Exclusive: Kevin Phillips hails West Brom chief Dowling after John Percy update
We’re delighted to welcome former West Brom striker Kevin Phillips as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at The Hawthorns…
Kevin Phillips has hailed technical director Luke Dowling for safeguarding the club’s finances should West Brom be relegated this season.
According to Telegraph journalist John Percy, no Albion player has a relegation release clause in their contract at The Hawthorns while the squad also faces huge pay cuts of up to 50 per cent if they go down to the Championship.
Last time the Baggies dropped out of the Premier League, players like Johnny Evans and Jay Rodriguez left for a fraction of their true value due to release clauses in their contracts but this year, West Brom will be able to sell players for the fee they want to.
Phillips is happy that the club has learnt from the past to ensure they’re not hit hard in the pocket this summer.
Speaking to West Brom News, the ex-Albion forward said: “If you make mistakes, you have to learn from it and Dowling has certainly done that.
“No one’s going to go on the cheap and rightly so, the club has the right to make a profit or get what they feel a player is worth. No one will be walking away on the cheap. It’s sensible and clever business and that’s the effect of relegation.
“You’re almost harming yourself as a player in a way because if you’re not putting it in during a season and are relegated, you’re not going to walk away thinking, ‘I’m just going to go and play for another team in the Premier League’.
“If you are, another team’s going to have to pay for you.”
While West Brom have been praised for their forward planning, relegation candidates Newcastle have been widely criticised.
The Times has reported first-team players at St James’ Park do not have relegation clauses in their contracts.
It is understood 17th-placed Newcastle “would have to carry their full Premier League wage bill” into the Championship should they get relegated.
Phillips is baffled by that approach from the North-East club with the ex-Sunderland striker adding: “I’ve been reading about Newcastle and how it’s going to cripple them because none of their players have clauses in their contracts if they go down, which is just crazy.
“Crazy business, crazy planning – I’m sure West Brom are not the same. Dowling’s done very well.
“If that’s true about Newcastle, it’s absolutely bizarre.”
In other West Brom news, Albion have signed a new defender, the player’s agent has confirmed.
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