.

"And those who have to stay behind could get caught up in that."

Rival clubs are set to come in with cut-price deals for players who had been valued as high as £14million at the end of last season. And many of Birmingham's Premier League players are expected to go within weeks.

Foster's move will knock £1.5million off Brum's wage bill and the move is likely to be made permanent in a year with a £4m deal.

Boss Chris Hughton knew many of the problems before he took over from Alex McLeish.

Hughton is set to bring in West Brom keeper Boaz Myhill and Wolves midfielder Dave Jones.

Acting Brum chairman Peter Pannu said 'unpopular decisions' may be made.

The club have been caught cold by relegation and did not budget for a season in the Championship.