ALBION have eliminated fears that Ray Bloom's return to the Board could strengthen the hand of former chairman Bill Archer.

An FA-approved shareholders agreement prevents Bloom and Archer joining forces against new chairman Dick Knight, the Argus can reveal.

Bloom, 52, rejoined the Board last week, pledging to invest "several hundred thousand pounds" in exchange for a 16 per cent shareholding.

His return has been broadly welcomed by fans' representatives, but others have questioned Knight's wisdom in letting back on board Archer's former ally.

The shareholders agreement, a key part of the takeover deal brokered by the Football Association following Knight's bitter feud with Archer, acts as a safety valve in the event of dispute.

It gives the Knight consortium or Archer the right to object to any major decision. If they do the matter is then referred to the non-executive directors, Sir John Smith and Richard Faulkner.

Finance director Bob Pinnock said: "Ray coming in doesn't change things. Dick and Bill still have the same right to object if he sided with either of them."

Pinnock says Knight and Archer have each relinquished eight per cent to give Bloom his 16 per cent shareholding. That means the Knight consortium now has 41.5 per cent of the shares and Archer 41.5 per cent, with director Martin Perry retaining the one per cent balance of power.

Bloom was a director for 12 years until quitting in October 1996 after Archer had sold the Goldstone.

Ian Hart, co-editor of the outspoken former Albion fanzine Gull's Eye, said: "If Ray was against the sale of the Goldstone why did he sit in a fans meeting with us and back Archer, why didn't he join the other directors in condemning Archer and why did he keep on sitting in the directors' box with David Bellotti, taking all that abuse?

"I am astounded by the reaction of the fans' representatives. They seem to be suffering from SSMS - Selective Seagull Memory Syndrome. How can they sweep under the carpet what has gone on?"

Former director John Campbell said: "Ray is a 100 per cent football person and he is 100 per cent Albion. The concern I would have is his ability to switch horses."

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