Tony Mowbray to enter out of contract talks with West Brom ownership chiefs

Experienced and long-serving squad members including Grady Diangana, John Swift, Semi Ajayi and Kyle Bartley all see their terms expire - though the latter could trigger an appearance-related one-year extension.

It is understood, and has been made clear by ownership group Bilkul, the summer will be another opportunity for Albion to draw their finances in line with a Championship club without the benefit of parachute payments, were Albion not to win promotion. Big earners such as Matt Phillips, Nathaniel Chalobah and Erik Pieters were let go last summer while others were sold to aid finances.

Owner and chairman Shilen Patel is in the country with Albion facing a three-match week against QPR, Burnley and Hull. Mowbray, who will not lead decisions on matters such as contracts and recruitments but be involved in talks, will speak with Patel, sporting director Andrew Nestor and director of football operations Ian Pearce.

"My situation, it's easy for me to sit here - and I don't want to brush it off to you - I'm not going to stamp my feet whichever way it goes," Mowbray said.

"I'm not really even sure what their salary levels are, where they are, how long they've been here, how much game time they've had, have they been a brilliant signing, have they been a pretty expensive deal.

"I know the owner is coming over this week, I know Andrew Nestor's coming over. I'll sit down with Ian Pearce and Andrew and chat about things. I'm pretty sure the club will have their own position on things and I can share my thoughts.

"I like certain players and I don't know their contractual situations. It's not to say because they're out of contract they're definitely leaving. They might not potentially get the same offer they might've been on, when the club had parachute payments etcetera."

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Bartley signed on heavily reduced terms last summer but the trio of Swift, Diangana and Ajayi are all significant earners due to their longevity and status at the club.

Bilkul have already looked towards the future with younger additions such as Torbjorn Heggem, Callum Styles, Mikey Johnston, Isaac Price and Tammer Bany the start of a new model.

"I think in my mind the club have to prepare for whatever they can," added the head coach. "Whichever way it falls - if some of the out of contract players do stay then great, they will have signed lesser contracts than they were on. But I think it's right they explore the market, what's out there, and we have to recruit well. 

"Football is a rolling scenario and hopefully we're competitive in the marketplace. I know the club use data as well, it'll point the arrows at the right places.

"Hopefully collectively - and I've been told I will be involved in that scenario of who are going to pick... 'these are the five for this position and these are the four for this position', 'this one is the most expensive and this one is pretty doable but is younger than this one who has some experience'. 

"Those conversations with Andrew and Ian moving forward are going to be interesting. I don't sit here thinking I want to be in charge of anything like managers of time gone by. I'm happy the club have a resource, they need to use it the best they can and I can have an opinion on what I think."