GOLD WON'T BE FORCED OUT

Gold - won't shirk the challenge.

David Gold returns to St Andrews on Saturday determined to win over the sceptics who doubted him last term.

The Blues co-owner was subjected to a barrage of abuse from irate supporters as the club slipped out of the Premier League on the final day of the season at home to Blackburn.

Managing director Karren Brady and Gold's fellow joint-majority shareholder David Sullivan also came under attack as fans vented their anger at the way in which the club was being run.

Gold and Sullivan threatened to sell up in the wake of the stinging criticism, unhappy that their efforts were not being appreciated by the St Andrews faithful.

However both men remain in their posts and Gold insists he will not shun the limelight when the Blues get their 2008/09 campaign under way against Sheffield United this weekend.

"There is no chance of me looking to hide away after what happened on the final day of last season," he said.

"It's not my style. I shall take my seat as normal in the directors' box. There will be nothing different.

"But yes, it was a wake up call at the time. I never thought I would see such vociferous fans aiming those words at me.

"And of course we had to admit we had made mistakes last season when it came to Carson Yeung's attempted buy-out of the club. There was point to be made, but perhaps not in that fashion, as no-one had died after all."

Gold now claims to have the backing of many of the club's supporters and admits that he was rediscovered his passion for the job.

"What happened in the days after the Blackburn game rejuvenated me," he said.

"Several people went out of their way to come up to me and tell me they wanted me to stay, so I rediscovered my optimism out of what was a dark day for the club.

"Now it's another season and a new challenge and I'm looking forward to it.

"If I couldn't meet and greet fans before the game, shaking hands and talking to them, then I might as well not be chairman of Birmingham City."