Birmingham to confirm takeover in matter of days ending weeks of uncertainty

Birmingham are poised to announce this week that former Argentina striker Maxi Lopez and businessman Paul Richardson have agreed to take over.

The pair stayed patient in the wings while controversial ex-Watford chairman Laurence Bassini missed deadlines to buy the club. City’s Far East owners Birmingham Sports Holdings Limited have since commenced talks with Lopez and Richardson.

The pair have paid a £1.5million deposit and are set to do due diligence on the club’s books this week which the club are due to confirm. The move will end weeks of uncertainty around the Championship club after Blues’ largest individual shareholder Vong Pech confirmed he was selling his 21.64% stake.

City’s board have proposed a £36.6m total sale with staged payments over two years. Bassini went public and hoped to get FA and EFL approval and the support of investors including West Ham chairman David Sullivan, who used to co-own Brum. He had been on the trail of Brum since last year.

But his failure to complete a deal let in a rival group headed by Birmingham fan and fashion investor Richardson , whose business partner is ex-Barcelona striker Lopez. The pair are both ready to invest their own cash into the club and run it as a shared interest split 50/50.

Other interested parties also stood back watching developments but Lopez and Richardson have seen them off.

Lopez, 38, used to play for Barca from 2005-2007 and has an extensive number of contacts in South America. His pals include ex-Chelsea frontman Diego Costa,33, who is a free agent after leaving Atletico Mineiro last year and was recently linked with Uruguayan club Peñarol.

St Andrews officials are now standing by to welcome Lopez and Richardson, who is the CEO & founder of successful