Former chairman Jeremy Peace has to wait as investigation is extended

The inquiry into a historical loan obtained by former Albion chairman Jeremy Peace is anticipated to extend until Easter, delaying its completion beyond the initially expected six-month timeframe.

Originally launched at the beginning of the year, the independent investigation into the 2014 loan, which saw Peace borrow £3.7 million from the club and transfer it to his company, WBA Holdings, is now slated to conclude around Easter next year. Shareholders for Albion (S4A), the minority shareholders who advocated for the investigation, were informed this week that the inquiry’s deadline had been extended from the end of 2023.

The loan, inherited by Guochuan Lai after his £200 million takeover in 2016, currently stands at approximately £5 million, encompassing accrued interest.

Despite allegations by S4A that Peace might have used the loan to WBA Holdings for acquiring additional shares in WBA Group, the club’s parent company, Peace has consistently refuted these claims, asserting that the loan was in the best interests of the club and welcoming any investigation, as stated in his interview with The Times last year.