Kiely signs new Albion contract

Albion veteran goalkeeper Dean Kiely has signed a new contract to stay at the Hawthorns for another season.

The 39-year-old coach and understudy has agreed an extension to his deal keeping him at the club beyond his 40th birthday.

His extension is expected to be confirmed later this week, along with details of the role after taking over specialist coaching duties this season.

But the former Charlton and Republic of Ireland shot-stopper signalled earlier this season that it's not yet time ready to call it a day on his playing career.

Kiely has made just three League starts this season, but has taken on an increasingly vital role behind the scenes coaching first-choice Scott Carson and the club's younger goalkeepers.

The veteran, who has been at the club since January 2007, has also backed star midfielder Graham Dorrans to set the Premier League alight if Albion can wrap up promotion.

Kiely believes the club have already done their best deal ahead of a top-flight return by tying Dorrans to a long-term contract.

The young Scot penned a new three-and-a-half-year deal in January during a season that has seen him become the hottest property outside the Premier League.

Kiely said: "Graham is the most quiet, unassuming lad you will ever meet. He just lets his football do the talking and does his job. But he really is a talent.

"If we go into the Premier League everyone will speculate who we're going to sign, but the best signing the club has made his tying 'Dozza' to a long-term contract.

"If we get to the Premier League he will fit right in, he will be right at home and set that league alight as well."

Kiely was another to give his backing to Jeremy Peace's prudence, after the chairman's latest warning on finances.

Peace has warned the Baggies will stick to their 'no-risks' accounting if they wrap up promotion.

And Kiely said: "People say we're a yoyo club and we are, because we haven't converted every time we've gone into the Premier League.

"But off the pitch and around the chairman's table, this is the right way to do it. To bring in 'celebrity footballers' and it all go off the end of the scale is wrong.

"I was in a Portsmouth side with a great escape and a great group of players all galvanised and going in the right way. Then big egos and big stars come in and turn the whole dynamic of the squad around so it doesn't work.

"I played against Portsmouth in the semi-final of the FA Cup, they had a great day and everything looked rosy.

"It's easy to say it now but I was saying at the time that there was a big bang around the corner for them and now they've shown that that is such."