Birmingham City’s takeover news refers to two separate deals: Shelby Companies Limited (SCL) completed its takeover of Birmingham City Limited in November 2025, then acquired a 97% stake in Birmingham City Women in February 2026. Supporters have used the phrase “What a time to be alive” in club-related comments, but the available posts do not show that it was a response to either transaction. The distinction matters: the deals involved different entities, and the comments are not evidence of a broader fan consensus.
Which Birmingham City takeover does the news refer to?
There are two recent transactions that could fit a headline about “massive takeover news.” They are separate deals, not two descriptions of the same change in ownership.
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| Date | Asset and reported ownership | What the club said about operations |
|---|---|---|
| 7 November 2025 | SCL acquired the remaining 51.1% of shares in Birmingham City Limited. BBC Sport reported that SCL then controlled 96.64% of the company, which owned the men’s club and women’s team. BBC Sport’s report | The club said SCL would remain solely responsible for club operations. |
| 17 February 2026 | SCL acquired a 97% stake in Birmingham City Women. A group of minority investors, including Karen Carney and Kim Clijsters, held the remaining 3%. BBC Sport’s report | The club said there would be no immediate change to staffing or football operations. |
The percentages describe different entities: 96.64% of Birmingham City Limited after the 2025 deal, and 97% of the women’s team after the 2026 deal. They should not be combined into a single ownership figure.
How did SCL’s ownership develop?
SCL’s involvement began before either of those transactions. On 13 July 2023, BBC Sport reported that SCL had completed an initial takeover, holding 45.98% of Birmingham City Limited and full ownership of St Andrew’s. The club said SCL was taking responsibility for club operations and would fund a rebuild. BBC Sport’s 2023 report
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That timeline helps explain why the 2025 deal was described as completion of a full takeover: it followed SCL’s initial controlling investment, rather than marking its first arrival at the club. In a 2023 open letter to supporters, Knighthead co-founder and co-chief executive Tom Wagner cautioned that “The transition and implementation plans will take time.”
What do “What a time to be alive” comments refer to?
The phrase appears in two Birmingham City FC LinkedIn comment threads, but the contexts do not establish that fans were reacting to a takeover announcement. One comment, “What a time to be alive!”, appears under a post about the club’s record-breaking season; the surrounding discussion mentions investment and results. Another, “What a time to be alive! KRO”, appears under a Sports Quarter development update. Neither post verifies a link to the November 2025 or February 2026 deal. Record-breaking season post · Sports Quarter update
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The phrase can be quoted as a genuine example of upbeat supporter language, but attributing it to a specific takeover would go beyond what those posts show.
Do the comments represent Birmingham City fans generally?
No representative survey or measured statistic on fan reaction to either deal is established in the available reporting. A handful of social-media comments can illustrate individual responses, not how common a view is among supporters.
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ESPN’s February 2025 report interviewed supporters about Tom Brady’s involvement and U.S. investment. The fans quoted were broadly positive about the profile and investment, while the report also noted mixed on-field fortunes. Those interviews reflect the views of the people interviewed at that time; they are not a poll and predate both transactions discussed here. ESPN’s report
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What was planned for the club’s wider development?
BBC Sport’s November 2025 takeover report described plans for a 62,000-seat stadium within a £3bn Sports Quarter regeneration project, with an expected opening by 2030. Those figures describe reported plans and a target, not a completed stadium or a guaranteed schedule. The club’s development update is the context for the separate “What a time to be alive! KRO” comment; it does not make that comment evidence of a reaction to the ownership deal.
Quick Recap
What supporters can conclude from the news
- SCL’s ownership dates to an initial investment in July 2023; its full takeover of Birmingham City Limited was reported complete in November 2025.
- The February 2026 acquisition of a 97% stake in Birmingham City Women was a separate transaction, with 3% held by minority investors including Karen Carney and Kim Clijsters.
- Supporter comments and interviews offer examples of enthusiasm, but do not establish a consensus or a measured reaction to either takeover.
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