Don Goodman: West Brom stars will worry about not being paid as takeover saga continues
Don Goodman insists every West Brom player will be focused on a “massive” run of games ahead, rather than the ongoing off-the-field issues.
American businessman Shilen Patel is reported to be in advanced talks with Guochuan Lai over purchasing the club [Express & Star, 9 February].
The takeover uncertainty has rumbled on for a number of months, with Albion taking out another loan in November to help cover running costs.
However, Goodman does not believe what is happening behind the scenes at The Hawthorns will have any sort of impact on the playing squad.
“Not at all. I think the loans they’ve secured means the players will get paid, and that’s the biggest worry as a player,” he told West Brom News.
“The players will be focusing on the here and now, and that is the next six games – the most important games they’ll play this season.
“If West Bromwich Albion are still in the top six after those games then I’d absolutely back them to remain there come the end of the season.
“It cannot be understated how massive these games are for West Bromwich Albion. As a player, you’re focused only on that block of games, one game at a time starting with Ipswich away on Saturday.
“That will obviously be a massively difficult game, but they might be catching Ipswich at the right time.”
Takeover situation dragging on at The Hawthorns
There was real hope among the fanbase that the takeover would be finalised in time for the January transfer window. That did not prove the case, and it is difficult to work out exactly how far down the line the situation is.
Updates have seemingly been leaked rather sparingly and that has led to supporters speculating with regards to exactly what is going on behind the scenes.
The last thing the club needs is for these talks to break down at this stage as the future will look incredibly bleak. It is not hyperbolic to say that Albion need this takeover to be over the line before the summer.
With a number of players due to be out of contract, and Premier League clubs no doubt looking to poach others, it will lead to uncertainty that nobody wants right now.
There is still a good chance that the Baggies could themselves be in the top flight come the end of May, of course, and that would change everything.
Ultimately, all the players can do is keep getting points on the board, get us into the play-offs and then hope everything happening away from the pitch soon sorts itself out.
In other West Brom news, a first-team regular has explained why he was “disappointed” at a recent decision made by Carlos Corberan.
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