Hannover 96 chief Marcus Mann slams Birmingham City over Phil Neumann transfer
Hannover 96 sporting director Marcus Mann has continued the German club’s tirade against Birmingham City over their Phil Neumann announcement.
Blues confirmed a pre-contract agreement is in place to sign Neumann on July 1, once his contract at Bundesliga II side Hannover has expired, late on Friday evening. Neumann had not long completed 90 minutes in Hannover’s 1-0 victory over Jahn Regensburg when the announcement was made.
The timing angered Hannover and a strongly worded statement on their website criticised Blues. Now, Mann has taken aim at Blues’ handling of the matter in an interview with German publication BILD.
READ MORE: Behind-the-scenes Birmingham City transformation highlighted in the space of two weeks
READ MORE: Birmingham City could be without six players for Wrexham clash as injuries hit again
He said: “Why on match day of all times? That doesn't make sense to me. The English way is not okay. And that doesn’t make communication any easier. We won’t let an English third division team dictate what to do.”
Neumann has been a key player for Hannover during his two-and-a-half year stint at the Niedersachsenstadion. The 27-year-old has started 17 of their 18 league games this term and has contributed to the best defensive record in Bundesliga II.
BirminghamLive understands Blues explored the possibility of signing Neumann during the January transfer window but were put off by Hannover’s demands for a player they will sign for free in the summer.
Blues had no obligation to inform Hannover of their plans to announce Neumann’s pre-contract agreement but contacted the German club out of courtesy before doing so and made the concession of not announcing it until after their game had finished.
