David Sullivan insisted he did not deliberately snub Carson Yeung at the end of Blues' defeat of Wigan Athletic.
When the final whistle went, Yeung got out of his seat and clapped in joyous celebration, then motioned forward to Sullivan with an outstretched hand.
But Sullivan had his back to him and was talking to Gold, then shook hands with Wigan chief Dave Whelan instead as Yeung scuttled off down the gangway to the boardroom.
But he told the Birmingham Mail "There was nothing deliberate, I wasn't aware that he went to shake hands.
"Dave Whelan came across to say 'well done'. We are friendly with Dave, we like him. He may be ferocious in business but in our dealings with him in football we have found him fair, and he was being very gracious."