Express & Star comment: Financial shock for West Brom fans

Baggies fans will not need reminding that the club has had a season to forget on the pitch, particularly when you consider that hopes were raised when owner Guochuan Lai took over.

But while the club has posted record-breaking figures for his first year in charge, the good news has been offset by a calamitous £40 million transfer outlay.

It means that for the first time in more than 10 years, Albion will require an overdraft facility at the bank.

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The club insists that this is not a serious issue, and in some respects it reflects the fact that Albion have invested fairly heavily over the last 12 months.

Let us not forget that the club was renowned for being frugal in the transfer market during the Jeremy Peace era.

But serious money has been splashed out on wages and transfer fees in recent times.

However, the shift in policy has not resulted in improved performances on the pitch.

Far from it in fact, as Albion’s season is seemingly heading towards a pitiful relegation.

Relegation is by no means certain, but it is highly likely.

Should the Baggies fall, we are told they will not be forced to sell players due to the club’s ‘financially strong’ position.

They will also be in receipt of a parachute payment, allowing them, in theory anyway, to further invest in the team.

Prior to their current eight year run in the Premier League, Albion had a reputation as something of a yo-yo club, bouncing between the top flight and the Championship.

It is now the responsibility of those at the top of the club to put Albion in a position of strength for years to come.

This requires a huge improvement on what has been served up at The Hawthorns this season.

Albion may well have gone beyond their financial limits, and there is no doubt that mistakes have been made along the way.

Those who are holding the purse strings will be acutely aware that the fans deserve better.