Blues Anger At City's Casino Bid

Birmingham City Football Club's managing director has hit out at the city council after it rejected the club's super casino bid.

The council is supporting a rival application for a casino licence at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC).

Karen Brady said it "might have cost" the city the chance of a super casino and the regeneration it would bring. But a council spokesman said it is confident the NEC will bring benefits to both the city and the wider region.

Mrs Brady said: "I am hugely disappointed. In their blind pursuit to save the NEC, the council might have cost Birmingham the chance of having the super casino and all the regeneration that would have brought."

The football club had hoped to move to a new stadium in Saltley but needed a casino licence to help finance the switch.

Council backing for such a licence went to the NEC - its bid being submitted by Solihull Council.

Council leader Mike Whitby said: "We believe that in recommending the NEC bid we have created the best opportunity of winning the bid for a regional super casino for the city region. We will be working closely with our partners in Solihull and other local authorities to ensure the NEC bid is the best for Birmingham and the best for the region. We are confident in the benefits it will bring to our city and the wider city region. Through the regeneration benefits a successful NEC bid will bring, we hope to construct a City of Birmingham Stadium and a sports village that will boost Birmingham's national and international reputation."

Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell is due to specify areas for one super casino and 16 other smaller ones in 2007.