RUSSIA FEARS HIT BRUM BID

THE protracted Birmingham City takeover is being further delayed amid concerns that the bid from local businessman Paul Richardson and former Barcelona striker Maxi Lopez may be backed by Russian money. The EFL are in the process of scrutinising the source of the duo’s funding after being tipped off that some of it may have been provided by Russian business interests in Cyprus. The Cypriot government have forged close links with Russia in recent years, with the island earning the nickname of ‘Moscow on the Med’. The EFL may reject the takeover if a Russian link is established. Richardson and Lopez paid a deposit of £1.5million last month to proceed with a bid which values Birmingham at £36.5m, but need to secure additional funding to move ahead with the deal.