West Brom could have new owners in place in time for the January transfer window, according to Adrian Goldberg.
The former BBC presenter provided an update on The Liquidator Podcast [5 November, 15m 25s] after an unknown figure was spotted alongside Xu Ke and Mark Miles in the directors’ box at The Hawthorns over the weekend.
Goldberg shared that man was David Hinchcliffe, a sports lawyer known as a legend within football takeovers, with a couple of potential parties interested.
“There was a picture shared online and people were asking ‘who is this guy?’. He’s been there for the past couple of games in the directors’ box – a silver-haired gent who has been sat close to Xu Ke and Mark Miles,” he said.
“I can now reveal that man is David Hinchcliffe. He’s a sports lawyer who ensures the contracts drawn up between one side and another when a football club is sold are legally watertight.
“He’s not a buyer; he doesn’t buy or sell the club but ensures the deal that is done holds and is legitimate. But I’m told by people who know that the fact he’s involved in a really positive sign that a sale for West Bromwich Albion could be proceeding, and might even be proceeding faster than we previously anticipated.
“Hinchliffe, I’m told, has been involved in about 50 football-related deals. I’m told he’s a good guy, while another told me he’s a legend in football takeovers because he’s been involved in so many of them.
“And I’m also told there is more than one bidder in West Bromwich Albion. One of the bidders is considered by my contact as being not particularly serious, maybe someone regarded as a tyre kicker, one of those people often linked with clubs but doesn’t necessarily have the money to follow through, someone you can consider a bit flaky.
“I’m told another potential buyer is serious and could well have the finances. I’m also told – and this is possibly the best bit of this with the transfer window coming up – that a deal might even be done by January.”
Great news
After plenty of uncertainty, there have been some positive developments on the takeover front over the past couple of months.
The Telegraph reported in September that American and Middle Eastern parties had entered talks with Guochuan Lai over ending his time as majority shareholder.
Managing director Miles stated last month, meanwhile, that the process is set to be completed before the end of the season, with NDAs already in place.
If a deal can be struck before January, that will be a huge development for the Baggies as it will potentially allow Carlos Corberan to make a signing or two.
At the very least, it will surely ensure West Brom does not have to sell any more assets just to keep ticking along. With sports lawyer Hinchcliffe now being spotted regularly at The Hawthorns, this deal is surely at an advanced stage.
Exactly who the buyer, or buyers, are remains to be seen, but it is looking like an exciting new era at Albion will soon begin.
