Baggies abandon American tour

West Brom have been forced to abandon plans for a two-match pre-season tour of California.

Albion believed they had a firm commitment from Major League Soccer club Los Angeles Galaxy to play them and another MLS club, Chivas USA, on July 20 and July 26 respectively.

However, LA Galaxy have announced they will instead be playing Real Madrid on Monday, July 18 and have informed Albion they could no longer schedule a game against Bryan Robson’s team.

Despite round-the-clock efforts by Albion chairman Jeremy Peace and Hawthorns officials to retrieve the situation and organise alternative fixtures in California, Albion have now decided that they must look elsewhere to prepare for the new season.

Peace said: “I am angry and disappointed at the treatment of our club and we will be reporting all the circumstances to FIFA, and other relevant football authorities.

“We strongly believe we had a firm commitment from LA Galaxy, who on June 8 confirmed by email that they had finalised their local arrangements to take West Bromwich Albion to their area and said they were ‘working diligently to complete the requisite contract’.

“With only 40 days remaining the club, in good faith, made the necessary airline bookings, organised visas for the staff and applied for official FA permission to travel.

“It was only when we felt certain that these two games would proceed, that we informed our supporters via our official website so that anyone who wanted to travel to America could make their arrangements.”

Albion are now making alternative plans for two pre-season games in Europe.