Fosun have made a number of decisions that have riled up Wolves fans, but this latest is one of the strangest.
The name of Wolves’ biggest rival has appeared front and centre on their kit.
The Old Gold are languishing in the relegation zone after going 12 games without a win this season, and many fans are growing frustrated with the ownership, who once had big plans for the club.
Jeff Shi’s 2018 vision for Wolves has drifted into a distant dream.
After defeat to Crystal Palace, supporters made their feelings known about the state of the squad that Jeff Shi and Fosun have left.
And this latest sponsorship deal has not helped with easing these soured relations.
Wolves fans in disbelief at rivals’ name on jersey with new sponsorship
For some reason, Fosun thought it was a good idea to have the words “West Bromwich” appear on a Wolves kit.
The decision is bizarre, as after nine years of owning the club, even if they did not know much about English football, they should be aware of the club’s biggest rival by now.
Wolves vs West Bromwich Albion, the Black Country derby, is one of the biggest games for the Old Gold when it comes around.
Every supporter likes to get one over on their rivals, and even the suggestion of having anything to do with them near the club’s kit will infuriate any fan, and that is what has happened.
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Can you see Fosun selling Wolves in the event of relegation?
Wolves fans took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to express their anger towards Fosun.
An Old Gold supporter asked a simple question: “Why on earth are the words ‘West Bromwich’ on a shirt with our badge on?”
One fan said, “Having our rivals as a sponsor on the shirt just shows how little FOSUN cares about the football club.”
Another replied saying, “All Fosun care about is the badge that they can market out & couldn’t care any less for the football team, its history & the great fans that spend their hard-earned money on this great club. To do the below [put West Bromwich on the kit] is despicable & they need to go now!!!”
That sentiment was backed up by a different fan saying, “An absolute disgrace. Read the room.”
Others followed, stating, “Phenomenally stupid club doing phenomenally stupid things. Shocker.”
A different supporter said, “If the only place you can get to sponsor you has the words ‘West Bromwich’ next to our great Wolves badge, then do us all a favour and fold it in. Just when I thought you couldn’t be any more out of touch with this club…you smash it out of the park with this tripe.”
And another said, “‘Sandwell College – West Bromwich.’ Nice touch. We are becoming a laughing stock. Absolute sacrilege to have this on the shirt.”
Finally, one fan replied with, “Imagine any other club putting their biggest rival’s name in the centre of one of their shirts, this club man.”
This is yet another example of why Wolves fans want Fosun to leave the club.
Fans are entirely correct to be upset
Football is a tribal sport, and club allegiances are extremely important.
Having any connection to your rival on the front of any kit, even if it is to do with something outside of football like esports, should never happen.
It is an avoidable situation, and surely there was more than just one sponsorship deal on the table that could have been on the kit instead.
It just simply shows how little Fosun truly cares about Wolves, and it highlights the sorry state of affairs the club finds itself in.
The sooner they sell up, the better.