Lee Bowyer addresses pitch invasion and Birmingham City takeover talk

Lee Bowyer is refusing to get carried away by takeover talk at Birmingham City. Speaking after his team ended their campaign with a 2-1 loss to Blackburn Rovers, the head coach insisted he would focus on matters on the pitch.

Bowyer made reference to his experience at his previous club Charlton Athletic, where a convoluted ownership situation took a long time to clarify before Thomas Sandgaard finally assumed control in September 2020. Bowyer was the Addicks' manager during that time and knows such matters can drag on.

Indeed the 45-year-old is due to meet with the Blues’ current hierarchy on Monday when he will debrief this season and – he hopes – plan for next term.

“It is what it is, if people are taking over that will be something that will happen but it’s out of my control. My control is what goes on on the football pitch. I have heard there might be a takeover so yeah – we’ll see,” Bowyer said.

“My last club there were people sitting in the stand watching the game there, we were in the play-offs and ‘Yeah, we are taking over’ Guess what, one month later, nah, nah it’s not happening and I think it went on for at least two years. It’s this group, oh it’s not, it’s this group, no it’s not.

“I am not saying that’s going to happen here but how many times have we all been sitting there and you think a club is being taken over and it doesn’t happen? It happens up and down the country. If you are just going to wait for that to happen you could be waiting a long time.

“Whether I am here or not the club has to move forward and start planning, that’s it, plain and simple. There is no other way around it. These are things I am sure we will find out on Monday.”

Asked about the pitch invasion which followed the final whistle