Shilen Patel, the owner of West Brom: Name Prize He Is Selling The Club Because
After taking over Championship club, a Florida-based entrepreneur speaks exclusively with Telegraph Sport in his first national newspaper interview.
After enduring the most difficult time in their recent history, West Bromwich Albion is now hoping to return to the Premier League under new owner Shilen Patel.
Albion is looking forward to a bright future for the first time in a long time, thanks to Patel’s financial backing, attention to detail, and commitment to revitalizing one of the Football League’s founding members.
There has been a noticeable shift in the atmosphere since the Florida-based businessman concluded his £60 million buyout in February, bringing an end to Guochuan Lai’s stormy rule.
During the course of an hour, it becomes evident that this illustrious ancient club has been ingrained in his memory—this is his first national media interview since his arrival.
Grinning, he says, “It’s definitely changed my life,” while seated in the Allen Suite at the Hawthorns.
“Playing English football has been a dream and a passion of mine for more than twenty years. It had to be the correct club at the right time, not simply in any fashion.
“Taking this club back to the Premier League would mean the world to me now that I’m here. That’s the main goal we have.
“I just think that this club belongs in the Premier League, but we have to work for it.”
After talks began in September of last year, Patel, 44, swiftly became the club’s top contender, and the reconstruction project is already well underway.
With their highly acclaimed head coach Carlos Corberan now allowed to thrive and build a team in line with his vision, West Brom sit fourth in the Championship.
According to Patel, “We know this club can sustain in the Premier League.” “We observe that clubs our size or smaller have succeeded in staying there and growing.
“This kind of club isn’t available very often, so this was always a really unique opportunity.”
Prior to concentrating on Albion’s upcoming chapter, it could be beneficial to consider the preceding three turbulent years.
Relegated from the Premier League in 2021, West Brom were in risk of significant financial troubles with Lai reluctant to invest.
Following the expiration of the parachute payments last year, staff reductions, a fire sale of players, and administration were all potential outcomes.
The debts taken from American investment corporation MSD to ensure cash-flow, totalling £28 million, were a severe worry.
Even though Corberan was able to keep the club competitive on the field, stability was mostly preserved by senior staff members and managing director Mark Miles.
Patel is still obligated to repay the £3.7 million loan from 2014 that was obtained by another former chairman, Jeremy Peace, in addition to the MSD debt.
“Red flags are always present in deals like this, so I came here looking for them and expecting to find several,” says Patel.
“What we found was that the risks we were aware of were the ones we needed to focus on.
“The club didn’t really have the chance to prepare beyond the next few months because of all the chaos around it, the turnover, and various circumstances.
“That’s how teams like these lose the momentum they’ve built up over years of competitiveness, successful talent acquisition, and efficient operations.
“The main thing it needed was to stick to a long-term plan, and beyond this season.”
You go about and take in the past.
Patel never wavered in his resolve to purchase the team. A multi-millionaire, he pointed to one visit to the Hawthorns and the club’s training site in late October as significant in the takeover process.
Andrew Nestor, a longtime business associate who has taken on the role of sporting director at the club, accompanied him.
As Patel remembers, “We were so impressed walking around the stadium.” “To say the Hawthorns is over 125 years old is very remarkable. Let’s just say, there are a few stadiums in the US that are over a century old and still have their charm.
“Here, history, love, and passion are all around you as you stroll. It made a significant effect, and at that point we realized we had to close the transaction.
