Birmingham City takeover bidder Tom Wagner was previously in talks with Derby County before he was snubbed by the Rams, according to Alan Nixon.
Wagner has been looking for a club to call home in England for many years and is close to completing a deal for Birmingham City. It was reported that Wagner and his investment firm Knighthead Capital Management agreed on a 45.64% stake in the Blues, which includes the rights to St Andrew’s.
The American financier has made investors millions with his firm by repairing failing businesses and turning a profit with them, his most successful example of this being his investment in failed rental car company Hertz.
Blues are a prime example of a club struggling and Wagner has set his sights on taking over at St Andrew’s and making them his next success story. The club have been lamenting for many years in the Championship, 12 years on from their success in the Carling Cup, now known as the Carabao Cup.
But now it has been revealed that the Blues were not the first club that the American had his eyes on, as it emerges that he was in talks to take over at Pride Park before his interest in the Blues where he is set to complete a deal. Wagner was reportedly in talks with Derby County owner Mel Morris before he chose to snub the American’s offer and accept one that ultimately came to nothing.
Wagner had assembled several partners as part of his bid to take over at Pride Park and his chief fixer and sidekick was Garry Cook, who Wagner is reportedly keen on appointing at Birmingham City now, in an executive role, which was the role he would reportedly have taken at the Rams also, with Cook set to be chief executive at the time of the bid.
Cook and Wagner were seen in the director’s box together as they watched the Blues final home encounter of the Championship season against Sheffield United, as fans hoped to see the end of the club’s far East ownership.
The ex-Manchester City figure was responsible for player recruitment during his time in Manchester but resigned from his role in 2011, he started his career in 1996 and worked with basketball star Michael Jordan, helping to create ‘Brand Jordan’.
Writer’s View
Wagner has been searching for a club to take over for some time and with his business ideal of turning around struggling businesses, it is no surprise he had his eyes on Derby County with their troubles in recent years. Nevertheless, he looks set to take control of Birmingham City now and fans are hoping for a new beginning for the club.
