The 'main man' or Hong Kong Phooey?

The week's developments at St Andrew's have thrown up more questions than answers.

The story about Yeung's £70 million deal for Peace International Creation can be found here. Stick with it.

At present, Yeung still holds 16 per cent of Grandtop International Holdings, the firm that bought Blues. Vico Hui five per cent.

The deal for Peace International has not yet gone through therefore their holding companies, Winning Top and Genuine Ocean, remain on the outside looking in.

They could eventually hold a combined 42 per cent stake, if they fully exercise the convertible bonds set to be issued by Grandtop.

Now should the purchase of Peace International goes through, Yeung's shareholding would drop to nine per cent. The amount of public shareholders would fall from 79 per cent to 45 per cent.

So how can he be the man in charge?

It may be that the vendors are either linked to him in some way or run by close friends or business associates. People he trusts and are 'on-side'.

Everyone seems to suspect that there is a 'Mr Big', a mysterious zillionaire investor in the background and Yeung is just the front man. The so-called 'invisible hand'.

I'm not so sure that is necessarily the case.

It seems that that shareholders in Grandtop and business folk interested in what's happening at Blues are all inter-twined, like a spider's web, and there is no open dissention from anywhere about Yeung having all the limelight and driving things on.

Certainly, he's not behaving like he's a puppet. Witness the way he breezed into St Andrew's at his official unveiling, his aura, the deference of other board members
when he's around, his demonstrative passion in the directors' box during a game.

When I asked Peter Pannu various questions about the development, he immediately rang Yeung in Hong Kong and came back to me within half-an-hour or.

Presumably Yeung didn't have to run things by a shadowy background figure, sitting there in a secret hideout stroking a cat on his lap.

Pannu was quite forthright when insisting Yeung was the 'main man'. He referred to him as 'the boss'. He said he had just transferred £2 million of his own money as a 'top up' and January transfer plans remained on course.

Pannu stressed that Yeung said it was a strategic purchase to help Blues in the long term.

As for specifics, he wouldn't go into detail about these firms involved, who was behind them and so on. Answers were vague, as the new owners have been all along when myself and others have queried for information about backers and background.

As Peace International is a shell company and, like others in the Yeung empire, is offshore registered in the British Virgin Islands, it's nigh on impossible to find out their structure and raison d'être.

The business desk on the Birmingham Mail asked a leading city stockbroker to interpret all the documents concerning the proposed acquisition of Peace International and even he admitted he couldn't fathom it out.

Naturally, there is concern. It may be the Chinese way to be ultra-private, secretive. They may well do business in a different way than we are used to. But the less transparency, the greater the worry.

Yeung is getting stick from financial commentators out in the Far East primarily because they just aren't sure of his background, how he has become so wealthy so quickly and who's who in Grandtop.

The Premier League may well ask for a disclosure in the weeks to come and Yeung would have to provide that.

Throughout all of this one thing has remained constant: the calm and self-assurance of the Yeung camp.

Their air has been 'look, don't worry, we know what we're doing and the money's there'.

And despite the uproar about £11 million in liabilities, due diligence and police involvement, Yeung has not so much hinted at having had his fill of it already, or being the 'man of straw' David Gold once suggested he was.

Time will ultimately tell.

With another international break upon us and almost a third of the season gone, Blues will be taking stock of the season so far.

Probably the opinion down at Wast Hills is OK, but should have, and can do, better.

It's fair to say that in some games Blues have deserved more, in others they have learnt hard lessons and paid the price for not creating enough danger.

What cannot be questioned is the spirit and resolve, and the organisation.

Blues have not looked out of their depth, and there are encouraging signs that suggest good things to come.

Roger Johnson and Scott Dann, for example, are looking like excellent acquistions by the game. Christian Benitez has got that something about him and should improve with more experience of the Premier League.

Blues are - yes, honest - trying to become a less prosaic and a more progressive passing side.

And without question, the change in ownership has breathed new life into the club. It's no longer same old, same old, and a bit stale around the edges.

Carson Yeung, for all the legal rucks going on behind the scenes, still looks to be genuinely enjoying it. His and his group's enthusiasm remains refreshing.

Mind you, he seems to be carrying on the tradition of outlandish overcoats in the directors' box. What was that at Anfield? Had he skinned a Wookiee or something?

January and the transfer window is going to be a pivotal stage of Blues development under McLeish in the Yeung regime.

Quality, more speed and athleticism are all requirements needed to keep Blues on an upward curve in the desire to become a bona fide Premier League club.

But we can only look at the here and now, so let's see how Blues stack up compared to relevant years gone by.

Blues currently have 12 points from 12 games, and are in 15th place.

In the 2005-06 relegation season they were second from bottom with just six points from the same number of matches, and without a home win.

When Blues went down in 2007-08, they had 11 points after 12 games and were in 14th spot.

They had just lost at Everton and Steve Bruce was preparing for what would be his final game in charge, at home to Villa.

Before Alex McLeish came in, Blues form was nosediving: they lost seven out of eight matches in league and cup.

Presently Blues are on a reasonable keel, and should they get to 20 plus points by Christmas, then there is every cause for optimism.

Back to Anfield, and David Ngog. The shame for the kid is that a very dynamic performance that caused Blues no end of problems, which included a well-taken volleyed goal, will be remembered for his theatrics.

He didn't so much dive but hurdled over Lee Carsley's leg and then flung himself to the deck. Some gymnast.

Referee Peter Walton was well positioned too. I maintain he gave what he thought he should be giving, without taking into account what he actually saw.

Then we have Ngog's agent, a pillock called Bruno Satin.

He dragged up Martin Taylor's tackle on Eduardo, which anyone who isn't Arsene Wenger knows was not deliberate, nor malicious. Eduardo was too quick for Taylor, as was Ngog for Carsley, but Eduardo wasn't in the penalty area.

"He's a lad with very good education, correct and polite," said Satin. "He doesn't look for these things. He's never had a problem of this type before in his career.

"Maybe he fell down because he was worried about being injured. At times players make very hard challenges in England. They allow a lot of things to defenders in the Premier League. At times it's really on the limit.

"Sometimes there are challenges that can assassinate you. A defender could get five matches for throwing his shirt and the player who broke the leg of Eduardo only had a three-game suspension."

Throughout all of this poor old Cameron Jerome's goal of his career has been forgotten.

When Sky Sports went down to interview him at Wast Hills the next day predictably they were more interested in feeding the diving debate to fill the need for 'news' 24/7.

Maybe his celebratory dive should have been in the box.

Stadium naming rights; could you imagine St Andrew's called anything else?

Well, the famous old Blues ground came close to a rebranding a few years back.

Karren Brady, in her newspaper column, spoke about Mike Ashley's decision to rename St James' Park, ludicrously so in most people's eyes, but not hers.

She admitted: "I sold sponsorship for everything that moved at St Andrew's and lots of things that didn't - including my briefcase when I first took over.

"Maybe I'd have quashed, say, St Andrew's Liver Salts but I can't see much wrong with Jaguar St Andrew's Stadium. After all, what's in a name? But it would be a brave chairman who did a deal with Winalot."

Putting to one side the usual cheap gags that fill the column, there was a serious undertone to the former MD's latest offering.

She was in negotiation with an internet electronic retailer to change the name of St Andrew's, and from what I remember, it came close to fruition.

It was not common knowledge at the time and, for whatever reason, the deal fell through.

So let's count our blessings that we don't roll up to the dabs.com stadium every other Saturday.

In the short space of time he has been chairman of Blues, Vico Hui is fast making a name for himself.

Witness his latest exploits at the welcome party, thrown by BRMB, for the new Chinese owners at Chung Ying Garden, the excellent Cantonese restaurant in Birmingham.

Hui raised a chuckle with his 'buy tickets boys' bark when interviewed on Sky Sports, who stopped the new directors on their way out of St Andrew's on their first day for an impromptu couple of words.

Then he did the rounds at the Sunderland game, telling us 'I love you all!' in signing-off his address on the pitch before walking trackside to shake hands with anyone who cared to do the honours, of which there were plenty.

But the other night Hui surpassed himself, and he may have gone down in club folklore if not legend by showing he is a man of the people, if not the pub.

Hui, Peter Pannu and Sammy Yu absolutely enjoyed themselves chatting, gossiping and joking with 100 Blues fans invited by BRMB to share in the occasion.

They had time for everyone, they willingly got up from the top table to do the rounds of the room - in fact, they asked Tom Ross if they could - and nothing was too much trouble. It wasn't a front, it wasn't put on; these guys are made up to be in charge of Blues.

And as for Hui, well, he caught Sky Sports man in the Midlands Pete Colley on the hop after a conversation about how to say 'cheers' in various languages.

All of a sudden, he turned to Colley and announced 'bottoms up!' and proceded to down his pint in one. Colley was a little slow off the mark and realised he had been challenged to a drinking competition. Suffice to say, as a Villa supporter, his shandy-supping tendencies came to the fore and he was soundly beaten.

Later in the evening, Hui got up from his seat and then downed another pint without pause to amazement and cheers from the guests who were egging him on.

I don't think I've ever seen anything of its like before. Certainly I can't remember David Gold wolfing down the Stella at the player-of-the-season dinner.

I can just see Hui telling Randy Lerner in April in the V***a directors lounge to send forward his top man - the General - for a best-of-three Budweiser shoot-out. Red China v Uncle Sam with a twist, or what?

Before the chatter spreads that Blues have someone at the helm heading for the Betty Ford Clinic, or this was louche behaviour from a person in a senior position, Hui was letting his hair down and basically getting a buzz from the evening. He wasn't so steaming that he wouldn't have known a clothes line from a goal line, to borrow a phrase.

And apparently, according to those who know about these things, in Chinese culture it is acceptable to have a drink or two in certain circumstances.

Pannu looked at my glass of Coke at one point and admonished: 'What is a matter with you, why are you not drinking?' He hadn't been to the Blue Lagoon Bar in Ancona, or whatever it was called, that's what.

It's been pretty full-on for the Carson Yeung camp since completing the takeover and behind closed doors they have attended to some serious business.

Pannu particularly is like a dog with a bone in regard to the legal battle currently being waged over Karren Brady's pay-off and other liabilities.

Hui also gave a very sincere speech in responding to Ross's opening address and similarly so did Pannu and Yu.

Pannu said that Blues would look after season ticket holders after cutting matchday prices and revealed that Yeung often rang him from Hong Kong, which is eight hours ahead, and kept him chatting about the club well into the wee small hours of the morning, forgetting what time it was in the UK.

You will have probably read elsewhere on Internet message boards their replies to various other queries from supporters. They took the time to listen and, from my
experience, everything - whether it be complaints, praise or suggestions - will have been logged and then digested and addressed at a later date.

The feedback I got was that those in attendance were delighted that the board was so approachable, genuine and had no airs or graces.

The new owners seem to have triggered a feel good factor and their lively enthusiasm is rubbing off on many.

Take Chung Ying Garden manager James Wong for example: he couldn't help but reveal his identity as a Bluenose by belting out Keep Right On for all his worth when the directors were 'serenaded' in time-honoured fashion.

It was quite a night, certainly not one of your average stuffy and staid meet and greets. Credit to Ross and BRMB for the idea. And it may well have gone a long way to establishing Hui as a cult figure.

The sheer enthusiasm and almost schoolboy excitement from Blues new owners was clear to see at St Andrew's.

The first home game of the Chinese reign brought the right result and performance.

And it provided a first hand glimpse to many supporters of just how passionate Carson Yeung and his cohorts are about football.

Yeung was like a jack in the (directors') box, cheering, shouting, agonising, pointing.

Vico Hui's joy at giving the owners' address was obvious too and his walkabout sometimes lurched towards the demonic.

It was heartening. They didn't watch stony-faced, like hard-nosed businessmen wondering about the pounds, shilling and pence.

There was no trying to be 'one of the lads' like a Mike Ashley in replica shirt downing a pint.

I'm pretty certain that if crossed or unhappy, Yeung and his group will show their ruthless side.

And let's not pretend that they don't envisage viable business opportunities in Asia off the back of buying Blues.

But at present, they are at the beginning of a new adventure and are not so much empowered by it, or nourishing ego, just simply having fun.

Paradoxically, where this kind of fervour could cause a problem is the succession of footballing 'trophy friends'.

Steve McManaman, Christian Karembeu, Fan Zhiyi and now Gerard Houllier are all - if you don't believe the truth - advising, ready to manage and/or coach.

McManaman, an intelligent guy and a decent bloke by all accounts, looked quite uneasy alongside Yeung when Sunderland visited.

He's a friend and a director of Grandtop International Holdings, but he's not a King maker, or a job seeker. That's what he told Alex McLeish when they met.

In fairness to Blues, Sammy Yu has outlined exactly what roles they are, or aren't, playing in the new regime.

However, the constant round of stories and speculation about them doesn't help the current management, nor does it reflect well on Yeung and his associates.

It may well be hyped-up tittle-tattle, rumours that appear to make sense but are without solid foundation.

McLeish needs to be allowed to get on and manage without distraction and without having to look over shoulder. Anything that undermines his authority weakens his effectiveness and so harms the team and so harms the club.

There is no suggestion we are moving into Flavio Briatore territory here. Yeung has gone on the record saying he has no plans to replace McLeish.

And so far Yu, who is based at Wast Hills and is Yeung's football liason, has established a rapport and understanding with McLeish.

He's got a tracksuit and puts his boots on to go up to the training pitches, but he's not yet got the clipboard out and staged an impromptu coaching seminar, or popped up in the technical area on match day.

Had Yeung parachuted in a director of football, then I'd be more concerned. In this country, that position hardly ever works.

After an £81.5 million takeover Yeung can, of course, speak and mix with anyone he likes. Clearly, he enjoys the company and patronage of famous ex-players and is bound to respect what they say.

Just as long as he doesn't get carried away and adopts a Championship Manager mentality, and just as long as lines of demarcation are clear for everybody, then there shouldn't be big trouble in little China.

Steve Bruce is back in town on Saturday.

He's not been to St Andrew's in a managerial capacity since leaving for Wigan Athletic amid acrimonious circumstances in November 2007.

Speaking to him this week for a special feature in Thursday's Birmingham Mail, he's looking forward to taking his place in the (away) dug out again, and is intrigued especially about the Carson Yeung takeover and how that might affect the atmosphere at the ground and surrounding the club in general.

Bruce's views on his exit, Yeung and the old board make for a fascinating read.

For a bit of fun, I've put together my Brucie's Best Blues, selected from the players he brought in, with the criteria heavily weighed towards how effective they were, and the degree of impact on the team.

As it will only cause problems, I daren't select a 4-5-1 formation but a nice and attacking 4-3-3 instead.

Taylor;

Tebily, Cunningham, Upson, Kenna;

Johnson, Savage, Clemence;

Forssell, Dugarry, John.

Subs: Devlin, Heskey, Pennant, Bendtner, Jaidi, Kelly, Larsson.

As for the picture, it was taken by Tim Easthope at Blues pre-season camp in Marbella in 2006.

Bruce realised Tim had snatched the shot, and half-jokingly threatened us that it couldn't be used in the newspaper.

By then Bruce and Simon Jordan - who lives out there - had kind of kissed and made up, although the perma-tanned one received much abuse from passing Blues fans as he sat and watched training.

'I always felt that that as a player it was my destiny to one day manage the team.

'That happened, and I tried very hard to achieve the goal of Premiership football.

'It's just a feeling that I don't think I've finished yet. I believe one day our paths will cross again.'

That was Trevor Francis, October 2001.

Sat next to David Gold, it was during Francis's farewell address at St Andrew's following his sacking as manager.

It was an enigmatic way to end the press conference, and the chairman shifted uneasily.

It was thought at the time that Francis would try to get together a consortium including pals Jasper Carrott and Jeff Lyne to buy the club. Not so.

Now, with David Sullivan, Golds and Karren Brady regime gone, could his sign-off statement, which we all thought was wishful thinking at the time, come to pass?

Don't rule it out.

The Carson Yeung regime have Steve McManaman and Christian Karembeu as special ambassadors to Grandtop International Holdings. And they will be tasked with similar roles for Blues.

The idea of Francis also becoming an ambassador has been floated to them. Not only could he be of use due to his contacts, knowledge and experience, but think of the PR and prestige it would bring them - they are aware of all this.

Francis covered the Arsenal-Blues game for Sky Sports at the Emirates Stadium. Myself and other members of the local media chatted to him.

He seemed excited and intrigued about the change in ownership.

An from our conversation, it was clear that he would welcome an opportunity to at least talk to Yeung and his people.

We all know that Francis didn't see eye-to-eye with Sullivan and Brady. He has only been back to St Andrew's since his dismissal to fulfil television duties.

Francis isn't interested in managing once more. He wouldn't be a threat to Alex McLeish, or anyone else on the footballing side, were he involved in some capacity.

His passion for Blues still burns bright and he will be there again on Saturday, before heading off for dinner with Steve Bruce after the Sunderland match.

They say it's good to talk; the new Blues owners could do worse than to at least have an informal chat.

Dispatch from the Carson Yeung press conference, October 15, 2009. St Andrew's, 2pm

He arrived at St Andrew's on a drizzly, grey Birmingham afternoon.

Umbrellas were at the ready for Carson Yeung at the St Andrew's Kop reception.

But you sensed even if a blizzard had been howling, Yeung wouldn't have been bothered.

He brought the weather with him; his sunny disposition wavered not once throughout the official launch of the new Blues era.

His grin stayed wide, he was excitable and, interestingly, what struck this observer was the aura and magnetism about him.

Two years ago when Yeung sat at the St Andrew's top table following his £15 million purchase of 29.9 per cent of the club, with a view to a full buy out, he was much more uncomfortable, introverted even.

Back then he spoke in broken English and the message he and his group tried to get across was lost, and confused.

Yesterday, as he waltzed into the club, it was like a presidential arrival.

Staff lined up to meet him in a crammed foyer and he vigorously pressed the flesh.

His demeanour - the flashing smile, tanned complexion, neatly tailored pin-stripe suit, salmon pink tie and matching pocket square - marked him down as a man of means, of success. And now one of obvious confidence.

Yeung moved jauntily on up the stairs to International Suite where the media were waiting.

He sat centre stage this time, flanked by his team, Blues new board.

After the introductions were made to applause (Yeung started the clapping), the Hong Kong tycoon whipped out a piece of paper and gave an opening address in firm English.

He said: "Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen, I would like to thank you all for coming here today.

"I want to tell you all I am so happy to be here. It has taken a long time to buy the club but, finally . . . I got it!"

"Yes!" exalted Peter Pannu, Blues executive and financial whizz, to Yeung's left. The former Triad-buster in the Hong Kong Police became cheerleader-in-chief in what was a short but lively press conference. Such a contrast to last time.

Then, in probably what was one of the most jaw-dropping acts here since Ken Wheldon brought an AGM to a close seconds after opening it to deny any questions, Yeung quite happily revealed spending plans.

Journalists were expecting Yeung to provide the usual stock, evasive answer to the question what kind of finance would be available to the manager. Oh no, we were wrong.

"My first plan is to support with about £20 million to £40 million."

Stunned silence.

Sorry, Specifically for player transfers and wages, someone asked.

"Ah, yes. Exactly."

'In January, £20 million to £40 million. In January?'

"Yes. £20 million to £40 million. Exactly."

Had he been there and not taking afternoon training, Alex McLeish would probably have whooped, or maybe rolled his eyes and slapped his own forehead.

Don't worry about him giving the game, away, Eck. This was now Yeung's club, £81.5 million worth. His baby. He was in the limelight, having fun, bouncing along.

There was a humorous moment when Yeung was asked whether McLeish's job was safe for the foreseeable future.

"Mmmm . . . not at the moment."

Stunned silence again. Then whispers, into Yeung's ear from Pannu, who had been explaining some queries in Mandarin.

Pannu: "It's my mistake, sorry I mistranslated!"

Yeung: "No, no, sorry, I please say again. I will support him. Yes."

Chairman Vico Hui chipped in: "Alex is part of us. Together."

Pannu, looking sheepish: "I will take the blame for this."

With his background, I doubt if anyone was going to tut tut at him.

Yeung went on to say that he would be in England three or four times a month and try to get to every St Andrew's match.

Birmingham was a "wonderful city . . . my second home now".

He swerved a question about hoping to make Blues bigger than Villa - "we are competition" - and at the end of the conference, brought the top table team together to lay their hands on top of one another's, in a Three Musketeers style of bonding.

The photographers loved it and scrambled forward and Yeung then made an off the cuff remark.

"Finally, thanks all for coming, to be our friends. We are friends together - forever. Thank you."

There was more applause and then Yeung and his group were off to do a series of individual interviews to expand on his delight and Blues vision . . . and another £40 million towards the transfer kitty.