Reliable journalist: If season doesn’t restart, midfielder may have played final West Brom game
Chris Brunt could have played his final match for West Brom if the current 2019/20 season does not reconvene, according to The Athletic journalist Steve Madeley.
West Brom’s promotion bid has been left in a state of limbo due to the coronavirus-enforced suspension of the Championship.
While the general consensus is that most clubs want to complete the season at a later date, there is talk about null and voiding it or cutting it short now and handing Albion automatic promotion into a 22-team Premier League.
As it stands, Brunt’s contract at The Hawthorns is due to expire at the end of June.
There is talk about extending players’ contracts if the season does resume and runs past June 30 but for now, there is a real possibility that Brunt’s 13-year spell in the Black Country will come to an end without him playing again.
Writing on The Athletic website, Madeley said: “Chris Brunt is the highest profile out-of-contract player and it would be sad to think he has played his final game for the club after such a great career. If the season doesn’t restart, he almost certainly has.”
Brunt came close to leaving West Brom in January when he was said to be on his way to Championship rivals Stoke City.
The former Northern Ireland international even seemed to wave goodbye to the Baggies supporters after he played in the 1-0 FA Cup win over Charlton.
Even though Brunt has stayed in the West Midlands, he has only played once for the club since the end of January when he stared against Newcastle in the FA Cup earlier this month.
Was that 86-minute-long appearance versus the Magpies Brunt’s final match for West Brom?
Right now, it seems likely. Even if the season does reconvene.
In other West Brom news, Kevin Phillips has called on this senior player to seek assurances ahead of next season.