Tony Pulis signs contract extension with West Brom until summer of 2019

The Baggies boss, who was previously contracted until the end of this season, has been involved in talks with chairman John Williams over the summer.

Pulis has been rewarded with a new deal after guiding Albion to the top-half finish owner Guochuan Lai demanded when he received his previous contract extension last October.

And the head coach signed the contract after receiving assurances from the board that there would be investment in the squad, which looks thin on the eve of the new season.

Pulis said: "I'm delighted to extend my contract because it continues the stability within the club which is essential for its progress.

"I've said all along that we are in a building phase which requires a step by step process. I think we've seen an improvement all across the club in recent seasons and we must continue that in what is such a tough, tough league.

"Having spoken to John at great length over the summer, we know this club has a direction it needs to follow and we are determined to do that.

"It’s important we push the club and try to keep pushing it forwards.

"I’ve got a good relationship with John and the owner Mr Lai. I went over there this summer and spent some time with them.

"They are very enthusiastic and want the club to be run the way it’s been run. They see it the same way as us. They want stability and the club to be moved on.

"We know we can’t do it in great strides we have to do it slowly."

Maintaining Premier League status remains Pulis's primary aim, although he does want to make a 'strong challenge' in the cup competitions after two years of unsatisfactory exits.

The former Stoke boss has also highlighted the importance of Albion's academy in a summer of spiralling transfer fees, and predicted that the Baggies will have a strong self-made team in a couple of years.

"We can never underestimate just how important it is to keep our place in a league that is now the most famous and the most followed in the world," said Pulis.

"I watched a lot of games last weekend, with our illustrious neighbours starting a week earlier than us.

"You should never take your eye off the ball and that is maintaining Premier League football. First and foremost, that’s the job that has to be done.

"It’s a difficult job and it’s getting more difficult. The clubs promoted, Brighton have broken their transfer record three times this summer. Huddersfield have spent nearly £40m.

"So you can see the clubs coming up are going to be stronger than maybe what they were the year before.

"It gets tougher, the competition gets tougher, and that’s why the Premier League is such a great league to be in and that’s why we should never take this league for granted.

"It's also important that we maintain the development of our young players within the academy.

"I believe that there's a tremendous talent pool in there and if that talent cannot be realised immediately within our own ranks it is vital we get them out into league football to continue their development and education.

"But I do believe in the future of these young players and that's an important part of the development of the club – especially with the incredible rises we are seeing in prices within the transfer market.

"Managing outside the seven or eight in the Premier League is a tough job but it's one I still relish and enjoy. It's a great challenge but it's important that we maintain stability to tackle it.

"As for the season ahead, we of course want to improve our Premier League challenge and do everything we can to make a strong challenge in at least one of the major cup competitions."