West Brom boss Tony Pulis "praying" assistant Dave Kemp stays at club
Tony Pulis is “hoping and praying” right-hand man Dave Kemp will stay with Albion.
Assistant head coach Kemp has been absent from the Baggies pre-season after being granted an extended break to see his California-based family.
Pulis will now hold talks with his long-time No.2 to see whether he wishes to remain at the Hawthorns.
The pair have worked together for more than a decade and enjoyed success at both Stoke and Crystal Palace before joining Albion in December 2014.
But Pulis acknowledged the strain of regularly travelling to and from the US does take its toll.
“I’ve allowed Kempy - and I’ve done this before - a bit more time away from the club,” explained the Baggies boss.
“He lives out in America with his wife and his family are there. It’s been a short break this time and Kempy has needed a little bit more than most.
“It’s not the first time I’ve done this. I did the same at Stoke so we’ll see. Ultimately it will be up to Dave so I’m hoping and praying he’ll come back. He’s been with me for a long time and he’s important to me.
“But he also has a life to live and I understand that too. He spends most of his life away from (his family). It’s not like me who can travel every Saturday and be with Deb or Deb can pop up, it only takes a couple of hours.
“He’s actually 13 or14 hours in a plane away from his wife. It will be Dave’s decision not mine.”
Kemp is one of three assistant's to Pulis, alongside Mark O'Connor and Ben Garner, the latter of whom took charge of Albion's team during Wednesday's 2-1 friendly win at Walsall.
The Baggies will again split their squad on Saturday for games at Bristol Rovers and non-league Slough Town.
