"Changed my life" - Shilen Patel issues West Brom, Premier League claim | OneFootball

West Brom have not been in the Premier League since 2021

Shilen Patel has claimed that Premier League promotion is his primary objective as West Brom owner.

The Patel family finalised their purchase of the Midlands outfit at the beginning of 2024, costing them £60 million according to the Daily Mail, with Carlos Corberan’s side finishing fifth in the Championship table last season.

Play-off disappointment to Southampton consigned the club to another year in the second division, but a promising start to the new campaign has supporters optimistic of another top six finish.

Patel has been installed as chairman following his family’s takeover, with the Baggies already in contention for another play-off berth.

West Brom are in their fourth season back in the Championship, having suffered relegation from the top flight in 2021.

Shilen Patel’s West Brom objective

Patel has claimed that his primary objective as West Brom owner is to bring the club back to the Premier League.

He believes that a club of their stature can sustain being in the top flight, and that he has to jump at the opportunity to buy Albion as a chance that good doesn’t come around too often.

“It’s certainly changed my life,” said Patel, via The Telegraph.

“It’s been a dream and a desire for over two decades to be a part of English football. Not just in any way possible, it needed to be the right club at the right time.

“Now I’m here it would mean the world to take this club back to the Premier League.

“It’s the primary objective we have.

“I just feel like the Premier League is home for this club – but we have to earn it.

“We know this club can sustain in the Premier League.

“We see clubs that are our size or smaller that have found winning strategies to stay there and thrive.

“This was always a really special opportunity and to have this type of club available doesn’t happen all the time.”

West Brom’s promotion ambition

While West Brom narrowly missed out on promotion last year, the team has bounced back to make a strong start to the new campaign.

Two defeats in their last two games has seen them drop out of the top two, but they’re still sitting fourth in the table, and only two points behind leaders Sunderland.

Corberan’s side have won five of their opening eight games, and have generally performed quite well.

Next up for the Baggies is a home game against Millwall, where a win could put them back into the automatic promotion places for the October international break depending on results elsewhere.

Premier League promotion is achievable for West Brom

West Brom have spent many years in the top flight in the last couple of decades, so they have every reason to believe they can do so again.

It’s encouraging for supporters that Patel has made his objectives for the club quite clear, and they should be pleased with his ambition.

Investing in Corberan as a coach would be a wise move given how well he has done over the last two years there.

If they can hold onto him and add a few more quality players to the squad then they will be a formidable presence in the promotion battle this year.