Legal battle looms between Birmingham and West Ham owners

A protracted and bitter legal battle between the new and former owners of Birmingham is in prospect.   David Sullivan at West Ham responded to a writ served against him and four other former board members at the Blues by suggesting that he would issue a counterclaim for £2m in allegeldly unpaid expenses.

Birmingham's owners took their own claim for more than £5m in compensation to the High Court on Tuesday after being unhappy with aspects of the financial situation they say they inherited when Carson Yeung completed his £80m takeover in October.   Shortly after taking control of the club, Yeung ordered an investigation which revealed that Sullivan and David Gold had each paid themselves £420,000 in management fees for the season ahead.

Sullivan and Gold had hoped for an amicable out-of-court settlement, but unless agreement can be found, the legal battle could last for as long as two years.