Albion to be offered open top parade

West Bromwich Albion were today set to be offered an open-top bus parade or civic reception to celebrate the club's return to the Premier League.

The Baggies clinched their dream ticket back to the top tier of English football, worth more than £60 million to the club, following Saturday's 3-2 victory away at Doncaster.

Returning to English football's elite will also secure a further £20m boost to the wider economy in Sandwell, experts have predicted, with bigger crowds spending their money attending games and a higher profile for the area.

Council chiefs in Sandwell today announced they were planning to approach Albion with the offer of an open top bus parade or a civic reception to celebrate the achievement, although the club has yet to confirm whether or not they will go ahead.

The last time the club was promoted in the 2007/08 season it snubbed the offer of a reception and bus parade, despite heartfelt pleas from scores of fans who wanted to salute their idols.

The club turned down the offer "to focus its attentions on preparing for the Premier League" and so that players could go on holiday.

John Simpson, spokesman for West Bromwich Albion said: "We still have three games left to concentrate on."