"They know that you’re coming" - Birmingham City owner Tom Wagner makes Premier League revelation | OneFootball

Blues' ambition is set to increase further as they prepare for the Championship

Birmingham City owner Tom Wagner has claimed that some of the country's top sides are starting to become aware of the ambition shown in this part of the Second City.

In an interview with GIVEMESPORT, the American continued to outline the well-documented plans the club have regarding the building of a 60,000-capacity stadium and 'Sports Quarter' complex just a short distance away from St Andrew's @ Knighthead Park.

On the pitch, Blues did everything within their power to tick the first major box in Knighthead's major rebuilding job, which was to achieve a first-time promotion from League One back to the Championship under Chris Davies in what was the 40-year-old's first managerial job.

His team delivered in astonishing fashion, breaking plenty of club and divisional records, before setting an English football and global record 111-point haul and an EFL-high 34th win of the season with a 2-1 victory against Cambridge United on the final day of the season.

Unsurprisingly, talk has already begun surrounding what the B9 club can achieve next season with the wind well and truly in their sails. But, as Wagner's latest revelation showcases, those in the boardroom are continuing to look beyond what will occur in 2025/26.

Tom Wagner reveals top-flight 'alertness' in latest Birmingham City message

Wagner initially revealed plans to build the new complex in April 2024 when the derelict 48-acre site at Birmingham Wheels was acquired, with the purchase of an adjacent 12-acre space taking the cost up to a reported £51m.

The New-York native stated at the time the entire delivery of the project was likely to cost £2-3bn with the hope of it being completed in 2029, three years after he hopes to end Blues' long hiatus from the Premier League.

Knighthead invested £100m in the project back in February, and Wagner has since met several government officials regarding the Sports Quarter, as transport links continue to be the main priority, with proposals for a £1m tramline extension from Birmingham to Solihull revealed last week as the new stadium continues to be at the heart of such plans, before HS2 backed up such revelations.

Davies recently spoke of how Blues' current ambition is akin to that of Manchester City, on and off-the-pitch, whilst his chairman stated that failure to stick to such ambitions "would be a crime against the city of Birmingham."

And, whilst supporters of rival clubs and those on the outside continue to cast their doubts, Wagner has remained defiant, as he told GIVEMESPORT after the club's annual end-of-season awards at the ICC last Sunday.

“I was talking with one of our consultants who represents us in our project - you know, the one that will never be built," Wagner said tongue in cheek.

“I asked for some advice and he said: ‘I think you need to tone it down. Some of what you do isn’t in line with traditions here'.

“I replied: ‘Why do you say that? Because I don’t really care...," Wagner added.

“He said: “You are drawing the ire of some of the biggest clubs in England," the American revealed.

“I responded: ‘How? We have only just come out of League One?’

“And do you know what he said?

“He said: ‘It’s because they know that you’re coming," the Blues owner continued.

“So, I will say this and I’ll say it right now - we all know where we are going and we will get there.

“We cannot be afraid to show our pride.

“We lost a generation of fans to poor results and that won’t happen again.

"I’m proud to be blue and I will be for life. We are only getting started. Birmingham is on the rise - and anyone who doesn’t believe - well, they know our answer."

Tom Wagner's backing of Birmingham City isn't set to slow down any time soon

After many false dawns under previous ownership groups, Bluenoses' excitement and defiance will only continue after Wagner's latest delivery, and the hedge fund investor's on-pitch backing to continue this success story is set to follow a similar path.

After accumulating a remarkable 20 goal contributions in just 27 third-tier appearances, FLW exclusively revealed that Peterborough United winger, Kwame Poku, is the subject of a £30,000 per week contract offer from the West Midlands club, with Posh owner, Darragh MacAnthony expecting the Ghanaian to bank the Cambridgeshire side "millions and millions" through a tribunal fee.

Furthermore, talk of a reunion with former striker Che Adams remains constant as the previous £15m club-record departure from St Andrew's nears the end of his first campaign with Torino.

Sky Sports also expect Blues and Wrexham to continue splashing the cash after promotion whilst also rivalling Leicester City, Southampton and Ipswich Town for targets after the trio of clubs were immediately relegated from the Premier League.

There is an argument in place that Davies already has the foundations of a squad capable of immediately finishing in the top-half of the second-tier, although Wagner previously spelled out his vision of back-to-back promotions, which could be a distinct possibility depending on how the transfer window plays out.