Bunhill: Peace at Birmingham City football club

PEACE is in the air at Birmingham City football club. Karren Brady, fresh from her holidays, was all sweetness when Bunhill called last week about her dispute with the soon-to-be floated Midland Independent Newspapers group, which is chaired by Sir Norman Fowler.

Brady, who was installed by the porn publisher David Sullivan as managing director of the First Division club, has been trying to extract sponsorship from MIN, using unorthodox tactics that some have described as close to blackmail.

Jolly entertaining it has been, too. Now, however, she's doffing the cleated boots in favour of velvet gloves. Chris Oakley, MIN's chief executive, has been invited to watch next week's match against Barnsley.

Of course, anyone who has witnessed the recent playing quality of the two clubs might say that's a more uncomfortable fate than mere blackmail . . .

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