Karen Carney reacts to big off-pitch Birmingham City ownership decision | OneFootball

Blues have become the latest club to sell their women's team to their owners' company

Birmingham City supporter and ex-England Lioness, Karen Carney, has reacted to the news that the Blues' women's team has been sold to Shelby Companies Limited - the affiliate company of the club's ownership group, Knighthead Capital Management.

Such a course of action has been taken to ensure the Championship club sit on the right side of the tight and well-documented regulations involving profitability and sustainability (PSR) as owner, Tom Wagner, looks to be the man to take the club's men's team back to the Premier League for the first time since May 2011.

Knighthead have invested heavily in the men's, women's and academy setup at St. Andrew's @ Knighthead Park ever since their initial 45.98 percent takeover of the West Midlands outfit back in July 2023, before they completed a full acquisition of the club in November 2025.

Wagner is currently taking a backseat from his day-to-day duties at the frontman of Knighthead's ownership of Blues after recently suffering a stroke, with supporters showcasing their reciprocated love for the American with two classy tributes during Sunday afternoon's FA Cup tie with Leeds United, which Chris Davies' side eventually lost 4-2 on penalties after taking their Premier League opponents all the way through normal time and extra-time.

Blues' women's team are back in FA Cup action themselves this coming Saturday, as they will host Chatham Town at St. Andrew's at 4:30PM, whilst Davies' side will hope to achieve a crucial victory in their quest for promotion against a resurgent Norwich City side at Carrow Road.

With the women's game looking to continue its growth after Sarina Wiegman's Lionesses achieved successive UEFA European Championship victories either side of a FIFA World Cup final appearance in August 2023, Carney has welcomed the change taking place at her beloved Blues, as she becomes one of many independent investors taking up the final three percent of the aforementioned transaction.

Karen Carney reacts to major off-pitch Birmingham City decision

Carney enjoyed two spells with Blues' women's team throughout her successful career, which also saw her hometown club win the FA Cup in 2012, before also being inducted into the club's hall of fame three years later.

The Hall Green native and 144-time international will now be joined by the likes of former World Tennis Association number one, Kim Clijsters as an independent investor following the off-pitch change, although no immediate staffing or leadership changes will be made.

The Blues women's team currently train alongside the men's academy at the Knighthead Performance Centre at Wast Hills, although they will join the men's first-team at a new training base which will form part of the multi-billion pound Sports Quarter development alongside the 62,000-seater Powerhouse stadium.

Taking to her Instagram profile to react to such news, Carney said: Birmingham City has and will always be in my heart. From the very beginning as a kid this club has meant the world to me and that is why I am immensely proud to now be an investor in @bcfcwomen.

"I am so proud to have played for and captained the club, and to now be a part of this journey is something I could have only dreamed of as a little girl.

"The ambition is for the women’s team to compete at the highest levels, and we will do all we can to help this club achieve that goal," she added.

"We all want to elevate women’s sport in Birmingham, inspiring the next generation and continuing to build on the legacy that has been created at BCWFC, and we’re excited to see what we can achieve together. KRO."

Birmingham City's men's and women's teams will hope to be simultaneously competing at the highest level

At present, there is still a chance that Birmingham's men's and women's first-teams could be competing in the Premier League and Women's Super League next season.

Davies' side are currently in the thick of an enthralling battle for the Championship play-offs, having backed up strong investment in the transfer window with a six-game unbeaten run in the league after being promoted as record-breaking League One champions.

Amy Merricks' side, meanwhile, are currently second in the WSL 2 after 15 games played, with an expansion of the WSL from next season now meaning the top two will be promoted.

After missing out on promotion last season after a 2-2 draw in a season-defining game against London City Lionesses, Blues' women are eight points behind leaders, Charlton Athletic, but are just one point and one place ahead of Crystal Palace, who defeated them 3-1 at St. Andrew's on Monday night.