‘Bizarre’ – Exclusive: Phillips sends ‘Circus’ warning to West Brom after major Lai development
We’re delighted to welcome former West Brom striker Kevin Phillips as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at The Hawthorns…
Kevin Phillips is baffled by emerging reports that West Brom may have undergone a change in ownership despite nothing official being released by the club or the Premier League.
Last week, ex-Birmingham Mail journalist Chris Lepkowski and BBC Radio WM presenter Adrian Goldberg reported in The Liquidator podcast that there are suggestions that Ms Yasha Ge is now the owner of West Bromwich Albion Football Club.
You can read more about the story here or listen to Lepkowski and Goldberg’s brilliant work on their podcast but the general gist of the story is that financial data gathering company Orbis claim West Brom are now under the control of Ge, with no indication as to what has happened to Guochuan Lai.
West Brom have been rather quiet when asked to clarify Lai’s situation at the club and Phillips believes that the FA or the Premier League would have said something if Albion have undergone a change of ownership.
While the ex-Albion striker hopes his former club doesn’t make headlines for the wrong reasons due to this story, he can’t help but admit it’s made him scratch his head.
“I’m not too sure what to make of it but if there has been any change of hand then surely we would have heard of it,” Phillips told West Brom News.
“I’m sure the FA and the powers that be would have made a statement because you have to go down that correct route to do these things so it does seem a bit bizarre at this stage with murmurs that Slaven is under pressure as well.
“I hope it doesn’t turn into a bit of a circus at West Brom where people are talking about the club for all the wrong reasons because they played some amazing football last year to get back to the Premier League and traditionally, they’re a club that’s been around for an awfully long time.
“Now this news is out there, I’m sure in the coming days or weeks we’ll find out more but if I’m honest, it’s bizarre.”
West Brom must come out and say something official in a statement on their website and social media channels because a lot of fans have become aware of the digging of Lepkowski and Goldberg.
On Monday, Goldberg added that Shareholders 4 Albion, who own just over 12 per cent of West Brom, have written to the club to ask for an update on Lai’s ownership.
We hope that S4A can get an answer as soon as possible and is an answer that actually gives supporters some clarity because, as Phillips says, we don’t want these developing into a messy situation.
Supporters should not be left in the dark when something as major as a change of ownership happens.
In other West Brom news, Peter Odemwingie delivered his verdict on Bilic in the defeat to Tottenham.
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