Builder launches Albion bid

A millionaire builder today launched a bid to block Albion chairman Jeremy Peace from taking full control of the club.

Geoff Hale is the second biggest shareholder at the football club behind Mr Peace.

Owner of a Burntwood-based property development company, Mr Hale is to offer to buy shares at £100 each - £20 more than the Baggies chairman has put on the table for the club's 1,600 shareholders.

Mr Hale, a 55-year-old lifelong Baggies fan with 10,000 shares, insists he is not interested in taking over himself - but wants to block majority shareholder Mr Peace from a full takeover.

The seeds were sewn last month when Albion's chairman of the last five years announced he had acquired a further block of more than 2,000 to take his holding past 50 per cent.

That meant Mr Peace then had to extend the same offer to remaining Albion shareholders.

Mr Hale, whose £100 offer is now extended to Mr Peace's shares, said today: "This is about blocking a man who I believe wants to sell West Brom at a massive profit for himself.

"I intend to stop him buying the club."