Ex-Aston Villa chief: EFL must believe they have West Brom evidence despite email reveal
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(Credit: Manh Tung, Football Insider) Fri 24 April 2026 13:15, UK West Brom’s predicament under former owner Guochuan Lai should have drawn EFL scrutiny once they were made aware of his actions.That is according to former Everton chief executive Keith Wyness, speaking to Football Insider, as the Championship club face a points deduction this season for an alleged breach of profit and sustainability rules.The charges imposed on the Baggies from the EFL link to interest payments on loans taken out by Lai, who sold the club to Shilen Patel in 2024.West Brom minority shareholder and fan, David Piesing, claimed he had sent emails to former chief executive Ke Xu, the club’s auditors, Azets, and the EFL over the loans.Lai funded his other businesses using West Brom’s finances, meaning the club were forced to borrow money to cover the funds which had been taken out by the Chinese businessman.EFL ‘believe they’ve got some evidence’ against West BromEverton’s former chief Keith Wyness – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – believes Piesing was right to make the EFL aware of the situation, and that the governing body should have taken action at the time. MORE FOOTBALL INSIDER STORIES Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast, Wyness believes the EFL have made a “mistake,” and that West Brom will stay in the Championship, even if they are hit with a points deduction.18thWest Brom5219thBlacburn5220thPortsmouth5121stCharlton Athletic5022ndOxford United4423rdLeicester City4224thSheffield Wednesday-3The bottom of the Championship table as it stands.He told Football Insider‘s Inside Track podcast: “Let’s give James Morrison some applause for what he’s done since he’s come in as interim.
“Even with a points deduction, they seem safe enough now, and they’ve put together some good results. I had great sympathy with the fan that had done that research, because they were bang on the money in my opinion.
Nick Craig is mentioned in those emails and I know he will have had an interest because I’ve had dealings with Nick Craig before, and he will admit himself that the whole Chinese issue is very cloudy.“It is very hard to get proper information and there’s a lot to be said about what that fan was saying and the EFL has jumped way too soon on this issue, about this points deduction on that particular loan. They shouldn’t have gone so early, they obviously have done, and they must believe they’ve got some evidence.“In the end, they’re going to have to swallow it and eat humble pie on this one because it was a mistake and, hopefully, West Brom have done enough now that even if there is a small points deduction they’ll be safe anyway.”James Morrison to be rewarded for up-turn in formAs West Brom confirmed their Championship status, if no points deduction is imposed on the club, following a 3-0 win over Watford, interim boss James Morrison is now the favourite for the permanent role.Sources told Football Insider that West Brom would offer Morrison the manager’s role on a full-time basis if he kept the club in the Championship, which he has achieved.Morrison, who made over 300 appearances for the club during his playing career, has overseen just one defeat as interim manager, with the Baggies currently on a nine-game unbeaten run. 🏆 Championship Insider Access Get the full story from across the EFL with our dedicated expert hubs: Updated 24/7 with expert analysis from across the EFL Championship.