Even so, there is a sense that the club is on firmer footing under the Shelby Group, who took over in 2023. Their stewardship marks a contrast to previous ownership, during which Birmingham frequently battled to avoid relegation to League One. Ironically, that long-feared drop eventually happened just as the club appeared to be in more stable hands.
Speaking on the Made In Brum podcast, former defender Harlee Dean recalled his arrival at the club in 2017, offering insight into the disorganization at the time. He described meeting then-manager Harry Redknapp during his medical, only to find that Redknapp seemed to mistake his agent for the player. Dean recounted how the manager spoke tactically to the agent, apparently unaware of who the actual signing was—a moment that highlighted the club’s lack of structure.
Dean joined Birmingham from Brentford F.C. late in the transfer window for a fee believed to exceed £2 million. Despite the awkward introduction, his time at St Andrew’s proved far more enduring than Redknapp’s tenure.
Redknapp had been appointed in April 2017 with just three matches remaining and the club hovering above the relegation zone. Although his first game ended in a defeat to Aston Villa F.C., Birmingham secured victories in their final two fixtures to stay in the Championship, earning him a one-year deal for the following season.
