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Albion close chapter on financial mess
TL;DR
Albion has acknowledged the points deduction from the Club Football Reporting Panel but will not appeal. The club expressed frustration over the lengthy compliance report process, which delayed the punishment until the season's end.
Key points
- Albion acknowledged the points deduction.
- The club will not appeal the decision.
- Frustration over the lengthy compliance report process.
- The compliance report took 112 days to issue.
- The punishment was announced late in the season.
Mentioned in this story
Albion
Club Football Reporting Panel
[Getty Images]
Albion have "acknowledged" rather than accepted the publication of the independent Club Football Reporting Panel's (CFRP) written reasons for the points deduction.
There is clear frustration from the club over the timeline of events. That is understandable, as is their decision not to appeal and their desire to move on after they, in their own words "settled it on the pitch".
The club submitted its annual accounts on 3 December yet it took 112 days for a compliance report to be issued. That meant the punishment came in the final days of the season after a swift video conference hearing.
That timing was far from ideal for all parties involved — including Albion's relegation rivals at the time.
The written reasons reveal Albion argued that, if a sporting sanction was to be handed down, it should be suspended until the start of the 2026-27 season because of the delay.
The club also highlighted the "tireless" efforts of owner Shilen Patel in reducing losses. When he arrived, they were projected to exceed the three-year P&S limit of £39m by around £30m. In the end, the breach stood at just under £1.97m — the smallest ever recorded across the Premier League or second tier.
It is notable that Albion's engagement with the governing body was judged only as "reasonable" and therefore not worthy of a point being given back for co-operation. That's despite Patel's Bilkul group working to a business plan in conjunction with the EFL ever since completing their takeover in February 2024.
The written reasons do, however, acknowledge the club did not act in bad faith.
Rather than holding on to prized assets to push higher up the Championship, which would have risked a more serious breach, Albion sold the likes of Torbjorn Heggem and Tom Fellows in an attempt to comply.
Those decisions had a detrimental on-field impact, contributing to their slide into a relegation battle only avoided by a remarkable run of form under James Morrison.
Outside of their legal representatives, no EFL official attended the remote hearing.
Q&A
What led to Albion's points deduction?
Albion's points deduction was a result of the independent Club Football Reporting Panel's findings regarding their financial reporting.
Why did Albion choose not to appeal the points deduction?
Albion decided not to appeal due to their desire to move on and focus on settling matters on the pitch.
How long did it take for Albion to receive the compliance report?
It took 112 days for Albion to receive the compliance report after submitting their annual accounts.
When was Albion's points deduction announced?
The points deduction was announced in the final days of the season, shortly after a video conference hearing.
