Hello Mowbray – from a man who knows him, Sky’s Alan Myers on Birmingham City’s expected new boss

Tony Mowbray’s appointment as successor to Wayne Rooney is imminent. Sky’s Alan Myers knows him well. What’s the like? Do his teams play decently football? Can he handle the pressure? Blues on the right track? Chris Skudder finds out on Blues Zoom

Hi there welcome along to another Blues Zoom uh very timely as you might imagine because all things change at St Andrews the revolving door opens for whom uh after Wayne Rooney’s departure delighted today to be joined by a good pal of mine for a number of years Alan Meyers who is

A news editor of Sky Sports also former director of comms at Blackburn Rovers who uh certain manager used to be at and also head of coms Everton knows his way around football knows a lot of people in the game and knows Tony Mo who’s the name on everyone’s lips at the moment

With um white smoke expected fairly soon I think on the future manager of Birmingham City Football Club so how are you Al you you okay yeah I’m great Chris thanks good to speak to yeah you too remembering all those days in uh you know far flung places when we used to we

Used to run around after England and you know all that sort of stuff I do remember a legendary night at Blackburn V Blues a few years ago yes remember that on a on a cold night and you were on the phone to the venes when the venes

Running back Rovers and I I I was sitting there very entertained by the conversations you were having with the owners who were watching the game or listening to the game on the phone when you were having to tell them what was going on and all the rest of that

Remember believe me people say to me you know because of my association with Everton for many many years people say to me you’re going to write a book about Everton I’ll tell you the best book would be the two years I spent at blackb you know it would be it would be much

More enjoyable I promise you yeah I’ve told you before to write a book you got you got some brilliant stories we won’t go into them now but there’s some very very funny stories Alan Myers knows knows a thing or two about that the workings of football clubs so um when

When Wayne went you sent me a text a few days ago Al and said um first thing I’ll be doing is getting straight on the phone to Tony MO why why why why did you think that well I actually put it on my social media

Thing you know um as well and um I’ll tell you the reason there are a number of reasons why I would do that is because I look at I look at Birmingham and and obviously um you know the clubs I’ve always had a great affection for Birmingham I’ve Loved going there good

In the times I’ve gone there you know and and um you know but I look at where they are at the moment and and the situation and there are some similarities actually to you know the fact that new have taken over um you know that they they’ve not had great

Times you know and and and there needs to be a turnaround and I think you know this this period of when new owners come in and so many clubs get it wrong you know and so many owners get it wrong um and I sort of get I I get the the need

To bring in a big name and wanting to make a statement and all the rest of it I get that you know I understand that but it doesn’t guarantee you anything you know far from it a lot of the time it guarantees you failure um but what I

What I like about Tony mry and the why why I would I would go I go and get him and bring him in as as it looks like as you suggested the Birmingham owners are going to um is because he brings a number of things to the table one of

Them is is a real stability in management you know which is what as a new owner coming into the game you really need you don’t always know that but you do need it um and and and what I like about him is you know things like

You know when he spends money he spends money like it’s his own you know he he will be careful with with what he spends and yeah yeah well yeah of course but but also he will go and make sure he brings value for money if you look at

The signings he’s made he made a Blackburn in particular you know he brought in real good signings and made some money you know people like Ben Brit and Diaz and um uh Bradley Dak and and and a number of players like that you know who have gone on the goalkeeper you

Know who’s gone to Luton now Kaminsky you know a number of players that he’s brought in uh and again this is another thing that in the position I think Birmingham are in at the moment you know is what what is needed I want to say I don’t mean they’re in a bad position

Although you know it could be better but what I mean is in the position where they are in the league where where they are um you know in the whole club you know Outlook of the club they need someone who is going to care for the

Club I think and and I think Tony mry out of all the managers I’ve ever worked with really really cares for the club the most I’ve ever seen you know strikes me as being a real salt of the earth type you know a lot of Integrity yeah kind of aular kind of

Figure who would be good with and I was kind of hoping that that that they might bring in someone like and I put this on social media that that somebody like um Mo with a younger one as well so that will still who’s been doing really well

Rams Reams in France or Anthony Barry you know the guy who was went to ex Chelsea guy who went to Bayern Munich with Thomas Tu someone like that they can work together but I mean I think the good thing about about MO is he and this is very important for the ownership is

They and this is you know this this no fear football front foot stuff that you know Rooney came in with players who really couldn’t do it very well and certainly couldn’t defend that um he he does he he he’s quite a progressive I mean he he’s Forward Thinking manager

Right front foot stuff yeah he’s a lot more Forward Thinking than people give him credit for um he plays good football um he plays you know attractive football that you can enjoy you know he likes Wingers and you know and and and um you know his is it you know the impression

You get of Tony mry and rightly or wrongly you know is someone who’s not that glamorous you know he’s he’s you you know he’s not a a showy manager he’ll say it how it is he doesn’t he doesn’t get too over excited when he wins and he doesn’t get too down when I

Remember him saying that to me a number of times when I interviewed him a few times you know and and and I think that’s great um what what Birmingham need at the moment is that calm is that what are the real issues at the club

What do we need to sort out you know and and I think I saw that in abundance when he was at black bur rers you know he he looks at everything in the club but he’s calm he makes decisions which are right um you know he won’t rush into something

You know and and I think all those qualities make him ideal for for for where Birmingham are you know is he someone that you’d want to take into the Premier League you know possibly not you know you know is if you want to if you if you get to the Premier League you

Know in the next few years say and then and then maybe you know you want to push on and you know I don’t know I’ve never seen him really in that sort of in that guys but what I would say is that for someone who will do the right things and

Do exactly what’s needed now in in where because Blackburn were in that very similar situation you know I mean mry took over late in the season when you know it looked like it was all lost I mean it was ultimately uh but Owen Coyle had you know Had a Bad season there I

Mean that was reasonably predict predictable you know an ex- burnly manager coming in to Blackburn you know it was was always like Rafa bonitz coming in at Everton it was always going to be a problem you know but you know he was never going to have a honeymoon I

Think they got beat 4-1 or something on the first day of the season with enqu by Norwich and and that was his honeymoon over you know but but but you know what Mo did was he he he spoke to people in a good way he included everybody had a

Really good culture around the place everybody was included and to go through a point that you made before he’s very wholesome and he’s very sort of uh you know do the right thing and be respectful to everybody you know one thing I’ve noticed Al and there are I

Mean Blues fans can be a bit uh demanding um shall we say I mean you’ve you’ve seen the sort of toxicity we’ll talk about Rooney in a minute but you know you’ve seen how toxic it can get at that club um some will say you know that

That that um that mob is not a kind of sexy enough figure you know you said yourself there that maybe he’s not the guy to get into the Premier League I mean the owners Tom Wagner you know and obviously you know Tom Brady and all the

People beyond that and Gary cook who is involved in very much in the Rooney hiring you know want a certain style of football and they want an end game which is to get to the Premier League I I you know him is he yeah I mean am I being unfair there that that

It’s not listen I think I think he could get them to the Premier League what I was saying was once you get into the Premier League I think taking it on then maybe maybe then you’re looking for you know a manager who’s done that before and and maybe a bigger name in that

Respect if you if if you pardon the expression you know but but I think he’s very capable I mean you know he did it with West Brum he’s very capable of getting getting a team up and and he’s come close when you look at I mean I know the troubles he had at

Blackb you know behind the scenes and the struggles he had and and and and he stayed so professional he stayed so calm and and he did the right thing as I say and he was doing the right thing I think at Sunderland as well when when um you

Know listen I have no allegiance to Tony mry at all you know I see what I see and and I you know I’m very much somebody who likes to see real football people yeah you know get a chance and and do what they do and that’s what Tony mry is

For me is a real football person yeah what did you think of the Sunland departure was a strange one wasn’t it I mean they were sort of Ninth at the time now there’s a bit of sort of synergy if you like here because um I don’t know if

You know the setup at Sunderland but Christian span who used to be Birmingham you know he was in charge of the academy and going through and he had designs on being a sporting director and that’s exactly what he is now at Sunderland and he’s

Been he was the man who who made all the quotes when when when Mo left um and of course Jud Joe Bellingham went up there because of the the connections from the ex Academy at Blues he’s saying um this is a quote right from from Sunland when

He left what three four weeks ago now they were doing pretty well and people thought you know why is that happened Christian span saying all at um sundland have thoroughly enjoyed working with Tony is quite rightly held in high regard by our players and staff and our supporters after arriving at an

Uncertain time he helped gu us to the playoffs which was brilliant last season they they could have easily have beaten l in that semi-final they won the first leg didn’t they and lost the second make it but they could to account the injuries they had by the way yeah you

Know massive injuries they had so that’s acknowledged by Speakman um and then he says this was a difficult decision to make but we remain loyal to our Ambitions and our strategy at Sunderland what what was that then I know they they sort of got this thing about kids um but

Isn’t isn’t that one of Mo’s things that he that he’s good with kids he is yeah yeah he bring he’s brought he’s brought a number of younger players through at Blackburn I remember um but but I think you know there’s that old famous saying isn’t it you know everybody has a plan

And a strategy until they get punched in the face you know and and and I think you know plans and strategies are great and and I don’t know you know I don’t know much about Sunderland I’ll be honest with you you know I think it’s a great Club obviously and and and and

They have high Ambitions but sometimes in football you don’t always get to realize your Ambitions you know you have to take it in stages and I think I I think you know it’s sensible at when you are a new owner when you’re coming in and and we’ve seen

It it’s so many clubs around you know when new owners come in they keeps you know they they they bring in you know big name they want to make a splash with the fans and and I get that you know I understand it you know but but it’s not

Always the right way to go and I think as I say I I look at I I the thing I like most about Tony mry is he will bring hair for the club you know and I’m not saying suggesting Rooney didn’t have that of course he would have done but

But Tony has a real real care for the people he works for you know and and and he doesn’t you know one of his problems is that because he doesn’t feed the you know the usual media gof you know that a lot of managers do and he doesn’t say

Always say the right thing because it’s the right thing to say you know um you know I think that’s where sort of he sometimes loses people you know but but um but you know he will only ever give it to you straight you know he’ll only I

Think you said it to me before you get what you see with him and and that’s it you know but you look at his record and he’s actually got a very good record yeah I’m just looking just looking at the list now so start lip switch

Caretaker 2002 hibs he was there for a couple of years early job for him West Brom got promoted then got relegated I just happened in that season I know it’s always ult when you go up isn’t it and if if you play play too much football when you’re not quite ready against

Better teams you always get turned over don’t you that kind of yeah you know when you need to you know like Burnley discovering fantastic last season went up now all of a sudden K it’s it’s a bit harder when you’re playing really good teams and Celtic I mean 2009 2010 he was

At Celtic but I mean that was the period wasn’t it when Rangers were still top and just before Celtics started winning again and Rangers had all their troubles so I mean one one season there I mean you know I mean you wouldn’t wish it on your worst enemy would you really when

You you know no but but he gets a lot of credit you know a lot of Celtic fans have a lot high regard for him as well you know still if you I speak to a lot of Celtic fans and they um you know they they have quite a high regard and and

And everywhere he goes I think he has that you know I think you see a lot of Sunderland fans talking well about him you’ll see a lot of Blackburn fans I mean I’ve seen Blackburn fans asking to get him back you know in the last couple

Of weeks yeah when you know you know very well up there don’t you that’s really interesting yeah bur bur um bur 2010 2013 bur they got seventh one season didn’t they sort of yeah yeah centry for one it was when they were in the third division wasn’t it and I think

It kept them up and then U and then which is really interesting that The Following Season he left he resigned The Following Season how many managers do you know that resign I talk about integrity you know there are very few managers that do that either and AB

When they were he has it yeah he has it you know no two ways about it like I say you know you know is he is he one for the future and we’re probably Tom Brady Tom Brady and um can’t think of the other guy’s name um tomag who the owner

Tom wag Tom Wagner yeah sorry I just couldn’t think um and you know it’s where they want to go to i s of get you know and as a Birmingham fan or you know in my case as an Everton fan or what you want that ambition you want to be

Hearing your owners talking like that you know um but that it has to be done as I say in steps I think and you you try to go too quickly you know to to to one place and it won’t work you know because football doesn’t allow you to do

That you know you know you’ve seen it around I’ve seen it you know in all the years we’ve been we’ve been sort you know working in it Blackburn he came in a Blackburn didn’t he when they were struggling and they got they he came I think the February of the season they

Got relegated but then came straight back the following not that blue is going to be in League one next season a lot of people have been saying to me oh you know listen we’re in such a mess that it’s going to be relegation this season you know fighting I don’t think

So I mean the squad is far too good for that and I think it’ll be up upwards from here um you know as you saw with Sunderland I mean he he took him to the playoffs last year and shouldn’t have got sacked this year I mean the Speakman

Thing I have no idea what’s going on up there but but um but listen he sounds like um I mean you’re obviously you’re obviously a fan um if you don’t mind Al I mean what what as as an outsider you and you everon and you’ve known Rooney for yonks as well what did

You make of the of that whole thing well you know it’s a difficult one isn’t it you know he he will have wanted to do well I I think I think there was a part of his statement which says you know 13 weeks wasn’t enough and of course it’s

Not you know it isn’t enough for any manager to to do it the problem is is that you wanted to see more in those 133 weeks than what I think the Birmingham fans seen you know and um and and I think the problem with with things like this

Situation is that you go into a foot a downward spiral in a football club and it’s really really difficult to stop that you know and I think that’s where the problem comes in then um you know it’s it’s self self Gathering isn’t it a downward spiral like that yeah list the

The fans the fans turned at leads last week and once that happen all start the own all start to Clump onto the you know um and it gathers momentum and and you know all of a sudden if if you’re not careful you’re out of the league and you’ve got bigger problems

Than than you ever wanted so I can understand the decision making um but you know this goes back to the appointment in a sense you know is what were they expecting you know and you know a manager needs time whoever he is to you know to bring that in and and but

I think you know maybe you know Wayne is a young manager Rel L young manager who wants to do it his way and wants to do it and has has his ideas and and and you know don’t forget he’s come from the very top of football as a player you

Know so he will have and you see this with a lot of a lot of exper you know great players there’s not a lot of great players who make great managers to be fair if you look around some of the great managers you golden generation yeah they just don’t make good managers

You yeah I’ve got to be honest I mean I from the very start I’ll put my hands up here I mean I I just thought that he didn’t really I mean I just thought it was all too easy I don’t think he really wanted it really needed it um and there

Been all kinds of rumors that you know he was very hands-off in training you know watch the opposition stuff like that you know I mean that surprised me to be honest you know because I would have thought Wayne if if that’s true you know I would have thought Wayne would be

Quite the opposite to that you know thought I would you know the Wayne Rooney I’ve always seen is someone who she wants to be involved in everything you know and um and that would be odd if if he wasn’t um but um but no look I

Mean he would have wanted the best he would have wanted to be successful um but these things happen and and and football you know the one thing about him he will know and he will have understood why the decision probably had to be made because as I say to you the

Worst thing in football is a downward spiral and and and Birmingham were in one there’s no two ways about that you can’t hide from the he’s not he’s not happy and I know you put his sort of stuff on his son Kai yeah who was following everybody at the club when um

Just before his dad came you know and now he’s been sort of saying the players are x-rated you know but um we all F we’ll all fight for our dads won’t we let’s be honest yeah but uh but listen you know that that was um you know ill

Thought out in my opinion but um you know that uh you you can’t really play great football with do you think Mo Mo I mean to me I mean I here you know him better than I do but I mean his you know he he he does sort his defense out uh

And then play so so he’s got you know the best of both it’s it’s the key to the universe that isn’t it being able to everyone starts with a good solid back line and then also be be offensive but you know so so often it’s either one or

The other Rooney couldn’t you know they couldn’t defend to save their lives which begs the question what was John O’Shea and Ashley Cole doing Ashley Cole’s still there at the moment um we’ll see what what happens with that but Mark I think Mark Venus is number

Two know much about him he comes along with yeah he’s very much um you know he’s very much involved in the you know in the as you would imagine in the tactics and the and and the way they play you know and and and you know I

Think they are you’re right they they do look at the defense uh quite strongly you know and and they um because of course you know you know mry was a great Center half wasn’t he you know he was a real solid strong Center half you know

And so they they understand it and and and you know he he he brought some really good Center halfs and and some uh good Defenders to the club I mean you know the likes of even the likes of Ami Bell that people questioned at the time now playing in the Premier League well

He was he was at Birmingham you know Mari Bell was that’s right he was yeah got so many great kids who’ve gone elsewhere and done things yeah yeah yeah yeah I mean so so he knows a player you know I mean if you look back at his

There weren’t too many um there weren’t too many disasters I don’t think for uh you know for him at um you know at Blackburn in that respect and I don’t know about sun was a difficult one because you know as I say he had I think

He had I mean you know in all these Championship clubs for maybe one or two you know the budgets are tight aren’t they you know you can’t you’re not going to be splashing the cash these days I don’t and part of the reason why Rooney wer because you know if if if the

Customers turn and and you rely on the income to you know to to to to get the income to satisfy ffb then do I mean that’s that’s that’s where if you if if the fans turn the manager has to go and I’m sure Tony knows that go I mean we’ve

Seen that at Everton my club you know over the the last seven years or so I mean you know we’ve we’ve we’ve seen the f 10 on a few you know I’m G to say 10 on him I mean you know they they lose they lose faith in the manager and

That’s it you know and once as you say I mean there was a couple that they lost faith before they joined you know but um but you know when you know when when um when that happens the writing’s on the wall isn’t it you know you can’t you

Can’t you can’t go along with that because the whole atmosphere in the ground you’re not going to win a game in that respect you know it’s as simple as that you know so but um but you know you know you look at the league and you know

The championship is a great league for turning things around quickly you know so in in four weeks time it could look very very different you know to to what it does today that’s for sure for any team yeah and and you know ball I mean you um you you’re Everton of saish in

But looking down a division how do you think Tony will get on I mean his record is Win percentages I don’t know how much store you you’re holding that but I think his is overall is higher than any any blues manager for a long time 40 41%

I think I was going to say he’s in he’s in the early 40s yeah yeah which is very good isn’t it um yeah I thought it was 43 but I might I might be wrong below that but I mean he’s even at Sunderland he was sort of mid-30s I think um yeah

Yeah you know yeah he’s um no no he will bring you a certain amount of guarantee if you like if for want of a better word you know he will I mean when he came into Blackburn Blackburn were only going one way believe me you know they this

Was just after you left wasn’t it it was just after I left yeah I I I left um you know I didn’t I didn’t like what was going on the club you know when I say you know and I don’t mean anything you know bad but but I didn’t like the way

They were they looking to the future I could see what was going to happen I could see that the that you know um the investment in in players had sort of finished really had dried up and and you know you could see the struggles that

They were going to have so so I I I I I you know my my whole outlook on is if I can’t be helpful you know and do a job which you know can do good um I shouldn’t be there you know so that that’s why I resigned you know but um

You could just feel that it wasn’t great you know I mean don’t V made made our Chinese owners some of the stories I’ve heard from you yeah but but honestly you know what they put millions and millions of pounds into that club like I’m talking a

Lot of money into that club you know they’re well over 160 170 million pounds they put into that club you know uh and and and you know it’s it’s got them really nowhere you know such but but again that that all started they they still sort of trying to get back from

The early days of their their ownership and those early days of ownership are so crucial that you get it right and you get people you can trust they’ve got this sort of ambition the ambition that that that that the the nigh head who run Blues now have got I mean you know and

They’ve got it very right off the field but just on it you know it’s you don’t have you remember Gary cook don’t you you remember Gary cook yeah remember Gary City yeah yeah yeah he knows his stuff you know he’s been around a long time Gary he knows his stuff uh but but

I remember you know you I’ve seen it in in a number of clubs um you know I saw it when Hicks and Gillette came into Liverpool uh there’s there was a sense of it in at Everton when when far had mascheri took over and and what happens

Is when you have a an owner that’s sort of not there every day you’re like you know which there there aren’t many like that now but when you you you have you’ve got to get your responsibilities right I think and because if you don’t get your responsibilities right you

Don’t get your accountability right and then what happens when you don’t have accountability is you get opportunists and you get you know you get a certain culture which is not conducive to to success you know and so you’ve got to have those things in place um and I I

Don’t know about about Birmingham I don’t know what know how it’s run but that’s the crucial thing for any new owner and I think that’s where for me that’s where Tony mry comes in you know in a way because he takes responsibility you know and he will be accountable you

Know and and and that’s what what that’s what I like about him yeah you know yeah you’ve gotta have you’ve got to have a good reporting thing you’ve gotta have a great relationship between I don’t know it’s got a CEO or is he coo yeah yeah

Yeah yeah but he he’s got a little bit of criticism over the over the Rooney thing because um you know obviously he knows him and through the agent as well Paul stretford who’s been around the block so um but it is back fired and he’s gone you know and you wonder

Whether it was the the ownership who lean leaned on Gary say look you you know he he wanted to keep him I think that was the decisions are always difficult you know when you’re not making them always easy when you’re not making them you know and you know they

They you have to go and and no one you know if Wayne had come in and been successful and you know everyone would have been lording you know uh we know it that’s right it can go either way and um you know but I just as I say for me I

Just think at this particular moment in time um a manager like Tony mry or or Tony mry you know is exactly what the club needs just to just to ease them into the you know the world of football and you know G Gary knows football you

Know as much as anybody you know he’s been around he’s been big clubs and you know so so he knows it but but it would be a massive help to him if he has someone like Tony mry I think as well you know who knows the game knows to Be

Steady you know and and to do things it in a controlled way you know and and that’s what that’s what you need and and what what he’ll do he’ll always have the players on his side you know he had a great rapport with his players at

Blackburn from what I could see you know I mean I wasn’t in there but but you know I spoke to people who were you know and um but um but yeah I mean like I say you know it’s a really tough time when when new owners come in and I mean think

He you know we’re all over the place in the first couple of years I mean it was you know it was I tell you what you stop me if if you want but yeah the Paris Hilton story very quickly yeah well go on this is that that was um that was I

Uh I’d been over to India um for a couple of meetings they used to just you know call me over to to to go for and I went and um and then I got back to Manchester you know and anyone who knows it’s sort of like a 10-hour flight sort

Of thing you know and so I get back to Manchester my wife was working so I said right I’ll go to the office and and I’ll uh you know I I’ll um I I’ll go home a bit later when my wife’s home you know

So so I go in the office sat down uh and then the phone rang and it was one of the owners ball you know and he said um can you come to India so I said um I’m thinking I’ve just got off a plane you

Know so I said you know I’ve just been to IND he said yeah I need you to come back so so I had to go home throw a few more underwear new underwear in the in the case I’m back up to Manchester Airport to go can you pick you know meet

A a friend of mine you know guest of ours is going to uh you know going to um come to India to to a party they have a party every well it’s it’s on balor’s birthday um early December and then they have one at New Year’s Eve massive

Parties one of the biggest you know parties in India actually it’s fantastic and so so I said yeah okay so I had to meet this person in Dubai and uh and I’m thinking you know on the way to Mumbai so I’m thinking okay I don’t know who

This is they won’t tell you never you never asked questions you just had to do what they told you you know so I get to Dubai airport and I I go and uh I still don’t know who it is met with one of the the the little guys from uh from from

Beny you know and he said oh yes we have to wait for Madam you know so I’m thinking well I don’t know who Madam is you know so next minute so so I’m waiting there by the you know so I’m on this uh golf Boogie thing you know in

The airport and next I hear all these cameras clicking you know and I’m thinking who’s this you know so anyway and it was it was Paris Hilton so I’m thinking oh my you know you know what what do I say say I I don’t know what I

Said to her or you know so I’m next minute I’m on the back of a golf Boogie with Paris Hilton driving through Dubai airport you know so then we flew then to she was in first class I must I must uh you know tell you I wasn’t uh but um but

You know we flew to Mumbai and then um and then we had the journey uh to three hours to punee and she was a she djed at his party um and basically she I think she did two lines um which was uh you know what’s up India and uh get get get

In there India or something like that you know and that was it that was her job and she’d flown from Houston Texas to to do that you know but fore to do it as well and then flew back absolutely incred absolutely the crazy world of the

Venis I mean the blues ownership I mean they probably got a bit of money but I mean not as crazy as that which is a great story and there’s some others as well which really made be yeah believe me you know it it was it was an interesting time that’s for sure Chris

That’s that’s for definite Mr mate absolutely brilliant to speak to you thanks ever so much for for your insights on on Tony M um not it’s not confirmed yet but it’s looking the white smoke we’re expecting soon and yeah and it’s onwards upwards said before you

Know at the top you know I I loved going to St Andrews i’ been many times and and I remember doing a filming there with Everton one night um you know about about how much it cost uh I remember seeing that yeah yeah yeah how much it

Costed and uh we got some stick you know from the Birmingham fans that night you batted us 3 who was the wi had um can’t think of the guy’s name now um Stan Lazarus wasn’t it Lazarus yes to I think that night it was bril I mean Birmingham

Were brilliant that night you know but um yeah so great times love the club and and of course you gave me my my alltime hero Bob lford and that’s all I was gonna say that’s the only thing we can’t forgive you for I was at school when I

Remember when Bob left and you gave us Archie Styles thanks for that Archie Styles and and and Howard Kendall who was great by way and he got us promoted but you know I mean but yeah Bob was was brilliant and connection and Bob Bob looks younger now than he did when he

Was incredible you’re right Paul holes let’s not forget Paul holes as well you know so we’ll probably age Tony M Mo by about three times you know his real age in the next six weeks or so but but listen man we I’ve got to go we’re running out time here so

Fantastic to speak um we look forward to playing you in the cup in the we got to get past hole first but um um and and then you know Everton V Blues would be nice wouldn’t it yeah we’ll take that great to speak out take care happy New Year pal cheers and you