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Bilkul's Turbulent Two Years at Albion

Analysis on the second anniversary of Shilen Patel's takeover of West Bromwich Albion.

It鈥檚 now two years since Shilen Patel completed his takeover of West Bromwich Albion. His Bilkul WBA group acquired a majority stake in the club on 28 February 2024, a deal that ultimately helped Albion avoid administration following the financially reckless reign of Guochuan Lai.

Bilkul have successfully operated within the EFL鈥檚 Profit and Sustainability Rules, but matters on the pitch have been far less stable. In those two years, four head coaches have departed 鈥� three of them sacked 鈥� and Sporting Director Andrew Nestor also left the club after behind鈥憈he鈥憇cenes disagreements. Albion鈥檚 American chairman began his tenure dreaming of promotion to the Premier League, yet the club now faces the very real prospect of relegation to League One.

麻豆社 Radio WM鈥檚 Steve Hermon reflects on his exclusive March 2024 interview with Shilen Patel, and is joined by the Express & Star鈥檚 Albion reporter, Lewis Cox, to examine the highs and lows of the Bilkul era.

Image: Adam Fradgley/Getty

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