Blues ban former owner Gold from St Andrew's

Birmingham City have banned their former owner David Gold from St Andrew's for today's Premier League game against his new club West Ham United after he described City's vice-chairman Peter Pannu as "disgusting".

The row escalated after an interview in which Gold said he had been insulted by Pannu, saying: "It was disgusting. To make it personal and insult me was degrading. I now refer to him as 'the disgusting Peter Pannu'."

The row concerns events following last year's sale of Birmingham, which had been owned by Gold and his partner David Sullivan for 16 years, to Hong Kong businessman Carson Yeung for £81m. Gold claims the new owners reneged on an agreement that he was to stay on as chairman – an allegation City strenuously deny.

Talks about a future role took place, and Pannu said a vice-president's role was offered but declined, as Vico Hui was always in line to be chairman

A Birmingham statement yesterday said Gold had been "offered an opportunity to remain as vice-president [non-executive] upon his request, which he refused. All the current allegations are false and untrue and the club will keep all options open."