Timing of West Brom charge unfair and brings integrity into question

The development that the Baggies have been charged allegedly in breach of profit and sustainability regulations hit the club and supporters like a bombshell.

There is a little over a fortnight of the Championship season remaining and Albion are now fraught with fear over a potential points deduction punishment at this 11th hour of a miserable campaign.

The timing of this episode is, quite frankly, ludicrous.

We do not know - and it has not yet been ruled - whether Albion breached the £41.5million permitted losses over three seasons.

There are grey areas, potential accounting loopholes, discrepancies when it comes to recharged loan interest.

If the Baggies have been in breach, even innocently, of the regulations then clearly there must be a consequence.

Even then, though, the fact the club are potentially punished for a well-regarding new owner paying off interest on historical loans taken by the disastrous former regime to keep the lights on leaves a really uncomfortable feeling.

But what we do know is the timing of this wrangle is farcical and the EFL must be answerable as to why.

The very fact the club’s Championship survival - which is an astronomical story when it comes to Albion’s history - could rest in a courtroom after the final ball is kicked is a disgrace.

How on earth has it reached this late stage with a charge and late-April hearing to follow?

The accounts are submitted by December 31. What has happened for at least three months since? The club were comfortable with their position until at least March.

Surely the timeframe has to be seen to have a damning impact on the sporting integrity of the division?

Sheffield Wednesday and Leicester City would argue as much, too.

Both examples, one long since relegated and the other now very close, are very different examples tangled in different cases.

But Leicester had a sporting opportunity to get themselves from the mire. They have so far not taken that.

Wednesday’s sporting chance was very minimal and they have paid the price for Dejphon Chansiri’s scandalous ownership.

Many neutrals, and even Albion fans, would argue the Baggies deserve to pay the price for wretched sporting decisions in the appointments of Ryan Mason and Eric Ramsay as head coaches this season.

They are the key sporting decisions of any ownership and they both played out terribly, particularly the latter.

But James Morrison has since salvaged things. He has given hope to beleaguered supporters when it had vanished. Albion were doomed.

The turnaround has been remarkable and, while the job was far from done, he had put the club into a deserved position on the final straight.

For that to be potentially dragged from under Albion’s feet around or after the final match of the season would be unfair.

Little wonder fans are demanding answers. The Independent Supporters’ Trust have contacted the EFL and it is understood minority shareholders at Shareholders 4 Albion intend to formally do so in writing.

If Albion are ruled to have breached, however the accounting is deciphered, then they must hold their hands up to a punishment.

But to not have the opportunity to know their fate on the pitch is not right or fair.