Shilen Patel asks big PSR question as West Brom owner makes Premier League and Championship comparison
Shilen Patel has had to navigate some pretty choppy profit and sustainability rules since his arrival at West Brom.
Following his £60m takeover at Albion - the US businessman has spent the last 18 months turning around the club's financial fortunes.
Whether it has been paying off debts or investing in the infrastructure and playing squad - there is no denying that Patel and Bilkul Football have rapidly improved the health of the club.
He discussed that and a range of topics on the recent episode of the Price of Football podcast - where he explained how the purchase of Albion may not have taken place.
He was also quizzed on the league's PSR rules - and what his view was on the regulations with Albion having had to move players on and work shrewdly in the transfer market to avoid being in breach of them.
Patel opened up on his view and questioned why they should differ between the various leagues in England. In the Championship, you cannot lose more than £39m over a three year circle. The Premier League figure is much higher.
He believes some issues around the PSR rules are leading to the Premier League becoming less interesting than it once was.
He said: "First and foremost I find it odd that when you move through the tiers there are different rules at different tiers so at a minimum there should be some consistency.
“I think moving from profit and loss to at least the squad cost ratio system and more broadly there are long conversations about things that could work like a luxury tax, but I think there is a way to balance what the higher revenue clubs want to do with something that keeps the league interesting which I’m concerned is something that is going away.
“There is a way to balance what the highest revenue clubs want to do with something that keeps the league interesting, which I am concerned is something that is going away if you look at the last season in the Premier League, you knew who was going to win the league, you knew who was going to be relegated.
“Whereas in the Championship, with all the parity it has, with two weekends left to go, everyone in the league was in a position to potentially make the play-offs or potentially be relegated, there were just little bits in the middle to be worked out.
“But I think that speaks more to the type of balance you would want and even moving between the tiers you would want to see people faring differently and for there to be a little more parity.”
