The NEC Group did not hold back last night, saying the managing director of Birmingham City FC, Karen Brady, had behaved dishonourably, damaging the reputation of Birmingham and the Midlands with her criticism of the NEC super-casino bid.

According to Debbie Thomas, head of PR for the NEC Group, Ms Brady had brokered an agreement that neither group would “rubbish in public” the other’s bid.

But Ms Brady has not stuck to the alleged agreement, first suggesting the NEC bid had no chance of gaining government approval, and more recently claiming in a newspaper that the NEC needed the money from the casino to rescue its “failing business”.

It seems the most recent comment was the straw that broke the camel’s back, prompting the NEC to speak out about Ms Brady’s comments.

“The NEC Group generates £1.3 billion for the regional economy every year. It is a huge success story,” said Ms Thomas.

She went on to add that Brady’s comments risked “ripping the city Karen Brady claims she loves so much in two.”

Birmingham City councillors meet on Monday to decide which casino bid to back; currently they are expected to side with the NEC.