West Brom takeover: Nicola Richards MP reacts to news which ‘will concern fans’ after new MSD loan taken
The new loan taken out by West Brom from MSD Holdings “underlines how important” a takeover of the club now is, according to Nicola Richards.
The MP for West Brom East reacted via Twitter on 1 December to the BBC Sport story from 27 November reporting that the Baggies have borrowed “extra money” from the US group, admitting the news “will concern fans”.
And with a buy-out of majority shareholder Guochuan Lai still pending amid interest from multiple parties [Daily Mail, 8 November] Richards pledged her support to getting a deal over the line.
Richards wrote: “I’ve been following recent developments at WBA and I know this news will concern fans. It underlines how important it is that a takeover happens soon and I will support that in any way I can.
“In the meantime we should all get behind Carlos [Corberan] and the team.”
Touching distance
It is impossible to ignore how important it is that, having apparently reached the brink of a takeover at long last, a suitable deal gets over the line.
West Brom are loading themselves up with debt currently with no hope of financial support from Lai and revenue unable to match spending, but the finish line looks to finally be in site.
What tangible support Richards might actually be able to offer is unclear but the issue has become increasingly high profile with the Baggies’ future under threat without a transfer of ownership.
The sooner a deal can be struck the better, especially with the January transfer window coming up where Corberan could be given the opportunity to strengthen his depleted options.
Having already taken West Brom firmly into play-off contention at this stage despite summer departures and injuries throughout the campaign a proper winter window could be the difference between promotion and remaining outside the elite.
If a takeover and a return to the Premier League could go hand in hand it would clearly be the ideal outcome for the Albion support, but above all a regime is desperately needed.
In other West Brom news, worst case scenario emerges as Baggies star re-injures previous issue ahead of Leicester City clash.