8 Oct 2009

Yeung completes Birmingham takeover

8:28 am on 8 October 2009

The Hong Kong businessman Carson Yeung has completed his takeover of Birmingham City, which has become the 10th foreign-owned team in English football's Premier League.

Yeung's Grandtop Holdings has acquired 94 percent of the shares in the club, clearing the way for it to be de-listed from the Alternative Investment Market and run as a private business.

Birmingham boss Alex McLeish says he's looking forward to meeting the new owners of the league's first Chinese-owned club.

But Yeung will have his work cut out as he tries to win over Birmingham supporters.

Many of them blame his failed takeover attempt in the 2007-08 season for the club's relegation at the end of that campaign.