West Brom fans erupt with cheers as Tom Ross announces takeover at Jonas Olsson event
West Brom fans celebrated inside The Hawthorns on Thursday night as Tom Ross read out the club’s statement about the imminent change of ownership.
The Albion Foundation were hosting An Evening with Jonas Olsson in the East Stand (15 February) when it was confirmed that Bilkul Football WBA, LLC – a company owned by Shilen Patel and his father Dr Kiran C. Patel – agreed a deal to buy an 87.8 per cent shareholding of WBA Group.
The deal has been approved by the EFL and it is expected to be formally completed next week.
Video footage has since emerged on X, showing the reaction of West Brom fans when West Midlands sports broadcasting legend Ross read out the statement during the event with ex-Albion star Olsson.
X user Jack Lewis uploaded the video clip, in which Ross says: “Can I just read out a message for Albion fans – and this has come from the club today just a few minutes ago. I hope I’ve got this right: Bilkul Football WBA, LLC – a company ultimately owned by Florida-based entrepreneur Shilen Patel and his father Dr Kiran C. Patel – has reached an agreement to acquire an 87.8 per cent shareholding…”
Ross’ message was then interrupted as cheers broke out throughout the room.
The talkSPORT broadcaster and Birmingham Mail columnist tweeted later that night: “Had a late call to host a Q & A with Jonas Olsson after [the] original host had to drop out. It was at The Hawthorns for the West Brom foundation – great night with a top man – great stories and a few laughs with the biggest cheer with news that agreement reached to sell the club.”
Who is Shilen Patel and will he be a good West Brom owner?
Patel will become the new chairman of West Brom, replacing Guochuan Lai in the role with the Chinese ownership at The Hawthorns all but finished.
The Flordia-based businessman said he’s “excited” to get started in the Black Country, hailing the club’s “exceptional history, support, and potential”.
He’s a man who already has experience in football ownership as he’s owned a minority shareholding in Serie A club Bologna since 2014. He’s also a Tampa Bay Buccanneers fan.
According to the Birmingham Mail, Patel’s father Dr Kiran has an estimated wealth of £317.9million while the family business, which is run by Shilen Patel, has assets worth £1.5billion ($2bn).
Patel is paying off £40million of debt at West Brom in order to complete his takeover – more than what he’s paying Lai.
Overall, the deal is worth around £60million so to be paying double the amount on paying off debt that he’s spent on the club suggests that the Floridian means business.
Will he be a good owner? Time will tell. But paying off the club’s debt is a very good start and it’s a better show of commitment than Lai’s idea to give out free scarves and pints.
In other West Brom news, John Percy has said if Carlos Corberan’s job is safe amid the takeover news.
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