Followers of this blog will be aware that following the publication of a scurrilous online attack on J4MB by the football blogger Daniel Storey, Birmingham City FC terminated the contract to host ICMI18 without prior discussion, and without having the right to do so under the contract terms. The club’s explanation for the decision was that I had misrepresented J4MB and the event, both blatant lies. And they failed to engage with a considerable volume of material I sent about the party, men’s and boys’ issues, and previous ICMIs.

Has this discouraged us from holding a conference next year? Of course not. It has only strengthened our resolve to hold it, and make it the best conference in the series so far.

We’ve been in contract negotiations with a top London venue. We expect to announce shortly that the event will definitely be going ahead, 20 – 22 July, after the end of the World Cup.