Birmingham Owner Wagner: Top Clubs Must Be Protected at All Costs

Tom Wagner: “Top Premier League Clubs Must Be Protected at All Costs”

Birmingham City owner Tom Wagner has stated that top Premier League clubs should be “protected at all costs”, warning against redistributing too much wealth to lower-league teams in England’s football pyramid.

His remarks come as negotiations continue over how the Premier League should share its revenues with the English Football League (EFL), under pressure from the UK government and a newly passed bill establishing an independent football regulator.

Background: The Football Regulator and Redistribution Talks

The proposed redistribution aims to support the financial sustainability of lower-league clubs, but the Premier League is pushing back, claiming a regulator could negatively affect competitiveness and investment.

Wagner, speaking at The Summit during Leaders Week London 2025, echoed these concerns from a US investor perspective:

“We can’t take too much from the top clubs to support the pyramid. If you have a situation where the top teams are not dominant internationally, interest will wane – particularly from the US market.”

Wagner’s View: Protect the Product, Grow the Game

Wagner, whose Knighthead Capital took over Birmingham City in 2023, positioned the top clubs as crucial to global interest, saying their brand power drives attention and capital into the game:

“The top clubs that are highly successful have significant brand value. We hope that interest will help grow the entire pyramid.”

Birmingham’s Rise Under Wagner

Since the takeover, Birmingham have undergone a financial transformation:

• Spent £25m in League One, more than the rest of the division combined

• Earned a record 111 points, gaining promotion to the Championship

• Developing a 62,000-capacity multipurpose stadium as part of their Sport Quarter project

• Exploring international growth, including a potential match against Wrexham in the US

Wagner added:

“It doesn’t make sense people visit London or Manchester but skip Birmingham. We want to make Birmingham a football destination.”

US Influence and the 39th Match Debate

With 11 Premier League clubs now US-owned, Wagner acknowledged the possibility of major structural changes being pushed through, including the controversial 39th overseas match.

He supports the idea, noting Birmingham’s own broadcast success in the US and citing their floated fixture against Wrexham abroad:

“I think we are only scratching the surface of what we can do internationally.”

Rivalries and Regional Growth

In a rare display of sportsmanship, Wagner said he would welcome success for local rivals Aston Villa and Wolves, arguing that a strong Birmingham region boosts national and international interest:

“London and Manchester have great crosstown rivalries. Why not Birmingham too?”

No Interest in Multi-Club Ownership

Wagner confirmed that Knighthead Capital had considered buying a minority stake in a London club but backed out due to overvaluation. He also made it clear they have no interest in multi-club ownership.

Final Thoughts

Wagner’s stance highlights the growing tension between tradition and global commercialization in English football. As the EFL push for financial equity, owners like Wagner are emphasizing brand preservation, international expansion, and the need to maintain elite performance levels at the top of the game.