Chief offers a warning on transfers

ALBION’S new manager will have to generate his own income in the January transfer window.

According to Albion Assembly minutes, the Baggies have little headroom to work under Financial Fair Play regulations.

That means whoever replaces Tony Pulis will have to sell before they can buy when the window reopens at the end of next month.

Speaking at the meeting, director of football administration Richard Garlick explained the situation.

The minutes said: “RG confirmed that the club’s wages limit under FFP meant it would have to ‘trade’ in the January transfer window if it wished to recruit further signings.

“No player could be brought in without a player going out.”

Garlick also revealed the club’s wage bill of £74million equated to a finishing position of between ninth and 14th. Albion are currently 17th, having won just twice in their last 21 league games.

However, that poor return comes against a backdrop of a positive summer window in which Albion brought several quality players to the club.

The recruitment of Jay Rodriguez, Gareth Barry, Oliver Burke, Kieran Gibbs, Ahmed Hegazi and Grzegorz Krychowiak generated a level of excitement which saw the Baggies take seven of the first nine available Premier League points.

Albion chairman John Williams revealed the decision to part company with Pulis was taken in the “interests of the club’’.

The 59-year-old left his position as head coach at The Hawthorns after just two wins in his last 21 league games.

The Baggies are just a point and a place above the drop zone, and Williams said: “These decisions are never taken lightly but always in the interests of the club. We are in a results business and over the back end of last season and this season, ours have been very disappointing.

“We would like to place on record our appreciation of Tony’s contribution during a period of transition for the club, which included a change of ownership. We wish him well in his future endeavours.”

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