West Bromwich Albion set deadline for interested buyers

Image source, Getty Images

Image caption, Chairman Jeremy Peace wants 拢150m for the Premier League club

West Bromwich Albion have set a deadline of 31 May for interested parties to purchase the club.

Chairman Jeremy Peace wants a sale for around 拢150m to be completed so it does not impact on summer transfer dealings.

Groups from the Far East and USA are keen, with some already performing due diligence, but Peace will dismiss any deal which runs into June and July.

The Baggies - 13th in their fifth straight Premier League season - posted pre-tax profits of 拢14.7m in February.

Peace, chairman for 13 years, owns 90% of the company which owns West Brom.

The 58-year-old has a reputation for being a tough negotiator and suitors for the club are thought to value it at about 拢40m less than the sum for which he expects to sell.

The position of head coach Tony Pulis is not under threat despite the potential takeover.

Pulis has never been relegated as a manager - an achievement Peace deems crucial next season before the Premier League's new 拢5.136bn television rights deal begins in 2016-17.