West Brom fan chair believes in bright new dawn with Bilkul
"It is still early days but in 12 months' time I expect us to be 12 months better off than we are now."
Watch more of our videos on ShotsTV.com
and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565
John Homer is certainly buoyed by Albion's first year under the stewardship of "custodians" Bilkul Football, fronted by owner and chairman Shilen Patel.
Patel last Friday marked his 12 month anniversary at the helm at The Hawthorns after he saved Albion from financial disaster under predecessor Guochuan Lai. Headlines figures from club accounts for 2023 to 2024, also released last Friday, outlined the scale of money haemorrhaging.
Albion's non-playing legend Homer, the supporters' club chairman, turns 70 on March 16. There is little he has not seen in his six decades following the club around the country. And little he cannot recall.
"I think they have treated the situation with the seriousness it merited," Homer says. "They have people on board who are quite astute business-wise and fiscally and looked to stabilise the ship before going into any extravagance.
"They have also been quite a lot more communicative than the old owner was. They have been honest and transparent, which is important. They have taken the time to explain things to fans.
"They seem to be a bunch of astute businessmen who care for the club. Shilen has taken interest in the history and tradition of the club, as well as the region. In order to understand any club you need to understand the origin and the area and culture.
