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Birmingham City manager Garry Monk tries to keep focus on the pitch as club face punishment for breaching Financial Fair Play rules

Birmingham are facing punishment from the Football League for breaching Financial Fair Play rules - PA
Birmingham are facing punishment from the Football League for breaching Financial Fair Play rules - PA

‘Keep Right On’ remains the anthem for Birmingham City fans but this season’s road is already strewn with problems, at a club which never seems far away from a crisis.

After two successive scrambles to safety in the Championship, Birmingham are now facing punishment from the Football League for breaching Financial Fair Play rules.

It can be revealed that the EFL are under pressure from many Championship clubs to fully punish Birmingham for signing Kristian Pedersen, a Danish left-back, while under a transfer embargo.

Birmingham’s hearing could be as early as October, and if found guilty they could face a points deduction, heavy fine or further embargoes after exceeding the permitted losses of £39m over a three-year period.

This week has also seen the surprise departures of three key members of senior staff with over 50 years of experience between them: chief financial officer Roger Lloyd has been suspended while financial controller Gary Moore and club secretary Julia Shelton are on gardening leave. Another long-serving member of staff, Jo Allsopp, is also expected to depart soon.

Three key members of senior staff with over 50 years of experience between them have left the club this week - Credit: PA
Three key members of senior staff with over 50 years of experience between them have left the club this week Credit: PA

The club have already moved to replace the trio internally and it is understood there will be another appointment next week.

Amid all this apparent turmoil, manager Garry Monk can sign only one more player before August 31, either a free transfer or low-cost loan on wages under £10,000 a week, after Birmingham’s embargo was lifted last month.

Cheikh Ndoye, a Senegal international, was loaned out to French club Angers on Thursday to comply with the EFL’s profit and sustainability rules.

Monk faces former club Swansea at St. Andrew’s on Friday night in search of a first victory this season.

"I need to be focused on what we need to do on the pitch, my job is to work with the players and keep the focus on the football,” said Monk, who replaced Steve Cotterill in March.

“We all know the restrictions and conditions we have to face and we’ve got to get on with it. We’re trying to deal with it the best way possible but of course it makes it that little bit harder.

“We’ve got clarity with what we can do and it’s about moving forward with it the best way possible.

"I promised at the very start that we would have a team that is committed and will fight for each other, and that is what we are doing.”

Garry Monk is focused on the football side as the club's fate is decided - Credit: PA
Garry Monk is focused on the football side as the club's fate is decided Credit: PA

Birmingham, for their part, are incredibly frustrated with the EFL’s stance and one source fears the Midlands club are being used as “the EFL’s guinea pigs”.

TTA, who are based in Hong Kong, are also understood to be very wealthy and have the financial clout to underwrite any losses.

Xuandong Ren, a surefooted but inexperienced chief executive, has proven a contentious appointment but club insiders still point to the significant spending under Harry Redknapp and Gianfranco Zola from last year’s two transfer windows as a major reason for their current plight.

And though the departures of Lloyd, Moore and Shelton felt like a piece of Birmingham's soul slipping away, the club cannot comment on the precise reasons for their departures due to an ongoing legal investigation.

One thing is certain, however – the failure to prepare properly for FFP, with the club aware of the impending embargo last season, was bewildering and now places them in an awkward position. Ren's position of power also has to be under scrutiny.

Monk’s hands are effectively tied behind his back and he is charged with building a competitive squad in a tough league despite huge restrictions.

For many ‘Bluenoses’, this feels like another season where escaping relegation in the final weeks would be a huge achievement.