Why Karen Carney investment in Birmingham City is “absolutely fantastic”, according to head coach Amy Merricks | OneFootball

Birmingham City boss Amy Merricks

Birmingham City head coach Amy Merricks is excited by the news that the club has attracted investment from a group including Karen Carney and tennis legend Kim Clijsters.

It was announced ahead of the Blues’ Women’s FA Cup fifth-round match against Chatham Town, which takes place this weekend.

“I think it’s another bold statement of intent from our ownership and the hierarchy about where they want to take this club,” Merricks said on Thursday.

“From an individual point of view, I think it’s absolutely fantastic that we have two incredible female leaders that are part of that new investment – and not only two female leaders, one of [whom] is a strong part of our history as a club and embodies everything this club is about.

“Karen has actually come in several times, spoken to the team, because I truly believe that we need to make sure that we’re building on that history and still embodying everything that she wants represented as part of this club.”

Amy Merricks: Birmingham City need to respond

Birmingham City are second in WSL2 and despite a defeat on Monday night against Crystal Palace know they go into Saturday’s match as heavy favourites against the Kent side – a club Merricks played and coached at under their previous name of Gillingham.

“We’ve done our homework. We’ve done the work that we would normally do based on any opposition. We take the game very seriously. We know we’re going to have to earn the right in the performance. That doesn’t change. Our approach doesn’t change.

“For me, this is about we need to respond in our performance, but equally, we want to earn the right to get into the quarter-finals of this competition. So we’re not taking them lightly at all. We know we need to be at our best and we want to be at our best. So I have no doubt they’re focused on what they want to do, but we’re focused on what we want to do and we want to pull on our strengths in this game.”