Elite football clubs often try to ensure that they do not allow changes in boardroom business to affect their teams, particularly when the team is on the up.
Championship leaders Birmingham City are in the news after they announced that NFL legend Tom Brady is no longer a part of their journey.
Brady officially concluded his three-year association with the Blues, stepping down from his advisory role just as Chris Davies' side claimed the summit of the English second tier following a gritty 2-1 win over Swansea City, their third in succession.
Brady relinquishes minority stake at St Andrew's, club releases statement
In a surprise development that sent shockwaves across the EFL, Birmingham City Football Club officially announced that minority owner and NFL icon Brady has relinquished his stake and stepped down from his advisory role.
What has made the move more perplexing is its timing, as the club's statement comes days after they reached the summit of the Championship.
Having purchased a minority share back in August 2023 during the club's high-profile American takeover led by Tom Wagner, Brady's presence brought immense global media attention to the historic West Midlands outfit.
Though no explicit reason was cited for the sudden departure, the timing caught supporters off guard.
Brady's three-year tenure has officially drawn to a close, leading the executive board at St. Andrew's to thank the seven-time Super Bowl champion for his unwavering passion and involvement.
"Birmingham City Football Club expresses its sincere gratitude to Tom Brady for his involvement with and unwavering support for the Club over the last three years. It was truly amazing to have someone with Tom's experience and passion associated with the Club and the Club looks forward to continuing to build on that foundation from the training ground to the Birmingham community," the statement read.
As FOX Sports' lead NFL colour commentator, it is likely that Brady has decided to end his time in English football to lighten his workload amid several other business commitments.
Brady's rollercoaster three years: From relegation heartbreak to League One redemption
Brady's introduction to English football was marked by immense ambition, but it endured immediate turbulence.
The American was the very public face of the Birmingham takeover in August 2023 despite being a minority shareholder, and the new ownership decided after just two months to fire manager John Eustace, who had them in sixth place, for Wayne Rooney.
The move turned out to be a terrible one, as Rooney won just two of 15 games in the league before he was sacked in January 2024, with the side in 20th.
Birmingham never recovered from their bad run of form, and the new owners soon had a relegation from the Championship on their track record after just a season in charge.
Brady and co. did not back down after their relegation to League One, and immediately doubled down on their original investment
A summer of record-breaking financial backing completely transformed the squad's competitive ceiling, as they brought in about 17 quality players, including including England U-21 forward Jay Stansfield for a League One record fee.
The result was an instant return to the Championship at the end of the 2024-25 season, laying the foundation for this season, which has seen them reach the top of the division.
Leaving on top: Chris Davies' squad ascends to the Championship summit
Brady leaves the club in a far better position than he met it, as their hard-fought win over Swansea on Saturday put them ahead of Middlesbrough in first place in the Championship.
A brace from Stansfield, including an 87th minute winner, was enough for Birmingham to reach the top of the pile after an exceptional run of results.
Under the tactical stewardship of manager Chris Davies, the squad has exhibited defensive resilience and clinical attacking depth.
The international break will give the players and staff time to refresh themselves ahead of the remainder of the campaign, beginning later this month.
When they resume their Championship campaign, the primary objective will remain clear: securing a triumphant return to the Premier League this season.
