Cardiff v West Brom preview: League hopes vanquished - but futures on the line

I wrote on the eve of Easter Monday's home clash against Derby that pride there to restore for Albion players, but that went out the window for most with a pitiful performance against the Rams which culminated in the loss of Tony Mowbray's job.

So what is there to go for now? Very little, in truth, but players must look inwardly at their own situations and futures.

Among Mowbray's remarkable final press conference as head coach, around half an hour before his dismissal, was confirmation on the news out-of-contract Grady Diangana would exit this summer. The same for John Swift. Similar is likely for Semi Ajayi.

And Albion's next head coach will not decide whether bids for player X or player Y are listened to this summer. Those decision-makers are upstairs at the club, on the board with sporting director Andrew Nestor and Co.

They will already know which players will try to be moved on come the opening of the window in June. How successful they are in that desperately-needed reset and financial fair play balancing act remains to be seen.