Birmingham City have spent most of the last two decades trying to reach or stay in the Premier League. This season things look very different. At the time of writing the Blues are in 8th position of England's top division and are on a club record unbeaten run of 11 league games. With little threat of relegation, the club's fans are hoping the team can build on a promising first half of the 2009-10 season backed by the wealth of Hong Kong billionaire Carson Yeung.

Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas (R) is chased by Birmingham City's Lee Bowyer during their English Premier League soccer match at the Emirates Stadium in London October 17, 2009.[Xinhua/Reuters Photo]

Birmingham supporters have often been skeptical about Yeung's purchase of the club which stretched for a period of over two years before finally being completed on October 6 last year. Yeung's protracted takeover bid caused former manager Steve Bruce to leave Birmingham and join Wigan Athletic due to uncertainty over his future. Bruce was replaced by Alex McLeish; Birmingham finished the season in 19th place in the Premiership and were relegated to the Coca Cola Championship. Impressive performances so far this season and some good signings have earned support for both Yeung and McLeish.

Vico Hui was appointed as chairman by Yeung with Sammy Yu as his "vice chairman", a role which could more accurately be described as a director of football. Yu believes the club has the potential to be one of England's biggest. He recently claimed "Our business will be idolized. We will be bringing glory to the Chinese people. China has a huge market. We will try to promote the business. We may talk to the management about swapping players between China and the UK to improve Chinese football technique."

"It has been a decade where worldwide football has been too conservative," he stated. "In the last three or four years, teams like Arsenal, Manchester United and Barcelona have led football into another decade. It is about how you play the game, the quality. Arsenal may not be winning everything, but they have won a lot of support. This is something we have to learn.

"Supporters want to enjoy football. How to make them enjoy is not the elbow, the hard tackle, or the swearing anymore. But teamwork with the highest levels of individual skill. Everyone loves to watch football like that. If you can do it, the fans will come. We have to insist upon this for the future of the club."

Yeung has promised to make funds available to buy new players this January and Birmingham have already been linked with a number of players including Celtic's Aiden McGeady and Ryan Babel of Liverpool.

They completed the signing of Sporting Gijon midfielder Michel on Thursday, the first signing of a January transfer window which is likely to be eventful and important in shaping the future of the club.