JUST as the West Midlands prepares to renew hostilities on the football field with four teams from the region battling it out for Premier League bragging rights, so off-the-field rivalries have intensified.
The feuding between Birmingham and the Black Country over the future direction of economic development in the region has underlined how different the two areas really are, despite their geographic proximity.
Ever since the Government announced its intention to break-up regional development agency Advantage West Midlands, old rivalries between two areas have been resurfaced and any prospect for a Black Country-Birmingham alliance looks a long way off.
Publicly, the chambers of commerce for both areas have said they are willing to collaborate. However, privately the picture is much different.
Black Country folk eye the Big City with suspicion and business leaders in the four boroughs maintain their jealousy over the seemingly exaggerated status of Birmingham.
Throughout AWM’s lifetime there have been concerns any large funding awards favoured the city rather than the four boroughs (Walsall, Wolverhampton, Sandwell and Dudley).
There are privately-held fears the status quo would be maintained if a new ‘Super LEP’ for the region was to be established.
From the language being used in both camps it seems the battle lines have been drawn.
Reading a statement from Black Country president Mike Dell it is clear what his intention is. In a 366-word statement, the words “Black Country” are used no fewer than seven times. References to Birmingham? Nil!
Birmingham is no more accommodating. In a 486-word statement following its LEP meeting, the word “Birmingham” appears eight times. However, it does give a fleeting acknowledgement to the Black Country with a single reference in its last paragraph.
It would appear the situation has therefore reached deadlock with each side unwilling to budge.
However, one thing would appear clear. In the scramble for LEP status, the Black Country is determined to go-it-alone and not rely on any partnership with neighbours in Birmingham or elsewhere.
Where this leaves the overall direction of economic development within the region we shall have to wait and see.
As for the Premier League – that’s a whole different ballgame.
