Birmingham City
Despite being a lifelong West Ham United fan, in 1993 Sullivan bought into Birmingham City F.C. with David Gold and Ralph Gold. However, in 2007 Sullivan expressed his desire to sell his share in the club. Sullivan stated he had three reasons for why he wanted to leave. "One, the geographical distance. I've said for years the journey to Birmingham is killing me. Two, I think deep down the public have had enough of us. They think we should have mortgaged our houses to buy more players to compete with Chelsea and Arsenal. The honeymoon is long over and we're at the divorce stage now, unfortunately. And I also feel we've had no support from Birmingham council."
In April 2008, Sullivan and Birmingham City F.C. managing director Karren Brady were released on bail after being arrested by City of London Police and questioned on suspicion of conspiracy to defraud and false accounting in connection with an ongoing investigation of alleged corruption in English football. In August 2009 it was confirmed that no action would be taken. Sullivan attributed major blame for Birmingham's 2008 relegation from the Premier League to previous manager Steve Bruce's player signings, and suggested he wanted to sell his stake in the club following the behaviour of sections of the crowd at the last game of the 2007–08 season.
Read more about this topic: David Sullivan (publisher), Other Interests
Famous quotes containing the word city:
“A city on whom plenty held full hand,
For riches strewed herself even in her streets;
Whose towers bore heads so high they kissed the clouds,
And strangers ne’er beheld but wondered at.”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)