{"id":1161447,"date":"2026-08-21T15:52:39","date_gmt":"2026-08-21T15:52:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/1161447\/"},"modified":"2026-08-21T15:52:39","modified_gmt":"2026-08-21T15:52:39","slug":"wrexham-not-alone-birmingham-eyes-premier-league-push-as-promotion-buzz-builds-in-second-city","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/1161447\/","title":{"rendered":"Wrexham not alone: Birmingham eyes Premier League push as promotion buzz builds in Second City"},"content":{"rendered":"

BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) \u2014 Birmingham fan Paul Ellis wants the big games against the big teams.<\/p>\n

Back in the Premier League.<\/p>\n

Click to Gallery<\/p>\n

\"Sheffield<\/p>\n

Sheffield United’s Joe Rothwell, left, and Birmingham City’s Jhon Solis in action the Championship soccer match between Sheffield United and Birmingham City in Sheffield, England, Saturday Aug. 15, 2026. (Gary Oakley\/PA via AP)<\/p>\n

\"Birmingham<\/p>\n

Birmingham City’s Paik Seung-Ho, left, heads the ball during the Championship soccer match between Sheffield United and Birmingham City in Sheffield, England, Saturday Aug. 15, 2026. (Gary Oakley\/PA via AP)<\/p>\n

\"FILE<\/p>\n

FILE – Former quarterback Tom Brady, left, talks to Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen before an NFL football game between the Buccaneers and the Philadelphia Eagles, Sept. 29, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo\/Chris O’Meara, File)<\/p>\n

\"Birmingham<\/p>\n

Birmingham City manager Chris Davies applauds the fans after the final whistle of the Championship soccer match between Sheffield United and Birmingham City in Sheffield, England, Saturday Aug. 15, 2026. (Gary Oakley\/PA via AP)<\/p>\n

\"Sheffield<\/p>\n

Sheffield United’s Sam McCallum, right, and Birmingham City’s Phil Neumann in action during the Championship soccer match between Sheffield United and Birmingham City in Sheffield, England, Saturday Aug. 15, 2026. (Gary Oakley\/PA via AP)<\/p>\n

“Last season was more of a building season to get regular players in and to establish a firm base so we could progress onto being in the Premiership,\u201d he said. \u201cThe expectation, really, is to get into the Premier League.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ahead of its home opener Saturday, second-division Birmingham understands the assignment. Promotion is the buzzword in Britain\u2019s \u201cSecond City.\u201d<\/p>\n

Even with Birmingham chairman Tom Wagner still on the mend from a stroke, the club is pushing ahead with plans for a new 62,000-seat stadium and setting on-field expectations after a 10th-place finish last season.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe know our owners are very ambitious. Everyone at the club is ambitious, our managers are ambitious, and the players who\u2019ve joined us have come here because they think this is the club where their ambitions can be realized,\u201d Birmingham chief executive Jeremy Dale said in a preseason club video.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, we\u2019re all aligned on our goals, and there should be no confusion about that.\u201d<\/p>\n

After spending heavily to get out of League One \u2014 Birmingham won the 2024-25 third-division title \u2014 the Blues eyed back-to-back promotions but came up short, as did Wrexham.<\/p>\n

The top two finishers in the 24-team Championship get automatic promotion to the Premier League. The third and final promotion spot is determined via a multi-team playoffs. Starting this season, the playoffs expand to six teams \u2014 up from four.<\/p>\n

Like Wrexham some 70 miles away, Birmingham began attracting more eyeballs globally with a change of ownership plus some celebrity stardust.<\/p>\n

U.S.-based Knighthead Capital Management, co-founded by Wagner, bought into Birmingham in 2023 and two years later took full control, setting the stage for the unveiling of plans for a multi-billion-pound \u201csports quarter\u201d district and stadium.<\/p>\n

Along the way, they added NFL great Tom Brady as a Birmingham minority owner.<\/p>\n

There were some growing pains, too. Wayne Rooney lasted less than three months as manager in the \u201823-24 season that ended in relegation to League One. In a docuseries, Brady questioned the England great’s work ethic, and Rooney later called the criticism \u201cvery unfair.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Blues host Bristol on Saturday at St. Andrew’s stadium following a season-opening 0-0 draw at Sheffield United last weekend. Birmingham beat Swansea 1-0 in the first round of the English League Cup on Aug. 8.<\/p>\n

Starting his third season as manager, Davies is avoiding predictions.<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery single season in the Championship is hard,\u201d he said at a recent press conference. \u201cYou play 46 games … there\u2019s not a lot to separate the sides. It\u2019s really a relentless division.\u201d<\/p>\n

Davies had worked as an assistant coach to Brendan Rodgers at Liverpool, Celtic and Leicester. He then worked under Ange Postecoglou at Tottenham before joining Birmingham.<\/p>\n

Birmingham scored just 57 goals last season \u2014 while five of the top six teams tallied at least 70. In response, the club this summer hired a set-piece coach, Scott Fry, calling him \u201cone of football\u2019s brightest emerging specialists in this area.\u201d<\/p>\n

The investment paid a quick dividend as August Priske’s goal against Swansea came from a set piece.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have big ambitions,” right back and Nigeria international Bright Osayi-Samuel said afterward. \u201cWe believe that we can achieve what we want to achieve.\u201d<\/p>\n

The team disclosed in February that Wagner had suffered a stroke and would step back from day-to-day activity during a period of recovery<\/p>\n

Both Davies and Dale, the chief executive, have said they’ve been speaking to him regularly.<\/p>\n

Fans have reached out to the American financier, as well.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou really feel that Birmingham fans really care about him, actually care about his health,\u201d co-host Gary O\u2019Neill said on the BCFC Royal Blue podcast.<\/p>\n

The club said ahead of the season that Wagner \u201ccontinues to make strong progress in his recovery. He remains deeply grateful for the countless messages of support and well wishes he has received from Blues fans over recent months. Those messages have meant a great deal to him and certainly hardened his resolve to be back in top form as quickly as possible.”<\/p>\n

Birmingham last played in the Premier League in 2011 \u2014 the same year it won the English League Cup by beating Arsenal 2-1 at Wembley Stadium.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat is my favorite part, going down to Wembley with my two boys and watching them lift the Cup,\u201d said Ellis, the City fan who is curator at Birmingham city hall.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs we are the Second City, that is the aim, that is the goal, to have both Birmingham City and Aston Villa in the premiership and playing in Europe,\u201d he added. \u201cIt\u2019s more of a promotion for the actual city.\u201d<\/p>\n

See AP\u2019s full soccer coverage here<\/p>\n


\n \"Sheffield<\/p>\n

Sheffield United’s Joe Rothwell, left, and Birmingham City’s Jhon Solis in action the Championship soccer match between Sheffield United and Birmingham City in Sheffield, England, Saturday Aug. 15, 2026. (Gary Oakley\/PA via AP)<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n


\n \"Birmingham<\/p>\n

Birmingham City’s Paik Seung-Ho, left, heads the ball during the Championship soccer match between Sheffield United and Birmingham City in Sheffield, England, Saturday Aug. 15, 2026. (Gary Oakley\/PA via AP)<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n


\n \"FILE<\/p>\n

FILE – Former quarterback Tom Brady, left, talks to Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen before an NFL football game between the Buccaneers and the Philadelphia Eagles, Sept. 29, 2024, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo\/Chris O’Meara, File)<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n


\n \"Birmingham<\/p>\n

Birmingham City manager Chris Davies applauds the fans after the final whistle of the Championship soccer match between Sheffield United and Birmingham City in Sheffield, England, Saturday Aug. 15, 2026. (Gary Oakley\/PA via AP)<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n


\n \"Sheffield<\/p>\n

Sheffield United’s Sam McCallum, right, and Birmingham City’s Phil Neumann in action during the Championship soccer match between Sheffield United and Birmingham City in Sheffield, England, Saturday Aug. 15, 2026. (Gary Oakley\/PA via AP)<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) \u2014 A Texas court on Friday slashed a $50 million judgment to $1.5 million against Infowars founder Alex Jones over falsely calling 2012 school shooting a hoax.<\/p>\n

The ruling does not affect a $1.4 billion judgement against Jones in Connecticut, but is a significant legal victory for Jones after he and his company, Free Speech Systems, were found liable for damages for claiming the mass shooting didn\u2019t happen.<\/p>\n

The unanimous opinion of by the Texas Third Court of Appeals found that Sandy Hook parents Neil Heslin and Scarlett Lewis did not show evidence that harassment enflamed by Jones\u2019 hoax claims rose to a level that would allow them to exceed the state\u2019s $750,000 cap on damages for each plaintiff.<\/p>\n

Heslin and Lewis\u2019s 6-year-old son Jesse Lewis was among 20 children and six educators killed in the 2012 attack in Newtown, Connecticut. The lawsuit and 2022 verdict against Jones marked the first time Jones was held financially liable for peddling lies about the massacre, claiming it was faked by the government to tighten gun laws.<\/p>\n

Jones, who portrayed the lawsuit as an attack on his First Amendment rights, conceded during the trial that the attack was \u201c100% real\u201d and that he was wrong to have lied about it. But Heslin and Lewis told jurors that an apology wouldn\u2019t suffice and called on them to make Jones pay for the years of suffering he has put them and other Sandy Hook families through.<\/p>\n

Jones\u2019 trial attorney Andino Reynal had said immediately after the verdict that Jones would appeal the damages amount, and predicted it would be reduced to $1.5 million.<\/p>\n

Jones and his company have filed for bankruptcy, and those legal proceedings continue. The satirical website The Onion also moved to take over Jones’ Infowars platforms and turn his bullhorn of conspiracy theories into parody sites.<\/p>\n


\n \"FILE<\/p>\n

FILE – Right-wing conspiracy theorist Alex Jones speaks to the media after arriving at the federal courthouse for a hearing in front of a bankruptcy judge in Houston, June 14, 2024. (AP Photo\/David J. Phillip, File)<\/p>\n

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