David Gold has explained why he rejected an ambassadorial role at Carsen Yeung's Birmingham City.

Gold left St Andrews last week after being dumped as chairman.

He told the People: "I feel as though there has been a death in the family and I'm in mourning. From all the conversations we had it seemed certain I was going to carry on but then it all changed.

"All they had for me was a 'meet and greet' job.

"I'd seen the same happen to great men like Aston Villa chairman Doug Ellis, Stanley Matthews, Nat Lofthouse and Tom Finney. I remember thinking how sad that was and didn't want anyone feeling like that about me so I had to leave.

"Maybe it was naive of me to believe that I would keep my old job but remember I had been voted on to various FA committees by the Premier League so I feel I had a lot to offer."