Jordan verdict as Bassini claims Birmingham deal is close in must-listen interview

The Blues' largest shareholder, Vong Pech, has announced the sale of his 21.64 per cent stake in the Midlands outfit, but hasn't revealed who to.

Bassini has told talkSPORT he expects his purchase of the Blues to go through in the coming days, despite previously serving a three-year ban from football, and twice being declared bankrupt.

The former Watford owner was chairman of the Hornets for a short stint that ended in 2012, and later had a failed attempt to take control of Bolton Wanderers.

But he explained the Birmingham takeover will be a chance to prove his doubters and critics wrong.

Calling into White and Jordan to have his say, Bassini revealed he is close to purchasing the St Andrew's club and attempted to clear up his past.

"People say a lot of things and a lot of things that have been said are untrue," he told talkSPORT.

"This morning I had a call to tell me the Birmingham fans are very nervous. Obviously they read what goes on in the media and they only know what they've been told, and I want to correct that.

"We exchanged contracts on Sunday night, we've signed, so providing there's no problem with the stock market in Hong Kong…

"There's an issue with a majority shareholder, so we don't know what the situation is with him at the moment, who actually owns the club.

"It's quite true that I did serve a three-year ban, where I was accused of dishonesty and lying…

"There will be a press conference where I will be producing all the things that went on in the past at Watford and Bolton that will show all the skulduggery."

After revealing he has had builders look at the stands and dressing rooms at St. Andrew's, his plans for the academy and even transfers, with a possible signing from Arsenal apparently on the cards, former Crystal Palace owner Jordan was forced to interject.

"It beggar's belief mate, why you want to come on and say these things, I don't understand," Jordan said, before Bassini revealed he only plans a short stay with the club.

The buyer explained: "I'm only going to come back to football for three years. Win or lose or go up, I will leave football forever in three years' time.

"One thing I can tell you is I will be better than the regime that is there now."

"That's fine, but that's a low bar, Laurence," Jordan replied. "That's not much of an encouragement, is it?"

Bassini continued: "For five years that club has been run into the ground, it's in a place of disarray at the moment, it's absolutely a mess. If that club gets infrastructure and you change the management going in, as well and the backroom, that club is a Premier League club."

Jordan then asked about the involvement of West Ham owner David Sullivan, who was previously joint-chairman of the Blues.

Bassini said: "I won't go on the board… some of it's Sullivan's money, some of it's my money. You'd have to ask David about the conditions behind that.

"There is a document that says should I default David Sullivan will not take the club so the club is safe.

"There are going to be two joint chairmen, who are senior football people.

"But I will name the board at a press conference where they'll all be there. There's a woman who will be vice-chairman who is a highly respected person, very highly respected and has a good knowledge of football. There will be two joint-chairmen and there will be a CEO with very vast experience."

Asked about what investment he's putting into the club and why he's coming back to football, Bassini gave some answers which didn't satisfy Jordan.

Of the money involved, he said: "After we buy it [the club] for the £35million about £30million [will be invested] in the first season.

"We have a plan. We think the first season we will struggle but we hope to be playing in the top six or top ten in the first season.

"I love football and I will go onto football one last time to prove what I can do, more to myself and also to the people out there who had a lot of things to say about me, the critics who made up lies and stories about me."

After saying he 'doesn't think anything' of Lee Bowyer after being asked about the manager's future, the 52-year-old was then quizzed on how much of his own money is going into the club, and when he expects the deal to be done.

"£10million," he said. "I have shares and I'm borrowing £10million against my shares. I will appear with a bank statement to show I've got the money.

"An announcement? That, at the moment they're working out a completion date, but I would have said within days, providing there's nothing else they come up with."

Following the end of the call, Jordan gave his thoughts on the exchange, questioning Bassini's motives to return to the game.

The former Crystal Palace owner said: "I don't think it's important to talk about his bankruptcy three or four years ago because some of the most successful people in the world have had financial issues in their lives.

"But I do think Laurence is an odd one and I do think his motivations are incredibly odd and the necessity to come on radio and advance points that make no sense.

"I don't change my view. I say the same things about Laurence to his face as I do on air - I don't know what to make of him, and I don't think his track record in football is particularly good.

"This agenda to right the wrongs in your life by buying a football club is just absurd. If I'm a Birmingham fan I would look it at and think, is it the devil I know best… Laurence Bassini has got alligator blood, he just keeps coming back.

"The bottom line is I don't think it's a great move for Birmingham.

"The whole interview was bizarre, with respect to Laurence. That was the same sort of interview as Tyson Fury, where you come out of it knowing less than you started with."