Sports consultant shares West Brom takeover view after £7m revelation by ex-Aston Villa chief
Sports advisor Andrew Mills does not anticipate a substantial number of interested parties vying to purchase West Brom, citing the challenging financial landscape within the EFL.
Last month, Albion revealed securing additional funding from MSD Holdings to address business expenses as ongoing takeover discussions continue in the background.
Jonny Gould, a TalkTV journalist, proposed that West Brom’s predicament may stem from the disparity in TV revenue distribution between the Premier League and the EFL. He referenced a conversation with former Aston Villa CEO Christian Purslow, who highlighted the financial imbalance during Villa’s time in the Championship.
Gould raised the question of addressing the financial inequity to preserve the football pyramid. Mills echoed these concerns, stating that the fundamental model is flawed, with most clubs relying on individuals, groups, or loans to sustain operations. He emphasized the challenge of finding investors willing to take on the debt burden, as evidenced by the situation at West Brom.
Mills further pointed out that the lack of a queue of potential buyers is due to the unattractive business model unless a club shows promise of achieving promotion or a significant increase in income.
1 hour 17 in. Audio only but available on Talk TV app and catch up function on app. Search Sunday night club. Thanks as always to @TalkTV for the opportunity. Get well soon @marksaggers
— Action for Albion (@action4albion) December 10, 2023
While acknowledging the financial gap between the Premier League and the Championship as a contributing factor to West Brom’s troubles, the primary grievance among fans revolves around the perceived lack of investment from Chinese owner Guochuan Lai. The frustration stems from the ownership extracting resources without substantial contributions, potentially jeopardizing the club’s stability through additional loans.
Despite mixed reactions to the recent loan confirmation, which increased the club’s debt and raised concerns about ownership of The Hawthorns, there is a glimmer of hope for a takeover in the future. However, fans express disappointment that the need for a change in ownership has been apparent for years, with takeover rumors persisting for over a year without significant progress. The delay in resolution has led to waning protests against the current ownership, driven in part by the team’s satisfactory performance in the league.