(Reuters)
Updated: 2007-07-27 09:28

Hong Kong tycoon Carson Yeung said he wanted to complete his takeover of English Premier League club Birmingham City as soon as possible and bring some Chinese players to St Andrews.

Yeung became the club's biggest shareholder when he acquired a 30 percent stake in Birmingham through investment firm Grandtop for 15 millions pounds ($30.79 million) earlier this month.

"I want to complete the takeover as soon as possible," the 47-year-old told reporters on Thursday.

"We have a tacit agreement with the co-owners, I won't disappoint you."

Yeung said the club would definitely buy Chinese players but although he admired national team captain Zheng Zhi any purchases would depend on club manager Steve Bruce's requirements.

"I want to help the club become stronger," he said. "So far we haven't contacted Zheng Zhi but I hope to have one or two Chinese players at the club.

"It is not me but Steve Bruce who will choose the players. I just have the opportunity to introduce the Chinese players to him. I'll respect our coach ... I think Zheng Zhi is excellent, he's good enough."

Midfielder Zheng played well during a six-month loan spell at Charlton Athletic earlier this year but returned to Shandong Luneng after the London club were relegated.

The 26-year-old has said he would like to continue playing in England's top flight and has been linked with a move to Newcastle United.

POOR ATTITUDE

Despite his wish to buy Chinese players, Yeung said many of them had a poor attitude and became complacent when they reached the professional ranks.

"I'm familiar with Chinese players," he said. "To be honest, I feel they don't put their hearts into their football ... China has some good players but they don't have the right attitude.

"They stop progressing. They think too highly of themselves ... I hope they improve so that I could form a team of 11 Chinese players in the Premier League."

Yeung said he had bought his share in Birmingham purely because of his love of football, a passion he has nurtured since he grew up in poverty as the son of Chinese migrants to Hong Kong.

"I went to London when I was 17 and worked hard but I didn't have much money so I couldn't afford to go and watch football matches," he said. "Now I'm going to be watching them as a club owner."

(Additional reporting by Liu Zhen)