Sky News broadcast West Brom fan footage after angry scenes at The Hawthorns caused by Guochuan Lai
Sky News have aired footage of angry West Brom fans protesting against Guochuan Lai’s ownership of the club as the UK Government plans for a new independent regulator.
As reported by BBC Sport on Thursday (23 February), the proposed new regulator will block English clubs from joining breakaway leagues like the European Super League, prevent repeated financial failings at clubs, introduce a stricter owners’ and directors’ test, give fans more power and ensure there’s a more even distribution of money.
In light of the news, Sky News’ sports correspondent Rob Harris shared footage from the broadcaster’s coverage of the news on Twitter on Wednesday night (22 February).
Sky News aired the anti-Lai protests on Halfords Lane from early January after the Chinese businessman failed to repay a £5million debt the club for a second time.
They also spoke to fans, one of whom choked up as he discussed the threat of the Baggies going into administration while Action For Albion founder Alistair Jones also spoke.
In response to the plans for the new regulator, Jones said: “It’s got to be a good thing for English football but the regulator has got to have teeth, it’s got to be able to make real change.”
It’s time for change
It remains to be seen how this new regulator will work out and whether or not it’s introduction is too late to help West Brom.
Lai is leeching the life out of West Brom, failing to repay multiple loans, missing repayment deadlines and also green-lighting a dangerous £20million, high-interest loan from MSD Holdings.
Albion fans are fed up but they’re not the only ones who are currently suffering from terrible ownership in England with Southend United, unfortunately, looking as though they could cease to exist very soon.
Teams like Bury and Macclesfield have gone down that route in recent years while we’ve also seen the existence of far bigger teams like Derby County have also come under threat.
West Brom aren’t immune from that under Lai, which is why he needs to pay up what he owes as soon as possible or do the right thing and sell up.
It’s easier said than done. A Chinese businessman living over 5,000 miles away who has no ties to the club isn’t going to do the “right thing”, is he?
He’s going to do what’s best for his bank balance.
We can only hope that this regulator has a positive impact for West Brom and other clubs up and down the country who are suffering similarly due to greedy, selfish and terrible owners.
In other West Brom news, Albion have completed an under-the-radar singing after a player was spotted at The Hawthorns with his new club’s kit.