Ben Foster tells West Brom fans to trust the boss

The England international is a strong contender for Player of the Year after an outstanding second season at the Hawthorns.

And he admits the dressing room is as intrigued as the fans are about the club's summer plans.

Strikers Romelu Lukaku and Peter Odemwingie expected to leave – for different reasons – this summer.

Baggies fans are anticipating a recruitment drive as the club pockets a £60million-plus chunk of the record media deal available.

Foster acknowledges the task of taking West Brom on to an even higher level is a taxing challenge for Clarke and Richard Garlick, the new sporting & technical director.

The 30-year-old said: "It's a tough one. We have got quite a settled team at the minute which is nice. There are quite a few teams that could go either way next season.

"But we have got a settled bunch of players and we are well drilled. We know what to expect from each other and that's going to help us.

"It's up to the manager whether or not he wants to add to the squad and, if he does, what sort of players he wants to add.

"I'm sure we'll roll with that because we trust the manager and the players we brought in earlier in the season have been good acquisitions.

"We trust him to do the same again next season."

Foster admits West Brom fans will be eyeing the big money and hoping for record outlays.

He added: "They probably think we can bring 10 or 12 different players and I suppose the fans have got a right to think that with new money that's coming.

"But you don't want to go crazy and you don't want to add too many players so you upset the good balance.

"I'm sure the manager will be sensible and maybe add three, four or five faces. West Brom have always been good at recruiting players that are good lads.

"We're a liked football club and that goes to everybody throughout the whole club from the canteen staff right through.

"It's the same with the players and they always do a lot of background checks to make sure new signings fit in well."