Brum owners "will quit"

The pair were targeted when the club's relegation was confirmed, as supporters chanted "the board must go" late in the 4-1 win against Blackburn.

Sullivan's two young sons, David Junior and Jack, were moved for their own safety. He and Gold are blamed by many fans for the club's plight following their attempt to sell the club to Hong Kong businessman Carson Yeung, a move that provoked the resignation of manager Steve Bruce.

"These people don't know anything about business and nothing about football. I've had enough. I don't want to be here next season," Sullivan said.

"All those out there who want to buy it [the club], they can."

Gold was visibly stressed and shocked by the extent of the fans' anger with many of them believing a lack of investment has led to Birmingham's second relegation in three years.

He added: "As far as I am concerned, this has been a near-death experience.

"I am a bit distressed by the fans' reaction. I understand the disappointment of relegation. Together we have been there on a number of occasions going all the way back to Barry Fry getting us relegated to the old Third Division.

"But never, in all the time I've been at the club, have I seen a large section of fans being abusive. I am very disappointed.

"Is it six? Is it a hundred? Is it a thousand? Or is it the majority because, if it is the majority, I will be left with no alternative but to resign from as chairman of the football club.

"That is not to say I would give up the responsibility I have at Birmingham because that responsibility is not just to my fellow board members and the staff but also the good fans that have stood by us for those 15 years.

"It is a particularly sad day and at the moment I feel down and rather depressed but that is not unexpected when you've been relegated. But if you add that very sad verbal attack by the fans, it is very distressing.

"The people doing it in front of where you are sitting are the ones that really hurt because you can see the hatred in their eyes.

"You can almost excuse the chants of 'board out' because it is their frustration and they are getting rid of that.

"We had to get David Sullivan's boys out of the way because for a moment it felt as if they were in danger."