Yahoo News Troy Deeney makes Villa Park quip after Tom Wagner's huge Birmingham City reveal
Troy Deeney has welcomed Tom Wagner’s plans to build a new stadium for Birmingham City.
The former Blues captain admits that St Andrew’s holds many fond memories for him, growing up on the Tilton and the Kop before he became a professional footballer – and the club’s captain.
Deeney left Blues last summer but as a lifelong fan retains a massive interest in the club’s fortunes, which have sky-rocketed off the pitch, even if they remain difficult on it.
In no sphere is that more true than when it comes to Wagner’s proposals to build a 60,000 seater ground on the old Wheels site, a venture that will see the redevelopment of the area and the installation of a Sports Quarter.
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Deeney notes the planned venue will be bigger than Villa Park and sees it as key to Blues emulating days such as those which saw Steve Bruce’s team regularly beat their near-neighbours a couple of decades ago.
“I was delighted to hear this week that St Andrew’s is going to be bulldozed to make way for a new stadium less than a mile away, which may hold up to 60,000 fans,” he wrote in The Sun. “That’s bigger than Villa Park, by the way, and that sort of thing always matters.
“I’m very nervous that the club I supported, and then captained for two seasons until last summer, are going to be relegated to League One this season.
“But the fact that the club’s American owners, Knighthead, are determined to go ahead with a new stadium whatever happens on the pitch, proves they will drag Blues into the 21st Century.
“The owners are talking about a £2billion investment and intend to hold NFL matches and concerts at the new ground, along the lines of the impressive Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
“It will be the sort of stadium where Blues fan Jude Bellingham might want to return later in his career. More importantly, if a new Jude Bellingham comes along, he might not be in a hurry to leave.
“St Andrew’s has been dilapidated for some time now. While I was playing for Blues, two of the stands were completely closed for a while. People will miss the old place for a couple of years, particularly older fans. But I don’t hear too many Arsenal supporters pining for Highbury any more.
“When I was growing up watching Blues, we were a Premier League club. In the era under Steve Bruce’s management we had some fine players like Christophe Dugarry and Mikael Forssell, who were brilliant to watch.
“The night we thrashed Aston Villa 3-0 at St Andrew’s, with a horrible mistake by keeper Peter Enckelman, is part of our folklore. The chances of recapturing those days, even bettering them, will be significantly boosted by a new stadium.”
