Kieran Maguire shares ‘huge’ West Brom takeover verdict
The £60million takeover deal at West Brom will put an end to the ‘uncertainty and anxiety’ suffered by supporters under Guochuan Lai’s ownership.
That is the view of finance expert Kieran Maguire, who exclusively told Football Insider that recent years at West Brom under Lai have been a ‘car crash’.
West Brom announced on Thursday (15 February) that Bilkul Football – a company owned by Shilen Patel – has struck an agreement to buy an 88 per cent stake in the Championship club.
The takeover will bring an end to an eight-year spell under Lai after his £200million takeover from Jeremy Peace in 2016.
Under Lai, the Baggies have been relegated to the Championship and have faced financial problems associated with loans taken out by the Chinese businessman.
West Brom ‘car crash’ set to end with £60m takeover agreed
Maguire believes a £60million takeover fee is a ‘fair price’ that will also account for the club’s potential promotion to the Premier League this season.
“The recent years at The Hawthorns under Guochuan Lai have been a car crash,” Maguire told Football Insider’s Sean Fisher.
“There’s been huge uncertainty and anxiety for all Baggies fans.
“In terms of the club’s ability to trade, they’ve limped on and I think it’s a testament to the management, the coaching staff and the players that they are where they are in the Championship right now.
“The £60million takeover fee is fair given the club’s cash flow – and they will factor in that the club has around a 20 percent chance of being promoted this season.
“So that will have been put into the calculations from the buying side.“
In other news, Kieran Maguire stunned by £7m deal days after West Brom crowd trouble
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