Odin Bailey opens up on Birmingham City ‘brick wall’, his nightmare transfer and St Andrew’s hope

Odin Bailey has had a whirlwind two years since making the decision to leave Birmingham City and pursue a career away from his boyhood club.

In the summer of 2022, after eight substitute appearances and four loan spells, Bailey decided he needed to spread his wings. He conceded defeat in his bid to become a first-team fixture at St Andrew’s.

“It was very difficult (to leave),” Bailey said in a conversation with the Keep Right On Podcast. “The fact that it was so difficult and that I got on with it shows my mind and where I was at. I felt like I was hitting a brick wall towards the end. No matter what I do, I’ll never have a chance. Honestly, I could have just been frustrated that I want to play first-team football. In the end, I thought it was the best decision for my career to go out and sign somewhere and prove myself and people wrong.”

By Bailey’s own admission, his first season away from the Blues – who he represented for 15 years from the academy to the first team – was an absolute disaster. Salford City were not all they were cracked up to be for Bailey.

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In Neil Wood, Bailey found a head coach who used him sparingly, to say the least. In the background, Bailey is coming to terms with fatherhood and dealing with the trauma of losing his friend Cody Fisher, who was stabbed to death in Digbeth Crane nightclub on Boxing Day 2022.

“Last season was a nightmare to be honest, on and off the pitch,” he began. “I just had my little one – which isn’t a nightmare, it’s one of the best things that’s happened to me – but everyone knows the pressures that come with having a baby and the responsibility. Your life is turning upside down. Shortly after I had the little one I started to drop out of the team.

“Cody Fisher, who was stabbed in Birmingham, I was very close to him. So there were a lot of things on and off the field, and some family issues, which left me in an almost depression-like state. Looking back now, I would say I was probably depressed.

“I fell in love with football, to be honest with you. I wasn’t playing, I was training every day. We weren’t making matchday squads and we were just taking the old chestnut from the managers when you weren’t playing. It ended up being a really bad move.”

Bailey feared becoming one of the many talented youngsters falling by the wayside. He continued: “At the start of this season I knew I had to leave, not just for my sanity but for my career. Not playing a season is bad enough, but if it ends up being two seasons before you know it, I could be in the National League or even out of football.”

Stockport manager Dave Challinor offered Bailey a lifeline. A line was drawn in the sand and Bailey moved to Edgeley Park in the hope of helping Stockport improve on their fourth place finish in League Two.

“One of the main reasons I was so keen to join Stockport is that the trajectory the club has been on in recent years is amazing. If you spent five minutes on the training ground, you wouldn’t think it was a League Two club. The training facilities are incredible.

“I know what Birmingham is like and it’s very similar to the set-up in terms of personnel and training grounds. The set-up is very good and it’s not something we’ve seen from a League Two club before.”

Stockport is no longer a League Two club. They will play the Blues in League One next season after winning the League Two title, leaving behind Hollywood-backed Wrexham.

Bailey’s performance as one of two attacking number eights in their midfield was significant. For the first time in his career, Bailey reached double figures for goal contributions – three goals and eight assists in all competitions.

Now that he has redeemed himself and rejuvenated his career, Bailey is counting down the days until June 26 when EFL clubs reveal their fixture lists. His eyes will be drawn to one match in particular.

“I would love to play against Birmingham. I love playing at St Andrew’s, it’s a great stadium full of great fans. I’d love to go back there and when I do I hope I’ll get a warm welcome.”