Birmingham City owner Tom Wagner has once again clearly stated his strong ambition to see the club return to the Premier League as swiftly as possible.
The American`s vision for the club, which has been widely known since Knighthead Capital Management took over nearly two years ago, remains unchanged despite the team spending last season in League One.
Momentum is currently with the Blues. Following their promotion campaign, where they secured a record 111 points (a joint EFL and world record), many anticipate they will be an immediate competitive force in the Championship, returning to the second tier as a significantly transformed club.
Prior to their relegation in May 2024, Birmingham had been in the Championship for 13 consecutive seasons, finishing no higher than 17th in all but four instances. Despite the recently concluded season in League One being largely viewed as a successful period of consolidation after promotion, Wagner`s dream of ending the club`s long absence from the top flight continues.
This ambition is further supported by developments regarding plans for a 62,000-seater stadium and a 125-acre Sports Quarter. These projects received a major boost following confirmation of a £2.4 billion investment in local transport infrastructure, including the initial phase of a West Midlands Metro extension. The aim is for the complex, planned for the currently disused Birmingham Wheels site, to be ready by 2030.
In a recent interview with BBC Sport, conducted shortly after these significant infrastructure plans were announced, Wagner discussed his long-term vision for both the new stadium and the club as a whole, particularly following their promotion from the third tier.
There is already a growing belief that new manager Chris Davies possesses the foundation of a solid Championship-level squad. Key players like Christoph Klarer, along with his potential new defensive partner Phil Neumann, and record-signing Jay Stansfield are expected to be central figures.
Wagner, 55, had previously stated his goal for the club to be back in the Premier League by 2026, which would necessitate achieving back-to-back promotions. He confirmed that this target remains the aim heading into the new campaign.
“Ultimately, getting promoted into the Premier League (is our ambition),” he began. “We`d like to do that as quickly as we can and then becoming highly competitive in the Prem.”
Explaining how they could compete quickly, Wagner stated, “The reason we can do that, and I think this is something that is often lost on folks, if we were promoted next season, we`d immediately fall mid-table in total revenue because of the commercial partnerships that we`ve built up over the last two seasons.”
He highlighted the club`s current financial strength, adding, “We will do total revenue this year that is close to, if not, in line with the parachute payment clubs, as a Championship side not receiving any parachute payments.”
“We`ll be very active in the transfer market,” he claimed, signaling intent for the upcoming window. “We already have a sense as to who we`ll be going after, we`ve got a really high-quality squad that we`re assembling.”
When asked directly if promotion was a realistic target within the next 12 months, Wagner responded, “That`s certainly the goal that we`ll try to achieve.” He concluded by emphasizing the importance of maintaining the high standards from the previous season: “The goal has to be as good as we were last season.”
A Look Back: Blues` Premier League History
For a significant portion of the current generation of Bluenoses, experiencing the Premier League`s excitement remains a future hope. The club`s last stint in the top flight concluded in May 2011, mere months after their famous EFL Cup final victory against Arsenal.
Before this, Birmingham had returned to the Premier League in 2002 following a lengthy 17-year absence under Steve Bruce. Under both Bruce and later Alex McLeish, Blues spent seven out of the following nine seasons among the elite, with the other two seasons resulting in second-place finishes in the Championship.
Anticipation is high for substantial investment in the squad this summer, similar to the approach seen at Wrexham. Potential incomings include a loan move for James Beadle from Brighton & Hove Albion, a potentially surprising loan deal for Louie Barry from rivals Aston Villa has also been suggested, alongside reported links to Harry Darling and Charlie Savage. Furthermore, reports indicate a significant weekly wage offer is being prepared for Kwame Poku.
Unsurprisingly, Wagner is highly regarded by the fans at St Andrew`s @ Knighthead Park for demonstrating tangible progress and clear aims. Should Blues achieve promotion next year, ending a 15-year hiatus from the top flight, his status among supporters would undoubtedly become legendary. This achievement would also reignite the highly anticipated Second City derbies against Aston Villa, last played in 2019.
