"Let's be brutally honest" - Claim made on Birmingham City owners Knighthead | OneFootball

Birmingham City have shown plenty of current and future ambition under Knighthead

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Birmingham City's current and long-term ambition under the ownership of Knighthead Capital Management is a story which continues to dominate EFL-related headlines.

After years of mismanagement on and off the pitch, Blues supporters now feel fully reconnected to their club, with the American ownership group, fronted by club chairman Tom Wagner, alongside stakeholder and NFL icon, Tom Brady and interim CEO, Jeremy Dale, doing all they can to instill positivity and momentum back into the West Midlands outfit.

Despite suffering a first relegation to League One in 30 years last season, that hasn't stopped Wagner and co. from heavily backing Chris Davies and making improvements to St Andrew's @ Knighthead Park in the short-term, as well as their future plans, which are set to have a key impact not just on the club, but on the city of Birmingham as a whole.

With that in mind, Football League World pressed our resident Bluenose, Mike Gibbs, for a one-word answer as to how he would describe Knighthead's impact on the club in the past year and-a-half.

Given the headlines which have come out of this part of the Second City, Gibbs explained that there could have been a multitude of selections, before eventually settling on his final answer.

"I think there's a fair few words you could use to describe Tom Wagner and Knighthead," he began.

"The one I was toying with was saviour - the club was in a pretty poor position when they took over - I think leader would've come to mind as well as committed," he added.

"But, I think the one that resonates with me and the fans is project.

"I think they're in it for the long haul, very much committed to the growth of the club and the city," Gibbs stated.

"Let's be brutally honest, I think they see huge financial rewards from that, it's a huge opportunity that's there.

"But, l think (them) and Chris Davies are a bit of a 'match made in heaven'. I think no stone is left unturned, they're very meticulous and what they've achieved in such a short space of time is outstanding.

"I think, if you looked at it on paper, in terms of league position, you'd go, 'they took over a Championship club, and we've now got a League One club', but that doesn't really tell the story," our fan pundit explained.

Gibbs concluded: "I expect us to get promoted by the end of the season, and if you look at the revenue the club is generating, it's far in excess of what they inherited."

Birmingham City aren't operating like a League One club this season

Just from the spending spree and players which Birmingham have attracted this season, it is clear they are not operating like a League One club, with it being revealed earlier in the season that Wagner hopes to see them in the Premier League by 2026, meaning back-to-back promotions would have to be achieved.

Off the pitch, Blues have been able to attract a multitude of extremely strong sponsorship deals, which includes Nike, Undefeated, Heineken, Delta Air Lines, University of Birmingham and, most recently, Greater Birmingham Convention & Visitors Bureau, who will feature as back-of-shirt sponsors until the end of the 2026/27 campaign.

Whilst foreign ownership groups have so often been labelled with the tag of not identifying with a support-base, the same cannot be said for Knighthead, who, straight away, brought into the hard-working 'Brummie' ethos, making swift improvements to their current home, as well as working with local authorities to connect with the community they serve.

They are set to acquire a 49% stake in 'Hundred' cricket side, Birmingham Phoenix, as well as investing £100m towards the well-documented 'Sports Quarter' complex in East Birmingham, which includes a 60,000-seater stadium, sporting, commercial and residential facilities as well as creating 8,400 job opportunities for those in the city and the wider West Midlands region.

At present, the club's recently-adopted motto of 'Birmingham. On the rise again.' is looking like it could come to fruition in the near-future, as they hope to end their top-flight exile which began in May 2011.

Meanwhile, the club and supporters certainly gave themselves an occasion to remember, even in defeat, against Premier League high-fliers Newcastle United in the FA Cup last Saturday, whilst Blues currently sit seven points clear at the top of the third tier and have a EFL Trophy semi-final with Bradford City to contend with next Tuesday.