David Gold - Football
FourFourTwo Part Three
Hill to Birmingham to offer his manager a shoulder to cry on: "It was wearing, but I understood Trevor's nature and sometimes he needed instantaneous personal reassurance." Hut this time he knew that the end of the road - to coin a Blues anthem - had been reached. "The chemistry had gone. I could tell it just by looking in his eyes, and when I asked if we should part company pure relief appeared."
Steve Bruce was always the chosen successor despite speculation involving Joe Royle, Dave Jones, Gary Megson and even Harry Redknapp. The former Blues skipper had always enjoyed a "special relationship" with Gold. But his arrival was delayed by a spat between him and the Crystal Palace chief Simon Jordan. Bruce was sent on gardening leave before finally arriving at St Andrews with the Blues sitting in an unpromising 12th position.For Gold, life at St Andrews improved straight away. For a Start, he was made to feel involved in team affairs, being granted the odd "special privilege" of knowing the line-up before press and fans were informed. "Trevor Francis was secretive and more often than not I would not know his team selection until I received die team sheet 15 minutes before kick-off." Under his new team chief, he's a regular visitor in the dressing room and training ground. "I visitemployees in each of my other businesses so why shouldn't it happen in football? I think the lads appreciate seeing the chairman now and again. It doesn't mean you want to do the manager's job."
Gold has seen the likes of Sheffield Wednesday, Nottingham Forest and Bradford City fall into the Nationwide with wage bills that have jeopardised their futures, and has no intention of going down that road. He says a new reality has hit the game following the ITV Digital "scandal" and that all involved in football are waking up to it at last.
Or almost all. Ever since getting involved in the business of football, Gold has had a bee in his bonnet about the Professional Footballers Association. "I believe general secretary Gordon Taylor is building a mausoleum to greed in Manchester. They take millions when that cash rightfully belongs to club owners. I don't, and never will, understand how they can justify that. The players are our employees and the cash is used to pay their wages. By insisting on such a large share of the cake the PF'A is ensuring there is less available when we next negotiate with players, so they arc actually hurting their own members."
He scoffs at Taylor's claims that the PFA helps to bail out clubs in trouble, claiming that they merely make loans which eventually have to be repaid with interest, thus adding to the beleaguered club's mounting debt burden. "The PFA has millions on deposit as more and more clubs face bankruptcy, in the main because of the wages they are being forced to pay players whose union only asks them for a £75 yearly subscription. He is constantly crowing about how much the organisation is doing for the game and I find that laughable and very serious. The PF'A buys Lowry paintings as 'an investment' when they should be ploughing cash back into the game on non-loan arrangements. The whole thing makes me angry, and I don't know why they have been allowed to develop an image of being great philanthropists."
Birmingham City fans, meanwhile, have been asked to cough up a 40 percent increase on their season tickets next season. The chairman has no problems defending the decision. "Back last season we offered season ticket holders the opportunity to renew at existing prices. Many did and I have some sympathy for those who maybe couldn't afford to do so at the time. Others may have gambled on us staying in Division One this season. Sad to say they lost, but every penny of the increased price of admission will go into the transfer and wages pot. In a sense it gives supporters a stake in the club."He insists that the fans, like the board and Sky, have to help foot the bill of running a successful Premiership club. Indeed, Gold will be paying£12,000 for his own executive box, something he's done since becoming involved at St Andrews.
There's likely to be around £12m available for new signings but each new arrival will have to accept wage deals in line with those players already on the books, who will each receive a small rise on their Nationwide contracts with Premiership bonuses being paid on an appearance basis. That, says Gold, is the "only sensible, reasonable and proper way forward."
Steve Bruce's managerial skills will he tested like never before. "He'll be OK. Look at the players he's brought here. Stern John for£l 50,000 was a bargain and seasoned Premiership performers like Jeff Kcnna and Steve Vickcrs were persuaded in under our pay structure. I'm confident we have the nucleus of a good Premiership side and we'll work with Steve to give him what he wants, within reason."
Gold brings the tour of his grand plan to a close. "We promised the fans a great stadium and Premiership football, and both have been achieved. Yes, I feel proud of that."
