Birmingham City owners Knighthead have invested heavily in Birmingham over the past two years and that is set to continue
Birmingham City chairman Tom Wagner (left) and director Andrew Shannahan
Birmingham City chairman Tom Wagner and two of his Knighthead associates have been added to the board of cricket franchise Birmingham Phoenix in a clear indication that their £40million acquisition is set to go through.
Knighthead struck a deal to buy a 49 percent stake in the Phoenix back in February when the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) sold shares in eight teams involved in The Hundred. The Phoenix compete in The Hundred under the umbrella of Edgbaston-based Warwickshire County Cricket Club.
An eight-week exclusivity period to agree terms was extended in March but a resolution now appears to have been reached.
On Tuesday (July 15), Wagner along with Andrew Shannahan and Kyle Kneisly – both of whom are also on Blues’ board of directors – were listed as directors of the Phoenix on Companies House.
The three Americans join Warwickshire chairman Mark McCafferty, chief executive Stuart Cain, strategy director Craig Flindall and commercial director Adam Lowe on the board of Birmingham Phoenix.
The Hundred is due to begin on August 8 – the day Blues start their Championship campaign against Ipswich Town – with a double-header that will see the Phoenix’s men and women’s teams take on the Trent Rockets.
Knighthead’s investment in the Phoenix is another example of their commitment to Birmingham.
The American investment firm have also invested in netball side Birmingham Panthers and have pledged to build a Sports Quarter in the heart of the Second City.
The Sports Quarter will house Blues’ football teams with a 62,000-seater stadium, a 10,000 mini stadium and training facilities.
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