West Brom: Keith Wyness calls for tougher rules on Chinese owners after points deduction verdict
West Brom’s latest behind-the-scenes predicament is a further sign that Chinese owners can not be trusted in English football.
That is according to ex-Everton, Aston Villa and Aberdeen chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, after the Championship club were deducted two points for breaching the EFL’s financial rules.
The financial breaches, which West Brom denied, linked to interest payments on loans taken out by former owner, and Chinese businessman, Lai Guochuan.
Guochuan’s time at the Hawthorns was marked by financial mismanagement, and Shilen Patel completed a takeover of the club in February 2024.
West Brom fan and minority shareholder David Piesing claimed he had made the EFL aware of of the loans taken out by Guochuan in 2023 to fund his other businesses, but no action was taken by the governing body at the time.
Chinese owners ‘shouldn’t be allowed in the game’
Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes Chinese owners need to give “certain assurances” before they are allowed to takeover a club in English football.
Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast, Wyness thinks the EFL must begin doing a “better job” when clearing Chinese owners to takeover clubs.
| Turnover | £30.4m |
| Operating Loss | £17m |
| Gate Receipts | £6.8m |
| Player Sales | £8.2m |
He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “The point of all this is that, if you’re dealing with China in any way, you’ve got to be belt and braces, and really ask for a lot more upfront.
“I think that could even be considered a particular bond being put in place for Chinese owners given past experience. I don’t think that’s racist. I think it’s based on past experience. Unless they can give certain assurances, I don’t think they should be allowed in the game.
“I’m going that far because I think it’s proven now in about 10 or 12 cases. So when it starts to happen that often, then I’m afraid you’ve got to look at the facts and look for bigger assurances rather than just a cursory inspection.
“The EFL have got to delve deeper and do a better job. They were lucky I didn’t sue them actually during my time at Aston Villa, because really I’m also relying on the fact that leagues do good due diligence on particular owners coming in, and I couldn’t rely on that and neither could the Villa fans.”
West Brom have clear front-runner in manager pursuit
After receiving a two-point deduction, West Brom confirmed their Championship survival with a 0-0 draw against Ipswich Town.
That means interim boss James Morrison is favourite to become West Brom manager on a permanent basis, as revealed by Football Insider.
The point against Ipswich extended West Brom’s unbeaten run under Morrison to 10 games, and they will look to extend that further when they travel to Sheffield Wednesday on the final day of the Championship campaign next.
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