Article from the Athletic

[backsidebaggie]

Lai being derided now as was JP. Lai purchased the club and immediately told everyone that we were a successful business model and he wasn't going to change a thing and leave it run as is, all self sufficient. Now he's called nasty names because he hardly has any input into the running of the club and doesn't inject cash. JP just said we would only spend what we earned and he was called a tight cnut as well.

I'm afraid the economic landscape of football has completely changed in the past three years, as has our financial situation following relegation.

The old self sustaining business model won't cut the mustard in today's championship, where an average £20m investment is required without parachute money.

If we don't go up this year and he still refuses to sell up in an attempt to save face, i'm afraid he's essentially keeping the club hostage.

As an aside, he wasn't my favourite bloke but JP at least could be arsed to attend matches.  What little respect i had for Lai went with his decision to only come one game last season.

If an average of £20M is required to be invested each year in most champ clubs, I reckon that isn't sustainable in the slightest, and plenty will be in terrible trouble if that is the case (is that why Leeds seem to have cuts costs this year?). I just can't see there being 20 owners prepared to lose £20M a season. in which case, the teams which bide their time and are run sensibly will in the end rise to the top as the others get in the shit.

[SW4Baggie]

Lai being derided now as was JP. Lai purchased the club and immediately told everyone that we were a successful business model and he wasn't going to change a thing and leave it run as is, all self sufficient. Now he's called nasty names because he hardly has any input into the running of the club and doesn't inject cash. JP just said we would only spend what we earned and he was called a tight cnut as well.

I'm afraid the economic landscape of football has completely changed in the past three years, as has our financial situation following relegation.

The old self sustaining business model won't cut the mustard in today's championship, where an average £20m investment is required without parachute money.

If we don't go up this year and he still refuses to sell up in an attempt to save face, i'm afraid he's essentially keeping the club hostage.

As an aside, he wasn't my favourite bloke but JP at least could be arsed to attend matches.  What little respect i had for Lai went with his decision to only come one game last season.

If an average of £20M is required to be invested each year in most champ clubs, I reckon that isn't sustainable in the slightest, and plenty will be in terrible trouble if that is the case (is that why Leeds seem to have cuts costs this year?). I just can't see there being 20 owners prepared to lose £20M a season. in which case, the teams which bide their time and are run sensibly will in the end rise to the top as the others get in the shit.

The £20m figure is very much an average, boosted by certain clubs having huge investment from owners (Derby, Villa..)

But in the last season that accounts are available (17/18) over half the clubs had a wage bill over their total income (Blues was over 200%).

The key takeout is that over 3/4 of Champ clubs have owners investing something to keep the club above water and ours can’t/wont.

[Remi_Moses]

Lai being derided now as was JP. Lai purchased the club and immediately told everyone that we were a successful business model and he wasn't going to change a thing and leave it run as is, all self sufficient. Now he's called nasty names because he hardly has any input into the running of the club and doesn't inject cash. JP just said we would only spend what we earned and he was called a tight cnut as well.

I'm afraid the economic landscape of football has completely changed in the past three years, as has our financial situation following relegation.

The old self sustaining business model won't cut the mustard in today's championship, where an average £20m investment is required without parachute money.

If we don't go up this year and he still refuses to sell up in an attempt to save face, i'm afraid he's essentially keeping the club hostage.

As an aside, he wasn't my favourite bloke but JP at least could be arsed to attend matches.  What little respect i had for Lai went with his decision to only come one game last season.

If an average of £20M is required to be invested each year in most champ clubs, I reckon that isn't sustainable in the slightest, and plenty will be in terrible trouble if that is the case (is that why Leeds seem to have cuts costs this year?). I just can't see there being 20 owners prepared to lose £20M a season. in which case, the teams which bide their time and are run sensibly will in the end drop down into division 1. 

 
Edited for you

[Baggiejacko]

Lai being derided now as was JP. Lai purchased the club and immediately told everyone that we were a successful business model and he wasn't going to change a thing and leave it run as is, all self sufficient. Now he's called nasty names because he hardly has any input into the running of the club and doesn't inject cash. JP just said we would only spend what we earned and he was called a tight cnut as well.

I'm afraid the economic landscape of football has completely changed in the past three years, as has our financial situation following relegation.

The old self sustaining business model won't cut the mustard in today's championship, where an average £20m investment is required without parachute money.

If we don't go up this year and he still refuses to sell up in an attempt to save face, i'm afraid he's essentially keeping the club hostage.

As an aside, he wasn't my favourite bloke but JP at least could be arsed to attend matches.  What little respect i had for Lai went with his decision to only come one game last season.

Sorry mon but that is complete nonsense. The club will run on what it earns. As any finances dissappear the running costs will alter to comply. The same will happen but opposite on promotion. As finances come in the running costs will go up. That's why we never pay top dollar and all signings have to have a flex down in their contract. Part of the business model is to abuse the loan system etc while the chips are down. We are being copied more every season. Burnley were the first to copy us. They even called themselves "little West Brom" for a while. Lack of understanding of how this model works is what causes a lot of the pant pissing and foot stomping. It's why it was imperative we stayed in the top league no mater how much it hurt our eyes. We punched above our weight for 8 years or more without a sugar daddy. Instead of being proud of that a lot of people turned impatient and critical. Like I've always said, it's like a game of 21. We were on a fairly safe 16 and decided to twist. We got turned a joker called Pardew and busted.

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It's why we invested in the youth scheme development. If we go so low we'll have a decent home grown source that would compete in the lower division. Any that develop good enough for higher divisions and we keep or sell on are a bonus

---

With this model we could get bigger/richer with promotion and maybe European football if we're lucky but we'll never become Bolton etc.

[backsidebaggie]

Lai being derided now as was JP. Lai purchased the club and immediately told everyone that we were a successful business model and he wasn't going to change a thing and leave it run as is, all self sufficient. Now he's called nasty names because he hardly has any input into the running of the club and doesn't inject cash. JP just said we would only spend what we earned and he was called a tight cnut as well.

I'm afraid the economic landscape of football has completely changed in the past three years, as has our financial situation following relegation.

The old self sustaining business model won't cut the mustard in today's championship, where an average £20m investment is required without parachute money.

If we don't go up this year and he still refuses to sell up in an attempt to save face, i'm afraid he's essentially keeping the club hostage.

As an aside, he wasn't my favourite bloke but JP at least could be arsed to attend matches.  What little respect i had for Lai went with his decision to only come one game last season.

If an average of £20M is required to be invested each year in most champ clubs, I reckon that isn't sustainable in the slightest, and plenty will be in terrible trouble if that is the case (is that why Leeds seem to have cuts costs this year?). I just can't see there being 20 owners prepared to lose £20M a season. in which case, the teams which bide their time and are run sensibly will in the end rise to the top as the others get in the shit.

The £20m figure is very much an average, boosted by certain clubs having huge investment from owners (Derby, Villa..)

But in the last season that accounts are available (17/18) over half the clubs had a wage bill over their total income (Blues was over 200%).

The key takeout is that over 3/4 of Champ clubs have owners investing something to keep the club above water and ours can’t/wont.

I agree, but I don't believe 3/4 of them will continue to have £20M investment season in season out, and lets face it not many of them will get promoted. I think many of them will be in big trouble financially, and many of these owners will suddenly stop putting money in/want it back. They'll be in deep shit then.

[Hopalong]

So this season is all or nothing.

As I see it now the window has closed, it's between us, Leeds, Derby, Stoke and Fulham.

We've had a very good window converting aged Premiership players into young energetic players hopefully with a point to prove.

Austin is the exception.

Apparently he took a hit on wages to join us (possibly a £s per goal incentive thrown in to bring him up to what he was on before????)

A lot depends on his attitude and fitness.

We have a great charismatic manager who won't let the grass grow under his feet.


I'm quietly confident but this is Albion and 50 years has taught me that there are no guarantees.

Austin has been paid off handsomely by Saints.