Chief executive Mark Jenkins plays down notion of January splurge for West Brom
Chief executive Mark Jenkins has played down the chance of a January splurge in the transfer window from promotion-chasing Albion.
In an end-of-year message to supporters in today's matchday programme, Jenkins warned fans the majority of the club's £41.5million parachute payment is already committed to the wages of their existing players.
He says the board will do all they can to help head coach Darren Moore achieve promotion, and the Baggies are hoping to bolster their squad with one or two signings next month.
A right-back is top of the wishlist, with Tosin Adarabioyo currently playing out of position in that role.
But Jenkins has told fans the Baggies have a finite budget and that owner Guochuan Lai will not be pumping any more money into the club.
He said: "January gives clubs the opportunity to re-engage the transfer market and we shall be doing everything we can, within out budget, to continue to take the club forward.
"However, I urge our supporters not to be sucked in by some of the media hyperbole that is now a regular companion of this period.
"The club's owner Guochuan Lai wants us to continue to operate Albion in the manner he set out at the beginning of his tenure.
"He seeks a well-run and self-sustaining club geared to returning to the Premier League as quickly as possible.
"As I say, we will do all we can to help Darren achieve that, but our budget is finite, especially having already committed the bulk of this year's first parachute payment on retaining the core of last season's squad."
Albion's revenue has been slashed in half this season following relegation from around £100m to roughly £50m and although players suffered pay cuts as a result, the Baggies still have a large wage bill for the division.
Jenkins also praised head coach Moore ahead of today's game with Sheffield Wednesday on the back of an eight-match unbeaten run which has lifted Albion into third.
"I'm pleased that we reach the halfway mark with the team in a competitive position for promotion back to where we all want to be," said Jenkins. "That represents a sterling effort by Darren Moore and his staff.
"Our head coach continues to symbolise the very best of what our club stands for and it is a delight for us all to see him putting Albion back on the front foot and entertaining our supporters with some free-scoring, exciting football."
