Guochuan Lai is well aware of the discontent and concern which has engulfed the West Bromwich Albion fanbase. That’s the view of Baggies managing director Mark Miles, who insists that the much-maligned Lai acknowledges the collective attitude towards him by the club’s supporters.
Lai hasn’t been to see a game live since January 2022 and there are no immediate plans for him to return anytime soon, with the protests against the ownership, led by Action For Albion, due to resume once the new season begins.
Albion are operating within the confines of a heavily restricted budget this summer, in the absence of parachute payments and investment from Lai, which in truth has never once been forthcoming in his seven-year stewardship.
On the subject of investment, Miles has moved to reassure supporters that Lai is very much open-minded about the prospect of fresh investment and welcomes the idea of external funding.
"He knows the current situation and how the supporter base feels, yes,” Miles insisted. "Obviously markets have changed, he bought the club on a self-sustaining basis and now we're out of that it's a different position.
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"He's aware of the discontent among supporters but it's my role to talk to those, to make sure things are spoken about, and I'll pass it upwards as well. It's not just me talking with supporters, it's taking things up.
"We just continue to operate. I work on the basis there is no investment and continue to work on an even keel as we do. There's no timescales on that side. Lai is open to the idea, that could be next week, next month, three months, I don't know.”
Is there any active interest as we speak though?
"Obviously any discussion would happen at Group level and being a director of club it's difficult, but we're a big football club, a club that's been in the Premier League for a number of years,” Miles added. "I would be surprised if there wasn't good interest from a number of parties in the club.”
