Government official insists Hawthorns community application ‘is in safe hands’ amid West Brom worries
After West Brom owner Guochuan Lai took out a number of loans, Baggies fans have been working hard to ensure The Hawthorns is protected from being sold.
West Brom find themselves in a dangerous position this season, and journalist Chris Lepkowski admitted earlier this month that administration would be a “concern” if the Baggies were relegated.
On top of that, Lai’s handful of loans sent fans into a panic, and the West Brom faithful moved quickly to secure the future of The Hawthorns.
As reported by Express & Star back in July, the Sandwell Council backed a bid to make The Hawthorns a community asset, protecting the 125-year-old stadium from ever being sold.
The application is still being processed, but Charlemont with Grove Vale councillor Les Trumpeter shared a promising update on Twitter.
“An application is progressing but has not yet been submitted,” said Trumpeter.
“It’s a lengthy piece of work that requires a lot of effort and attention to deal, but it’s in safe hands with the group who are working on it.”
Essential
With things not going to plan on the pitch, West Brom need to make sure everything is at least in order off it.
Lai’s ownership of West Brom has been rocky ever since his takeover in 2016, and the board running the club has been chopped and changed so much that a long-term plan has not been possible.
The Chinese businessman oversaw two of West Brom’s relegations to the Championship, and the Baggies are now again struggling in the second tier.
The worst thing that could possibly happen is for Lai to look to sell the club’s assets after another poor season under his ownership.
Should it ever come to that, fans are urgently making sure that The Hawthorns is an untouchable relic. As one of the oldest grounds in England, the stadium boasts a storied history as the home to West Bromwich Albion.
The quicker the application is processed the better, but Trumpeter’s update is definitely positive news.
In other West Brom news, Carlos Corberan names Jorge Alarcon and Jaime Monroy as backroom staff at West Brom