No bids for the Baggies

Last updated : 04 August 2008 By Wba-mad Editor

Albion chairman Jeremy Peace has revealed he has received no firm offers for the club after the self-imposed deadline passed. Seven weeks ago Albion's major shareholder Peace effectively put the club up for sale inviting potential investors to contact the board before July 31st.


Although initial discussions have been revealed, no official bid has been received leaving Peace and the current board not only in limbo but still in charge.

"We were prepared to welcome proposals for a long-term relationship with a new substantial investor to help establish West Bromwich Albion as a successful Premier League club," Peace said.

"We said we would shut the door on this at the end of July because we did not want anything off the pitch impacting on the new season.

"There has been some initial contact from a few third parties but we have received no firm proposals whatsoever.

"During the past seven weeks, it has been business as usual at the Club as we endeavour to strike the right balance between organising the club's finances in a sensible way and giving ourselves as good a chance as possible of establishing West Bromwich Albion in the Premier League.

"We proactively invited a new investor with substantial resources to contact the Club.

"Although no-one has come forward, the Club has been planning more ambitiously and aggressively than ever before for the new season and we are very much looking forward to once again competing in the Premier League.

"We will kick off the season with the biggest playing wage bill in the Club's history.

"We have already spent almost £14million on seven new players - with almost certainly more to come.

"We are currently modernising and refurbishing the West Stand at a cost of over £3m and have revamped our training ground's facilities.

"We also put season tickets on sale at an early bird rate offering an 11 per cent discount across the board on last season's Championship prices.

"More than 19,000 season tickets were bought at this price, which means our season ticket holders have been subsidised by around £2m compared to the last time we were in the Premier League.

"We have now sold more than 21,000 season tickets, which is a new club record, and with that kind of backing we are looking forward to an exciting season and a great atmosphere at The Hawthorns."