West Brom takeover: Shilen Patel invites NFL media crew to The Hawthorns as new Baggies fans
Shilen Patel has invited Around The NFL host Dan Hanzus and his crew to The Hawthorns after his West Brom takeover was confirmed.
The American replied via Twitter on 1 March after his compatriot announced he would now be a Baggies fan from now on after the announcement on 28 February that Guochuan Lai’s time as majority shareholder was over.
Hanzus wrote: “Congrats to my longtime pal (and Around The NFL listener!) [Shilen Patel] for his takeover of West Bromwich Albion Football Club. This is my team going forward. All ‘bout that Baggies life.”
Patel replied: “Boing boing! Open invite to Dan Hanzus and the heroes on your next UK swing! Late night pod at the Hawthorns?”
West Brom profile grows in the US already after Shilen Patel takeover?
Patel has already indicated that his intention is to increase the club’s reach around the globe so it looks like that has started immediately.
Clearly, local fans who have campaigned so strongly for months about the previous miserable situation at the club will hope that changes in the new era don’t leave them behind.
There may be some inevitable growing pains now that Patel is in place, but it was a move that the club had to get done in light of the worrying finances before Lai sold up.
West Brom have finally got some crucial off-field answers but there is still so much which has yet to become clear about what comes next.
A greater profile overseas should lead to greater commercial revenues, which in turn would be expected to translate into more manoeuvrability in terms of building a strong squad.
But profit and sustainability rules will prevent Patel from spending huge money straight away, so it will take some time to kick off a crucial process and there could still be departures in the short term.
In other West Brom news, Carlos Corberan has issued an update on a “very, very, very talented” ace that has barely been seen.
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