New boys in at Albion as Tony Pulis era starts

The Baggies head coach has linked up once more with long-time associate from Stoke David Kemp, 61, who arrives as joint-assistant head coach along with former Bradford, Sheffield Wednesday, Wigan, Derby and Ipswich boss Paul Jewell, 50.

The club are also in talks to appoint a new goalkeeping coach, which Albion hope to confirm later this week, following the departure of Dean Kiely.

The arrivals follow yesterday's exit of long-serving coaches Keith Downing and assistant head coach Rob Kelly.

"I don't know what I've done to suffer 'Kempy' again but I suppose I will have to put up with him!" joked Pulis.

"But the truth is we have a working relationship which I value very highly – he knows what I want without even having to ask these days.

"'Jewely' is someone I have known for a long time.

"We got to know each other on coaching courses as well as in opposition – he has massive experience and when I thought about what I wanted for this post, he fitted the bill perfectly.

"I'm delighted we have got him and I'm sure the players will enjoy working with him.

"There are one or two other things we shall be putting in place over the next few days before everything is settled.

"It's never a pleasant task making changes because it always means some fellow professionals have to leave the club.

"I would just like to say that while I only worked with Keith, Dean and Rob for a short time, they impressed me as top lads who I wish well for the future."

Pulis and Kemp have a long-established working relationship, and the much-travelled former striker said: "We struck up a bond way back at Portsmouth in 2000 as manager and assistant. It's been successful and we've kept it going.

"Tony is the main man and my job is to support him in every way to help make the team successful.

"I'm really impressed with the club and it's our responsibility to make it successful."