Chris Lepkowski details fresh ‘unease’ over West Brom takeover amid debt at The Hawthorns
Chris Lepkowski has provided details of some fresh “unease” from Shilen Patel over his potential West Brom takeover because of the amount of debt currently at The Hawthorns.
The US businessman has emerged as the front-runner to take over the Baggies, with his takeover reportedly edging closer to completion, with a deal expected to be announced in the coming weeks [Daily Mail, 28 January].
However, Patel’s deal may not be as clear cut as has initially been reported, with former Birmingham Mail reporter Lepkowski suggesting that the current level of debt West Brom have found themselves in may have put a spanner in the works.
Writing on X on Thursday (1 February) he said: “For what it’s worth, I’ve heard there is some unease about the level of debt that would be taken on.”
When asked whether that debt will have been reflected in the asking price for the club, Lepkowski replied: “I dare say it is/was. I’m not sure it is off per se, but I have heard there is some reticence due to the figures.”
Worrying update
After a few months in the dark, it had seemed as though West Brom had finally found some light at the end of the tunnel when it came to their potential takeover, but all that positivity could have immediately fallen to the wayside.
The Baggies’ current debt has been well documented, with a number of loans helping Albion keep their heads above water in the last few seasons, but very few potential owners will be willing to take on such debt immediately after acquiring a club.
From a positive perspective, it is important to note that there has been no suggestion that the deal has collapsed in its entirety, which may suggest that Patel’s takeover bid could be salvageable in some capacity.
But at the moment it seems as though there will have to be some change in the numbers, from one side or the other if Patel is to become the new owner of West Brom in the coming weeks as initially reported.
In other West Brom news, Mel Eves has slammed one “stupid” fan for a moment in the black country derby at The Hawthorns
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