Birmingham blogger Dan Ivery and the Mirror’s James Nursey have both confirmed that the club has been placed under a transfer embargo by the EFL.
Ivery revealed on his blog early this afternoon that “multiple sources” had told him the club have been banned from making transfers, and Nursey then tweeted not long afterwards that his own sources confirmed the story:
credit to @almajir for breaking this news first. Since confirmed by my own sources that EFL emailed Blues to inform them of embargo. #BCFC must hope embargo is lifted quickly, which can happen, which is why the EFL doesn't comment on them. But still a big blow to #BCFC & Monk
— James Nursey (@JamesNursey) July 9, 2018
Fans on Twitter were quick to react to the news:
What a complete joke these Chinese owners have turned us into.
— gary johnson (@garygaryjohnson) 9 July 2018
This doesn’t add up if you look at the figures released by the club.
— kurtis mccarthy (@1Kurtis) 9 July 2018
Only blues would transfer list and alienate our two senior goalkeeper then not be able to replace them. Surely Monk must have been aware of this, and surely half the league must be facing an embargo too?
— David Kelly (@David_DK_Kelly) 9 July 2018
Not buying it! Time will tell but whatever is going on the Club clearly feel it’s dealt with
— Paul Phillip Lum (@_PapaulskiBCFC_) 9 July 2018
I’m assuming they have a plan to sort the finances i cant imagine them blindly bidding on players they can’t register.
— M (@figoblue1) 9 July 2018
— B.A ???????? (@Coop8517) 9 July 2018
Well the brown stuff has eventually hit the air stirrer then!
— Mark Galloway (@Covbluenose) 9 July 2018
Well the brown stuff has eventually hit the air stirrer then!
— Mark Galloway (@Covbluenose) 9 July 2018
Once Butland is sold after he returns from the World Cup, the money we get should be enough to lift the embargo
— Kevin Jones (@kevjj50) 9 July 2018
That’s our season fluffed before its even started!!! ????????????
— Lee BCFC Osborne ⚽???????????? (@Leeosbo02086653) 9 July 2018
Typical Blues though. Half the league apparently in trouble with FFP and only us get publicised as being on a embargo. Swear our club would get done by the EFL for not spending enough #bcfc
— Jak Collier (@Jak_Collier) 9 July 2018
If the club resolved the Monk vs Middlesbrough row behind closed doors, who’s to say they won’t resolve this? Might not be straight away but could be done within a week or two? Keep the faith. #BCFC #KRO
— BCFC4EVER (@BCFC2017UPDATES) 9 July 2018
Verdict:
If Ivery’s reports is correct, it seems the club had been given a “soft” embargo by the EFL initially, and that the club had been given a chance to redress their finances. However, it seems that as no action was taken, the Football League have now decided to take decisive action.
In his follow up tweet Nursey suggests that the club now will hope that the embargo is lifted quickly “which can happen” if they comply with Financial Fair Play rules. This is a fast-moving story so things may change very quickly in the next few hours. Everyone is waiting for a response from either the club or the EFL for confirmation.