Birmingham owner Tom Wagner makes big Aston Villa admission
Birmingham City co-owner Tom Wagner has revealed his admiration for arch-rivals Aston Villa, with a restoration of the derby in the Premier League a “top objective”.
Wagner agreed to buy a 45.64% controlling stake in Birmingham in 2023, following years of ownership turmoil at St Andrew’s.
Confirmation of new ownership finally arrived in the form of the American financier, after two takeover attempts had fallen through.
Although City were relegated from the Championship in the year following Wagner’s arrival, considerable investment in the squad has seen the club blitz League One to break the all-time points record in the EFL.
Aston Villa v Birmingham in Premier League ‘top objective’
The derby’s latest instalment (between the men’s teams), came in 2019, in a fiery Championship affair which saw Jack Grealish assaulted by a City fan, before scoring the winner.
But it has been 14 years since the teams met in the Premier League, and Wagner is keen to end the wait.
“It’s absolutely a top objective,” Wagner told The iPaper.
“It’s the right rivalry for Birmingham, the right derby for English football, and the right way for each club to achieve its highest potential is by rekindling a rivalry that’s been dormant for too long.”
Wagner also named Villa among three teams that he admires, praising the “exceptional” job the management have done in growing the club with long-term success in mind.
The hugely successful Manchester City, and Wrexham, also garner the American’s acclaim.
Birmingham is a footballing city on the rise
While praise from the blue side of Birmingham may feel unnatural to hear for Villa fans, it is certainly warranted.
Since the Villans’ own takeover in 2018, the club have gone from strength to strength in England’s finest league.
Should Unai Emery’s team beat Manchester United at Old Trafford on the final day, they will set their highest-ever points tally from a 38-match Premier League season.
Depending on other results, a win could also grant them Champions League participation for the second season running.
Their first campaign back among Europe’s elite succeeded all expectations, with just a single goal separating them from the semi-final.
Although a semi-final exit to the eventual winers of the FA Cup, Crystal Palace, was disappointing, there is a growing expectation that trophies are around the corner.
And with further additions promised in the summer, and the hope of retaining players such as Morgan Rogers, there is no reason Villa cannot expect to continue growing in stature.