Ex-Villa chief claims EFL confident in West Brom case after email surfaces

West Brom’s situation during Guochuan Lai’s ownership should have attracted closer attention from the EFL as soon as concerns about his conduct emerged.

That view comes from Keith Wyness, who told Football Insider that the Championship side now face the prospect of a points deduction over an alleged breach of profit and sustainability regulations.

The EFL’s case centres on interest payments tied to loans taken out under Lai, who sold the club to Shilen Patel in 2024.

Minority shareholder and supporter David Piesing said he had previously raised concerns by emailing former chief executive Ke Xu, auditors Azets, and the EFL regarding those loans.

It is alleged that Lai used West Brom’s finances to support his other business interests, forcing the club to take out loans to replace the withdrawn funds.

Wyness believes the supporter was justified in flagging the issue and feels the EFL should have investigated more thoroughly at the time. Speaking on Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, he suggested the governing body may have acted too quickly, although he also suspects they believe they hold evidence to support their case.

Despite the uncertainty, Wyness praised interim boss James Morrison for stabilising the team, noting that recent results have likely secured their Championship safety even if a points deduction is applied.

He added that while the situation is complex particularly given the challenges of scrutinising overseas ownership structures the EFL may ultimately regret aspects of its handling of the case.

Meanwhile, Morrison’s impressive spell in charge has strengthened his chances of landing the role permanently. Following confirmation of the club’s Championship status after a 3-0 win over Watford, he is now the leading candidate to take over on a full-time basis.

The former midfielder, who made more than 300 appearances for West Brom during his playing days, has overseen just one defeat as interim manager, guiding the side through a nine-match unbeaten run.