Hearts and minds don’t come cheap in football. For Birmingham City’s American ownership group, the bill is being paid one pint at a time.
A fortnight ago, at an away game of transatlantic interests, that arrangement caused a scene of mild amusement.
The expedition to The Turf pub in Wrexham had been led by City’s chairman, the billionaire financier Tom Wagner, and he was accompanied by an assortment of his commercial partners.
That’s been a routine since Knighthead Capital took over in the summer of 2023 – Wagner will fly in from his base in New York, usually once a week, and before getting to each game he picks a spot for a drink close to wherever Birmingham are playing.