BIRMINGHAM City’s owners say they will have “no problem” meeting the financial criteria to allow the club to play in the Europa League next season. City qualified after beating Arsenal in the Carling Cup but there had been concern that the Blue Noses were struggling for funds as the club’s parent company revealed they had total debts in excess of £29m. “We will have no problem securing Uefa licence approval to play in Europe for which the club had already filed the papers,” said vice-chairman Peter Pannu while wearing a fake beard and dousing St Andrews in petrol.

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