April 23 – Karren Brady’s successor as Birmingham City chief executive, Michael Dunford (pictured), has resigned after only six months in the job, it was announced today.
The Premier League club accepted the resignation of Dunford, who was installed when Carsen Yeung completed his £79 million takeover.
The club owe investment bank Seymour Pierce £2.2 million for brokering Yeung’s buy-out at St Andrew’s in October and former Everton chief executive Dunford goes with that money still to be paid - although the club are set to settle the debt.
Blues have not disclosed why Dunford has left but boss Alex McLeish revealed his surprise at his departure.
The former Rangers and Scotland manager said: “He’s not been in the job that long and if you bring in a new chief executive and he goes that early it’s a little bit unusual.
“We were close and I spoke him on the phone as I do with most of the directors.
“There are good lines of communication with this club.”
Dunford’s departure comes only 48 hours before Birmingham take on arch-city rivals Aston Villa.
McLeish said: ”I don’t want to get into it.
“It’s not my business and I’m more concerned with the Villa game, that’s what the punters want to hear about.”
A short club statement read: “Birmingham City FC can confirm that after formal discussions with Michael Dunford, the chief executive officer, we have accepted his resignation.
“We wish him well for the future.”
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