Let’s face it, surely it’s far better to be a mid-table Premier League outfit than oscillate between the top flight and the Championship, giving the impression that you can’t cut it with the big boys on a regular basis? Anyone with half a brain would agree but perhaps that doesn’t apply to David Gold, someone who gives Jose Mourinho a run for his money in the talking complete crap stakes.

Sky Sports reports that his recent comments about Middlesbrough have been met with amusement in the north-east. Gold claimed that:

“Some people might not like relegation, promotion, relegation, promotion, but would you want to be a Middlesbrough - stuck in mid-table every season?” said Gold.

“Some people would settle for that because it is better for your heart, but the highs and lows are what football is all about for me.”

Not sure the Birmingham accountants would see it like that. Nor the fans, whose weekends are ruined when their team gets trounced and slips further down the table. It seems as though Brum’s co-owner enjoys making a few enemies (note the ongoing spat with Steve Bruce), although nobody at Boro seems too bothered by his comments.

“I was amused to read David’s comments that he would rather his side suffered relegation every other season than be like Middlesbrough,” Keith Lamb told the club’s official website.

“David is a good friend but I can only assume relegation has affected his thinking a little.

“I seriously doubt Boro fans would swap our recent histories.

“Since moving to the Riverside in 1995, we have achieved five major cup finals, are the only English side outside of the so-called big four to have played in a European final, have enjoyed successive seasons of Uefa Cup football, won our first major trophy and enjoyed 11 consecutive years in the Premier League.

“In the meantime, Birmingham have managed a couple of relegations and a lengthy spell in what is now the Championship. Somehow I don’t believe even their own supporters would agree their highs and lows have been preferable to ours.”

City fans, what would you rather have out of the above? While Birmingham will doubtless win more matches in the second flight this term, the fans are desperate to see their club cement a place in the Premier League aren’t they?

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