Revitalised Birmingham eye future beyond 'Hollywood derby'

The arrival of Tom Brady and Ryan Reynolds has captured the imagination of Birmingham and Wrexham fans

The whistle had barely blown on the 3-0 win over Shrewsbury that took Wrexham top of the table when Hollywood A-lister Rob McElhenney sent a social media message to NFL legend Tom Brady: "See you next Monday. Should be a banger."

In one sentence, more than four million global followers were alerted to probably the best publicised League One game ever.

Birmingham v Wrexham is being described as 'the Hollywood derby'.

Rotherham manager Steve Evans has likened playing against them to being a combination of Real Madrid and the Harlem Globetrotters.

McElhenney and Deadpool star Ryan Reynolds bought Wrexham in 2020. Brady has a 3.3% stake in Birmingham, who were bought by Knighthead Capital Management in 2023.

It was semi-seriously suggested Monday's game could be played in the United States to maximise commercial potential. The EFL declined.

"It is interesting the way football has moved and changed," Birmingham chief executive Garry Cook tells BBC Sport.

"Here we are in League One and this is the only game on TV on Monday. We sold out of tickets very quickly.

"Tom Brady is our iconic superstar and of course Mr Reynolds and Mr McElhenney represent Wrexham. But I think the most important thing about that is for the EFL, it's a great night. It puts them on the map as well.

"The world will watch Wrexham v Birmingham at St Andrew's, Knighthead Park," says Cook. "That is the compelling issue."

'Similarities with Manchester City'

The lower tiers of the Tilton Stand (centre) and the Kop (right) were closed from 2020 to 2023 for safety reasons

Moving the game to the United States was always unlikely but Birmingham are not being deterred by that. Nor are they deterred by last season's relegation, that may have attracted sniggers from envious rivals, and the part Wayne Rooney's ill-fated appointment as manager had in it.

"Everyone can have a view on Birmingham City and what we are doing. It is not fair to just focus on what happens on the pitch, you should also be more rounded about what is going on at the club," says Cook.

"We had two training grounds and a stadium which had fallen into disrepair. We have brought in a new coach in Chris Davies, who is changing the culture and has got off to a great start.

"Same in [the] women's [team] with Hope Powell and Amy Merricks and our academy is endeavouring to be Category One, which would mean we could be a leader in attracting young talent. I always say it is not necessarily the league you are in, it is the club you are."

It is easy to forget the state Birmingham were in if you wind back just a couple of years.

In December 2020, sections of the Kop and Tilton Stands were shut due to safety concerns. Now new facilities are springing up around the famous old stadium, which has been Birmingham's home since 1906.

"We are changing the dynamics in keeping with what is happening in the world of sports entertainment," says Cook.

Cook has always been good at the corporate speak. And he has always had a vision.

It is why Manchester City hired him in 2008 and though some of his statements were on the outlandish and provocative side, the general theme - that City would become one of the biggest and most successful clubs in the world - has proved to be correct.

"There are some similarities," he says, of that experience and his current one.

"Yes, Manchester City are a powerhouse on the football pitch but there are two elements that have been really important for them: their focus on their fanbase and the focus on their community work.

"When you come in as new owners, when the fans have been disillusioned with the previous ownership for perhaps 10 years, you have to show change. But trying to fix 10 years in 10 weeks is not easy."

Record Stansfield transfer 'made sense' for club aiming for 'world stage'

Birmingham striker Jay Stansfield joined Birmingham for a League One record transfer fee in August

To many, a football club's ambition is shown by what they spend in the transfer market.

Birmingham obliterated the League One transfer record by spending over £10m to bring England Under-21 international Jay Stansfield back to Birmingham from Fulham on deadline day after last season's impressive spell on loan.

"When you lose 15 players from your squad, which is 65%, you have to replace them," said Cook.

It took Manchester City 15 years to win the Champions League from Cook's arrival. Cook does not set any similar timeline and avoids the opportunity to outline whether Birmingham could move beyond Aston Villa, which has long been the dominant club in England's second city.

But a new stadium is part of the plan because the scale of ambition exceeds their present home. Cook says the ceiling is the Champions League but adds it would be "naive" to set that as an aim.

"Rather than focus on predicting a football outcome, I would rather predict that in 15 years' time the fans and Birmingham will be very proud of how robust this football club is on the world stage."

This is long term though.

Monday is Birmingham v Wrexham. The world might not be watching. But Hollywood will be.

Birmingham celebrate their injury-time winner against Wigan which moved them top of the league