The pair acknowledged that without the input of Tony, part of a family of life-long Albion fans, the club would not be playing Premier League football in a state-of-the-art community stadium.
In addition to his generosity in funding the Amex back in 2008, when the world was in the throes of a financial crash, Perry and Barber have praised Tony the person and someone Albion supporters recognise as one of their own.
Barber, the club’s chief executive and deputy chairman, said, “He bought this club because life started for him as an Albion fan. When you own a club and can’t enjoy it as a fan what’s the point?
“Tony’s got it right. The fans love and respect him because he’s invested hundreds of millions of pounds – and I deliver all the bad news, so he’s in the best possible position!
“He occasionally causes our security staff a few hairy moments when he piles into a group of 30 or 40 fans on the station platform for a selfie on his way to an away game, but that human touch is what connects him to the fans.
“Given what he has achieved in his life he is incredibly humble and a very nice person. That stands out because it’s so unusual in football. It is incredible what Tony has done for the club, the city and community and his family.”
MA+ members & STH only - Log-in required
Log-in required
Barber laughs that Tony’s uncle Ray acts as a human shield because he gets so wrapped up in the game.
“It struck very early on when I came to the club that responsibility for a match day is mine. Tony’s a fan. It’s an unspoken understanding that we have. There are moments during the game when I’m glad that Ray often sits between us as the odd arm or leg can fly out at critical moments, so I am glad Ray takes those bruises for me!”
Albion were struggling to finance the new stadium when Tony agreed to fund it himself 12 years ago.
“I had always said to the board there are going to be two mountains to climb. The first is to get planning permission, and the second one is how we fund the new stadium,” said Albion’s executive director Perry.
“We began to realise we were in the middle of what was to become the [2008] financial crash. Tony asked me to provide him with all the figures. The moment which I will always remember was when we met at Withdean and I went through all the numbers. He said, ‘I will fund it and we will worry about re-financing it later.’ And, at that moment, I knew that the stadium would be built. It can only be described as a miracle. Without him, we would not have done it.
“99% of the football club is his and he can make any decision he likes but he never does that, he always consults the rest of the board. He has been a fantastic chairman and is brilliant to work with.”