Doomed West Bromwich Albion could be in for more pain this summer as news of their perilous finances comes to light.
Their new chief executive Mark Jenkins has revealed that the club are running short of cash, and Bookmakers are now offering markets on them not being able to sign a player this summer.
Jenkins revealed: “We are at record levels on wages, we have broken our transfer record and have loan fees at the highest level. There has been full investment – and a little bit more as well – hence the need for an overdraft facility.
“I’ve just come back into the club after just over 12 months out and I’m shocked by what I have found. We need to restructure the club so it is able to compete and exist long-term in the Premier League.”
Jenkins was recently appointed by Chinese owner Guochuan Lai, and they are starring relegation firmly in the face, as with seven games left they are ten-points adrift of safety.
Betway go 6/1 for the Championship-doomed side not to make any signings during this summer’s transfer window.
It does not look good on or off the pitch for the Baggies as Betway go odds-on at 1/3 for the club to spend less than £20 million this summer, while relegation has all but been confirmed at 1/500.
Betway’s Alan Alger, said: “We go 6/1 for West Brom not to bag any new players as a result of a financial crisis at the club, but should they manage to scrimp some spending money together, it’s odds-on to be less than £20 million.
“It’s an outside shot at 12/1 for the Baggies to gamble in the next window and exceed the £15 million club record fee paid for Oliver Burke last summer.”