BIRMINGHAM FACE POINTS DEDUCTION AFTER £37.5m LOSS

THE astonishing details of overspending at Birmingham, which has placed the club at major risk of a serious points deduction, has been laid bare in the club’s accounts. Birmingham, eighth in the Championship, lost £37.5million in the 12 months to the end of June 2018, more than double the previous year’s deficit. The losses came under the tenures of Gianfranco Zola and Harry Redknapp as Birmingham made a huge push for promotion to the Premier League. The wage bill rose from £22m in 2016-17 to nearly £38m in 2017-18. Under the regulations, clubs are only allowed to lose £39m over three years and Birmingham are on course to fail dramatically. The EFL are set to hear the club’s case next month and could issue a penalty of up to 15 points, plunging Garry Monk’s side into a relegation fight. WEST HAM manager Manuel Pellegrini has told Samir Nasri to make up for lost time and prove he has not lost his talent, starting against Birmingham in the FA Cup today. The former Arsenal and Manchester City star is eligible to play again following an 18-month ban for a doping violation. Pellegrini said: ‘He has been working with us for more than one month but I think that football is like riding a bike. You never forget. ‘Samir is a very technical player and I am sure he will play in the same way as he did before. He is motivated and working hard. I am sure he will be a player who makes a difference.’ SHEFFIELD derbies could be blocked from being played at weekends to save costs on policing. A BBC investigation revealed that the fixture between Wednesday and United at Hillsborough was the most expensive game to police in England at £203,000, with home side Wednesday only billed £41,000. South Yorkshire Police have asked the EFL to schedule the games on weeknights and fans are being consulted about the issue. The clash at Hillsborough in March will be played on a Monday night.