Baggies will have learned lessons of last year, insists Dowling
WEST Brom technical director Luke Dowling insists that lessons have been learned at West Brom 12 months after the club’s failure to bounce back to the Premier League at the first attempt. Dowling, who didn’t oversee recruitment in the summer of 2018 because he only arrived at The Hawthorns in the September following, helped to bring in four loanees in January 2019 as Albion sought to return to the top flight, but they fell at the play-off hurdle.
Things certainly improved last summer, when Dowling and Slaven Bilic oversaw a squad overhaul, with
Championship football at the forefront of their minds, rather than the ambition of top flight football itself. Now, as Albion turn for home with nine matches left to play, Dowling and his team have been readying themselves for either scenario – whichever division they find themselves in next term.
The technical director is, though, also wary of the financial implications that the current coronavirus pandemic is currently causing in the football industry and anticipates a shift in the type of fees being bandied about.
“Last year, I think we got it wrong. We were only looking at players for the Premier League and probably got ahead of ourselves,” Dowling said.
“This time we are trying to be calm. Things will look a lot better if we are a Premier League club but you have to be prepared and have lists for both scenarios.
“I will admit the list is bigger and better if we are a Premier League club.
“I think the list will change in terms of what we have. When you hear from other clubs and leading agents I think the transfer fees will be reduced as well. I think it is going to be a very different window.
“I think we will see a real change. It is not just football but every business in the world that is affected.
“When it comes to football it will be fees and wages. Don’t get me wrong there will be nice salaries for players to earn but I don’t believe they will be at the big, big money level.”
Albion are hoping to play further friendlies before the Championship’s resumption – and Manchester United could be an option.
Bilic’s men have recently returned to training and the Baggies are set to resume their promotion push on June 20.
It’s understood Bilic is targeting further warm-ups for his players after Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Villa and United have been earmarked as a potential opponent.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side are one of a few teams under consideration with Albion intent on playing at least one more friendly before June 20.