This weekend marked two years of Bilkul’s West Bromwich Albion Football Club. Led by Shilen Patel, a takeover was completed that marked a new era, or so that was the plan.
The two-year anniversary promised to be a time of celebration back in 2024, but it’s been overshadowed by the very real threat of West Brom dropping to the third tier of English football for only the second time in their history. Albion’s 2-1 defeat to Oxford on Saturday afternoon marked a new low in an already disastrous season at The Hawthorns.
The relegation six-pointer at the Kassam Stadium was supposed to be the turning point. Undefeated interim boss James Morrison was supposed to lead the revolution and instil newfound pride into a group of players completely devoid of confidence. Alas, fans were left finally having to accept this is a side destined for relegation.
But how did we get to this point? It’s been a turbulent two years at B71, financial curtailment, head coach hoodoos and a growing resentment towards a playing squad who become less connected to this fanbase with each passing week. A look back at the Bilkul regime…
A ‘cloud had lifted’ at West Brom
When Shilen Patel first spoke as West Brom owner, he said: “Today marks the beginning of an exciting project for the club to regain its standing as a consistent Premier League presence.
“Success does not occur overnight, but it is my ambition to build on the club’s current and historical strengths and surround West Bromwich Albion with high-quality stakeholders at home and globally.”
Jed Wallace told club media that a ‘dark cloud’ had lifted and all seemed well as Carlos Corberan led the club to the playoffs before defeat to Russel Martin’s Southampton. A disappointing end, but the club were open about financial struggles and supporters were happy to give the new club owners time to steady the ship.
However, on Christmas Eve of 2024, Carlos Corberan departed for Valencia and the “environment of stability” promised by Patel has been a distant memory ever since.
Corberan had spoken openly of his frustration during the previous summer transfer window and had seemingly been linked with every vacant position; he was clearly looking for a way out. The lack of planning for his departure was the first red flag, the Spaniard’s departure was inevitable.
Shilen Patel’s biggest mistake
Shilen Patel appointed Andrew Nestor as Sporting Director, with whom he had a longstanding relationship, first in Florida and then at Italian side Bologna, at which he was a minority shareholder.
Patel’s lack of footballing knowledge is not a problem, his business acumen is what’s important to West Brom, as we’ll come on to, but the naivety not to bring experience into the club with no prior experience of English football was foolish. The data-led approach we heard so much about had led to two disastrous appointments this season that could well end in relegation, a scenario that seemed beyond the realms of possibility two years ago.
Mark Miles has returned to West Brom and will once again be tasked with steering this sinking club through choppy waters. It is at least a positive that Patel picked up the phone to bring back Miles, who had been at the club for two decades before he left just 12 months ago. Perhaps an admission of a mistake?
Again, when first speaking as West Brom chairman, Patel said: “I feel that I know what my strengths are and I know what my strengths are not, and I try to build teams and organisations that complement what I can do and what I can’t do.”
It’s safe to say he has failed in building that team in his first two years in charge. His naivety as led to the imminent arrival of Dominic Price as technical analyst, while Ian Pearce now takes charge of recruitment; the less said about that, the better.
Shilen Patel does still deserve credit
Make no mistake, had West Brom not been sold Bilkul Football WBA, the cub would have gone into administration without a takeover. West Brom’s financial issues have been well-documented.
In his first year, Patel injected £25m into the club as he navigated loan repayments and Profit and Sustainability restrictions. This summer could be the first time Albion are released from these restrictions under his ownership, however, relegation to League One would heap further pressure on the club’s income. Relegation to third tier would be a £10m nightmare, As Kieran Maguire told The Baggies News this week.
READ MORE: Oxford United 2-1 West Brom: Albion player ratings
Away from the first-team, The Hawthorns has had long overdue upgrades with more to come, the women’s team and The Albion Foundation continue to be supported. For all of the frustration on the pitch, Patel has been working hard to fulfil his promise, the club is moving in the right direction apart from where it matters most on the pitch whether that be the quality of the playing squad or those tasked with building it.
Patel was right when he said success does not happen overnight, fans were in this for the long haul but feelings of optimism have since turned to apathy as more and more empty seats appear each week.
Patel’s dream of taking this historic club back to the promised land of the Premier League feels further away than it did the day he walked through the door.