Hale honoured

19 March 2003

Following on from the death of the Club President, Sir Bert Millichip, Albion have announced three new appointments. John Silk becomes President, while Sir Bert's widow Lady Barbara becomes an Honorary Life Member.

But more controversially, former Chairman Tony Hale has also been appointed an Honorary Life Member in return for his 11 years of service. Apart from the restructuring of the club's constitution, Hale's tenure as Chairman can at best be described as disappointing, and he admitted some time ago that he had not set foot in the club since Paul Thompson's campaign to remove him from office finally culminated in his resignation in December 2000. At the time, the club was facing relegation to Division Two with losses of around £30,000 a week.

Hale's appointment, however, is likely to be for another reason. When BOING readers were given the opportunity to put questions to Jeremy Peace last summer, many were concerned about his involvement with Hale and a possible role for him at the Club. Peace's answer was as follows:

"He will not be playing any part in the running of the club. Without Tony?s support for change, the recent instability at the club would have dragged on much longer. He is always welcome at The Hawthorns"

Hale's appointment is described on the official web site as "key", and some BOING readers have already expressed dismay at the news. Anton asked us:

"Tony Hale a life member? Tony Hale? What next? Bobby Gould as director of football? Alan Buckley to head up the Academy if we ever get one?"

While Neil expressed the view:

"I am absolutely outraged to learn tonight that Jeremy Peace has made Tony Hale an honorary life member of WBA for "11 years service" to the Albion. I think it's a disgrace. Hale nearly ruined the club, sold off our prize asset (Kilbane) on the cheap and would have taken us even further into the abyss but for him being ousted by Paul Thompson. My Dad deserves to be an honorary life member more than Hale - he's paid for a season ticket for over 40 years and before that he paid through the tunstiles for every home game."

If ex-Chairman are to be rewarded for their achievements, is there surely not a more fitting candidate?

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