Controversial ex-Watford owner makes Birmingham City promise ahead of proposed £35m deal

Former Watford owner Laurence Bassini expects his proposed takeover of Championship side Birmingham to go through within the next week.

The controversial London-based businessman claims the takeover will cost £35million - just £10m of which he says will be his own money.

Speaking in a revealing interview on national radio station talkSPORT , Bassini also says former Blues' owner and current co-chair of West Ham David Sullivan has provided some of the funds. The largest shareholder at Far East-owned Brum, Vong Pech, earlier this week agreed to sell his 21.64 per cent stake in the club - although it remains unclear as to the identity of the buyer.

Bassini, who has been declared bankrupt twice in the past, was owner of Watford for a 13-month period from 2011 to 2012. He completed a takeover in May 2011 before selling up just over a year later. But in March 2013 an independent disciplinary commission found Bassini guilty of misconduct and dishonesty over financial dealings on behalf of the Hertfordshire club. He was subsequently banned from being involved in the Football League for three years.

He has failed with takeover bids in the past for a number of clubs including Charlton and Bolton. Now, it would seem his attentions are clearly fixed on the Blues.

“It’s quite true that I did serve a three-year ban, where I was accused of dishonesty and lying," Bassini said. "There will be a press conference where I will be producing all the things that went on in the past at Watford and Bolton that will show all the skulduggery."

“£10million,” Bassini replied when asked how much money he was investing.

“I have shares and I’m borrowing £10million against my shares. I will appear with a bank statement to show I’ve got the money. At