West Brom: Takeover like a dark cloud has been lifted - skipper Jed Wallace
Last updated on .From the section West Brom
West Brom captain Jed Wallace says the completion of Shilen Patel's takeover has been like lifting a 'dark cloud' hanging over the club.
Albion's new American owner Patel was officially in charge for the first time for Friday's 2-1 home Championship Midlands derby win over Coventry City.
"It ends a great week for the club on and off the pitch," said Wallace.
"There's no denying, with the ownership issues, that there's been a dark cloud hanging over us," he told BBC Radio WM.
"But we hope that, with the Patel family, we can move forward - and that the staff, players and can now get what they deserve - a loyal owner who has an interest in the football.
"I've met Shilen. He seems very passionate and that can only be good for the football club."
Patel was at The Hawthorns to acknowledge the acclaim of supporters at the Friday night home game with Southampton a fortnight ago, which sadly ended in defeat for Carlos Corberan's side.
Having failed what was almost a dress rehearsal for the Baggies' next Friday night date, with Patel back home in the US watching the game on a live stream, Albion this time saw it through against Coventry, despite having to endure a fraught final 20 minutes.
"Maybe Shilen saw exactly what Championship football is all about," said former Portsmouth, Wolves and Millwall winger Wallace. "It did get a bit nervy in the last 20 minutes. But Welcome to the Albion.
"In the first half though, we were unbelievable. You saw everything we have learned in the last 18 months under Carlos.
"We kept finding spare players - and that is down to hours in the meeting room and on the training pitch. We are so well drilled.
"We don't have a stand-out player. We just have loads of very good players - and we have been a very tight-knit group since the first day of the season."
Albion are also keeping up the pressure on the clubs around them without a clutch of first-team players - midfielder Jayson Molumby and striker Daryl Dike, both of whom are out for the season, fellow strikers Josh Maja and Brandon Thomas-Asante and winger Matt Phillips.
"We've got our fair share of injuries, " said Wallace. "That period between Christmas and the March international break is always a slog. And sometimes having a big squad can go against you.
"But there's no-one showing their disappointment that they're not playing. We're just trying to win games of football, it's all about the team and the lads are buzzing."
Fifth-placed Albion now face successive away matches against relegation-threatened sides, at Queens Park Rangers on Wednesday night, when new owner Patel is expected to return to watch them again, then at Huddersfield Town the following Sunday.
BBC Radio WM's Steve Hermon was talking to West Bromwich Albion skipper Jed Wallace
