Comment: It's in Guochuan Lai's long-term interest to help West Brom out in January

The importance of these meetings can sometimes be over-exaggerated, but considering it was the first time Lai has been over to England this season to see his team play, this was a significant one.

Albion’s Chinese owner remains an enigma, a private man with an eco-town empire in the Far East little is known of.

But he now has a decision to make. He bought the Baggies because it was a stable and self-sustaining club, one without debt that would guarantee top tier football and the global recognition that came with it.

Having a Premier League club in his portfolio enhanced both his reputation back home and gave further gravitas to his proposals to build housing developments with a focus on sport that Chinese authorities crave.

But in just his second season, the unthinkable happened. That stable club he bought went down, and now the whole reason Lai purchased Albion in the first place is moot.

The Championship curries no favour in China. But regardless of how rich he is – and that has never fully been revealed – nobody in the world can afford to write off an investment of £200million.

Although he is a man of few public statements, his displeasure was made evident last season by his no-nonsense cull of the board.

Last week’s visit was also the first time Albion’s owner met new technical director Luke Dowling, and the January transfer window was very much on the menu.

Albion are no longer in their overdraft, but even if they make no signings in January, they will need to borrow money in March because of commitments to future payments.

So what should Lai do now? Stick or twist?

Since shelling out £200m in 2016, the owner has only dipped his hand into his pocket once more, to buy Chinese striker Yuning Zhang for £6m in a bizarre transfer that is unlikely to ever impact the first team.

But if his business model depends on Albion being in the Premier League, should he be more willing to gamble this January? Should he give Darren Moore a helping hand?

At the moment, the indication is that Lai will not pump any more money into the club, and after being burned by his initial purchase, perhaps that's understandable.

But this season is Albion’s best chance of getting back up. The Championship is like quicksand, it drags you further into it as parachute payments dwindle and better players move on.

Moore has given the Baggies a solid platform to kick on from in the second half of the season and even though the front two are beginning to edge away slightly, for now, the division remains wide open.

“He didn’t give me a budget,” said Moore, after last week's meeting with the owner, and Albion’s head coach didn’t commit to doing business next month.

“It’s about looking at the team as a whole,” he said. “We’ll keep competing until January and look at areas and if it’s possible to strengthen we will.

“But also, the right players have to be available; I will never sign a player just for the sake of it. They have to take the club forward.”

It’s obvious Moore wasn’t completely satisfied with summer business, because he signed three free agents after the window shut.

But Wes Hoolahan, Tyrone Mears and Bakary Sako have had limited impact since joining, although Mears filled in adequately enough when Matt Phillips was injured.

Last Friday's derby with Villa gave an insight into where Albion need to strengthen next month.

A specialist right-back would be helpful. Even though Tosin Adarabioyo has done okay in the main part, and has a talented future ahead of him, he is playing out position.

But because both Mears and Craig Dawson can also play there, Moore might be minded to look further up the pitch.

A dynamic central midfielder should be on the wish list, because Albion's options at the moment are at either end of the age bracket.

Even though a slight rejig of Matt Phillips's role and the re-emergence of James Morrison has bolstered options, a box-to-box presence would be welcome.

The main thing in January though, may well be to limit the outgoings. Keeping Jay Rodriguez, Matt Phillips and Dawson is imperative, as is hoping Leicester City do not recall loanee Harvey Barnes early.

But the main question is, if the Baggies’ stay in the Championship extends to a few years, will Lai really be keen to stick around and oversee a second-tier club?

At the moment, there are no guarantees either way.