CHINA CAN REAP RICH REWARDS FOR BLUES; FAR EAST MARKET HAS POTENTIAL TO MATCH CITY ARABS INSISTS HUI.

Byline: ANDY WALKER 

VICO Hui insists that Blues have an even greater money-making tool than Manchester City's Arab oil - the Chinese people.

While Blues' new owners have plenty of ambition, it's nothing compared to the hopes of the regime in charge of today's visitors to St Andrew's.

From the moment the Abu Dhabi United Group completed their reported pounds 200-million takeover at Eastlands, minted Manchester City have set about flexing their new found financial muscle.

The cash has flooded out and star names such as Emmanuel Adebayor, Gareth Barry and Joleon Lescott have rolled in to make the blue half of Manchester serious title contenders.

ADUG are an investment arm of the Abu Dhabi royal family, who sit on oil reserves worth an estimated pounds 555 billion. However Blues' new regime are excited by the endless reserves that they can tap in to back in their homeland.

Carson Yeung and his team have made no secret of their plans to make the Blues brand big in China, a country of over one billion people. Coaching link-ups are already planned, while a big media drive in the Far East is already underway.

And chairman Hui believes by having the Chinese population on their side, Blues have already got an advantage over Man City.

Privilege "I think we have the privilege compared with Manchester City that we are Chinese people, we have a connection in China," said 43-year-old Hui, who enthusiastically introduced himself to the St Andrew's crowd with a pre-match speech last weekend.

"China is a very huge market and it is a very strange market. You have to have good communication and you have to know the way to do business out there - we know that way.

"We know how to communicate with the people, the government. There's not another Premier League deal like us, that is our privilege.

"China is a huge market. I'm not saying how much we can make but I just want to maintain the football club through smooth operations.

"The first issue is resources, the people and the capital, the money. These are very realistic pressures and we are looking for more opportunities to earn much more money and invest that into the club."

Blues vice-chairman Micheal Wiseman, who joined Hui on his lap of St Andrew's before the Sunderland victory, has also revealed his excitement at the 'unique' plans in place and admits that Yeung's takeover is like none other before.

Wiseman said: "If you think of all the billionaire owners, there's Russians, Arabs, but there's not the same interest in their homelands as there will be in this situation. It is quite unique and I don't think we can quantify.

"All I can say is that these gentleman are working 24 hours a day to make it happen. It's uncharted territory but it is exciting."

Meanwhile Blues CEO Michael Dunford remains convinced Yeung's ambitious pledges aren't just a PR stunt.

However he is keen to stress that the Chinese plan is a gradual one, unlike Manchester City's explosive expenditure.

"I've agreed to join them and I do believe, from the research I've done, they are genuine," said Dunford.

"Not at the level of cash that Manchester City have invested but the president has gone on the record with pounds 20-pounds 40-million, which surprised me. I'm certain come January the public will be waiting with baited breath to see where that is spent.

"It has to be spent wisely, we have to see investment on the field and investment off the field. We want to make Birmingham City better year on year.

"If we finish anywhere from fourth bottom to halfway at the end of this season, I think we will go through hoops here. We need a bit of luck, good management skills as far as the team are concerned and off the field.

"Hopefully I can play my part in that. Without the people coming through the turnstiles and believing in what we are doing, life is going to be very difficult."

n CITY boss Mark Hughes accepts the "edge has been taken off" Manchester City's early season promise by a run of one win in five league games ahead of today's trip to St Andrew's.

But he expects to have Kolo Toure, Martin Petrov and Wayne Bridge back from minor injuries this afternoon and hopes to take advantage of the fact last season's big four have already lost far more matches this term than expected.

Hughes believes the top flight's unpredictability will continue. He said: "That seems to be how the early part of the season is panning out.

"What we are looking for is a consistent run of results. But one defeat in nine, I would suggest, is consistent form.

"We have drawn the last three, and that has just taken the edge off our progress, but I think you have to view the first part of the season as a whole, and we are delighted with the start that we have made. "We are in good shape, in a decent position and there is more to come from us. We know that."

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