WATCH: MP Sarah Coombes has say in Parliament on 'heartbreaking' West Brom financial charge and possible sanctions

West Bromwich MP Sarah Coombes has urged the government to help reach an urgent resolution to Albion’s financial charge by the English Football League.

Miss Coombes addressed Parliament on Thursday morning where she raised the club’s plight, which emerged this week, to Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport Lisa Nandy.

The culture secretary responded with doubling down on the importance of the Football Governance Act, which was passed in 2025 to ‘safeguard the heritage’ and help protect clubs and the integrity of competition.

Labour politician Miss Coombes stated Baggies supporters are “very concerned” as the club were hit with a financial charge believed to specify on breaching profit and sustainability (PSR) regulations related to historical loans taken during the latter stages of Guochuan Lai’s ill-fated tenure.

”Many (fans in my area) are very concerned by reports of a potential points deduction due to allegations of financial rule breaches, which the club strongly rejected,” Miss Coombes told the House of Commons.

“Given Albion’s recent run of seven games unbeaten, keeping us just above the relegation zone, a points deduction sending us down would be heartbreaking for fans, particularly because the source of the issue seems to be a loan from the previous owners.

“Does the minister agree that such a situation is awful for fans and can she urge that it is resolved as quickly as possible?”

Ms Nandy replied: “Can I thank her for that question and having been through some very difficult times with my own superb football club Wigan Athletic I know how much this matters to people in West Brom. I know what a great champion she is for them.

“This is precisely why we delivered the Football Governance Act, which clearly sets out the need to protect the integrity and sporting competitiveness of existing competitions and I’m sure they will be looking at this closely.”

The law was passed last July and legislation states ‘the purpose of this Act is to protect and promote the sustainability of English football.’

Albion are set for a hearing with the EFL after a financial charge related to breaching the three-year PSR limit of £41.5million between 2022 and 2025.

Shilen Patel’s Bilkul takeover was only concluded in February 2024 and the discrepancy is believed to centre around £5m interest payment on two loans taken from US lender MSD Holdings in 2022 and 2023.