EFL response
Birmingham City have released a statement confirming the EFL's decision to appeal after they were found not guilty of another breach of financial rules.
It was confirmed in January the club were due to face a disciplinary commission to ascertain whether they had failed to follow the business plan imposed on them by the League.
Blues’ spending has been closely monitored since the start of last season and 13 months ago became the first club to be docked points under the new Profitability and Sustainability Regulations.
The case for a new alleged breach was heard in February and the panel ruled in favour of Blues, dismissing the threat of another points deduction.
But it became clear yesterday the EFL will appeal that verdict and the club expressed their 'disappointment' in a statement.
It reads: "The EFL has notified the club of its intention to appeal the decision of the Independent Disciplinary Commission in March 2020 dismissing the misconduct charge brought against the club by the EFL."
Solskjaer's plan amid Bellingham links
Manchester United are continuing to hold discussions to fine-tune their transfer plans for the next window, manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has said.
Birmingham City wonderkid Jude Bellingham is understood to be among the players being spoken about at Old Trafford.
The 16-year-old midfielder has been heavily linked with a move to either the Premier League or Bundesliga before next season having dazzled scouts while playing for Blues in the Championship.
FIFA confirmed yesterday the transfer window will open when the current season finishes, which is likely to be late into the summer because of the coronavirus pandemic.
"Football is going to get back to normality at one point, and it's very important we're ready when that happens,” Solskjaer told Sky Sports.
"We want to be the best at everything, and of course now is a chance to spend more time, you discuss players, discuss plans, we've evaluated what we need, of course with the coaching staff we've looked at games, evaluated games, discussing on video calls like this."
Brilliant Jude gesture
It’s a difficult time when you’re a football fan at the moment, starved of seeing your team in action.
It’s even tougher when the match you were meant to lead the team out to as a match-day mascot is postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic, which has forced the English game into an indefinite suspension.
To top it all off, it’s your eighth birthday, too.
For young Lawson Barber, it threatened to be a birthday to forget - but Birmingham City star Jude Bellingham made it one to remember.
Lawson’s family had arranged with Blues for him to walk out with the team as part of a birthday surprise when they were scheduled to entertain Swansea City at St Andrew’s this Good Friday, but because of the current circumstances that match has been put on hold.
“He was meant to be the mascot at the game on Good Friday, and obviously when it became clear that the game wasn’t going ahead, he was absolutely devastated,” mother Nula told BirminghamLive .
“We’re on the BCFC Facebook page, so we messaged a couple of the admins to see if we could get a video message from one of the players.”
Worrying reports
Championship clubs are remarkably looking at the prospect of 'group administration' because of the massive financial impact of coronavirus, according to reports.
Matches in England are suspended indefinitely due to the ongoing pandemic with the last round of fixtures having been played a month ago.
Birmingham City's most recent game was back on Saturday March 7 as Pep Clotet's side suffered a 3-1 defeat at home to Reading.
The suspension has hit the coffers of EFL clubs hard and the Daily Mail reports Championship sides have discussed the possibility of the entire division entering administration at the same time.
It is reported that keeping up with the costs of player wages is crippling clubs, whose revenue streams have been badly hit.
Blues players earning over £6,000-a-week agreed in March to a 50% wage deferral for the next four months while Leeds United stars followed suit.
But the Daily Mail report claims: "Group administration would involve every Championship club being placed into administration on the same day. Staff would be temporarily let go. Entire playing staffs would become free agents.
"Each owner would then buy the club back and negotiate contracts anew. It would be a doomsday scenario, a recalibration of the entire football industry.
"It is hard to believe it would ever happen. Yet it has been discussed and [EFL chairman] Rick Parry, chairman of the EFL, is said to be aware of it. No doubt he is sceptical of such an extreme measure, but the fact the conversation has taken place at all should serve as a distress signal that clubs face financial disaster."
