Emile Heskey Exclusive: Birmingham Promotion Would Not Surprise Me

Of the three sides promoted to the Championship, Birmingham have made the best start.

With two wins and a draw, the Blues sit fifth in the table after three games, ahead of their Friday night trip to Leicester.

City are second favourites on football betting sites to be one of the three clubs to take their place in the top flight for the 2026/27 campaign.

Emile Heskey, who cost Birmingham a club record £6.25million when signing the forward from Liverpool in 2004, backs Blues boss Chris Davies to lead them to promotion. 

Asked if his former club can make it to the Premier League, Heskey said: "They are aiming high. 

"I'm not sure they [their owners] know much about the Championship, but the club has played in it before.

"They’ve got a fan base that will really push them and I wouldn’t be surprised.

"However, it is a tall order to go back-to-back like Ipswich did a few years ago. It is not easy to do that.

"I know the manager because he was Brendan Rodgers' number two and he is very meticulous. He is on it. 

"He will be pushing, and if anything, he’s got a real opportunity. He’s a good manager who can produce that."

American Attention Is A Boost

Birmingham are one half of the Championship's "Disney Derby", which also features Wrexham. 

The Welsh club are owned by Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, while former NFL star Tom Brady is a minority owner of the St Andrew's club. 

Heskey, who will line up for Liverpool in the Manchester Masters at the AO Arena on September 5, appreciates the exposure both clubs are getting through their behind-the-scenes documentaries.

"They’ve [Blues owners] probably seen an opportunity and the fan base," Heskey told Gambling.com. 

"I have been to some American sports, and it is good, but it is not passionate like football.

Championship Promotion Odds:

"Birmingham and Wrexham's owners probably come here, looked at the passion, looked at everything, and said: “Well, this is amazing. How can we monopolise this? How can we jump on this? How can we get on board?"

"You have to take your hat off to them. They have taken smaller clubs - Wrexham, for example - and turned them around. 

"They are making them world stars, recognised all over the globe. This is what we call a world sport. 

"When you are talking about the World Cup, it is probably one of the most watched events in the world.

"Why not open it up to different places? I am sure some of the players will enjoy walking around in America and being recognised. So yeah, I do not see it as a bad thing."