Maheta Molango - who is expected to be confirmed as the new PFA chief executive - will be remembered for one spectacular contribution during his brief Albion career.
Born in Switzerland to a Congolese mother and Italian father, he had played in Germany and Spain before heading to England. Molango was about to turn 22 when he arrived at the club in the summer of 2004 as Mark McGhee's side prepared for their first Championship campaign following promotion and signed a three-year contract after playing well in pre-season when he scored five goals in five friendlies.
He made a spectacular impression on his debut against Reading when he scored Albion's quickest post-War goal at the Madjeski Stadium after just 12 seconds. Club historian Tim Carder explained, “There was some debate about whether this was Albion's fastest ever goal. The only one which we could come up with was one scored in a wartime game against Millwall in 1945 by Cyril Hodges, apparently after 10 seconds.
“So, as far as is known, Molango's goal was the fastest in a peacetime game for Albion. It would also be the fastest known by an Albion debutant and at the start of an Albion season.”
Reading equalised within a minute and went on to win 3-2 and, for Maheta, that was as good as it got in an Albion shirt. After five starts he was dropped to the bench and McGhee sent him on loan to Lincoln City in January 2005 where he scored once in 14 games. He then went to Spanish side UB Conquense (based in Cuenca) and then had a further loan spell with Oldham before an unexpected return to Albion colours in September 2006, when he made a substitute appearance at Carlisle. By now in the final year of his contract, he had a further loan spell with Wrexham before his contract was cancelled in January 2007 so he could join non-league Grays Athletic.
Andy Naylor, who covered the club for the Argus back then, remembers someone who was good to deal with away from the pitch.
“Maheta Molango's brief playing career with Albion was hampered by setting such inflated expectations after a debut goal in 12 seconds at Reading. He couldn't establish himself in Mark McGhee's newly promoted Championship forward line after that.
“Away from the pitch, he was articulate and erudite. We stayed in touch, notably when he became legal adviser to Leonardo Ulloa, playing a role in the Argentinian striker's move to Leicester. He'll bring freshness and gravitas to his new position with the PFA.”