Mark Jenkins: Speed of West Brom's decline left me shocked
Chief executive Mark Jenkins has admitted to being left “shocked” by the speed of Albion's decline as he vowed to help rebuild the club.
Jenkins claims his decision to return to the Hawthorns last month was motivated by the hurt of seeing the Baggies struggle at the foot of the Premier League and the pain of seeing more than a decade of hard-work unravel.
The right-hand man of former owner Jeremy Peace, Jenkins was responsible for helping both establish Albion in the top flight and earn the club a reputation for financial stability.
Yet despite recording record profits in Guochuan Lai’s first season at the helm, the Baggies must now seek an overdraft facility after a disastrous £40million spending spree which has left them facing a fall into the Championship.
Jenkins, who stepped down from the post of chief executive in December 2016, was re-appointed by Lai last month after the owner axed both his successor Martin Goodman and chairman John Williams.
“I have come back and I am shocked at how much the club has changed in 14 months,” said Jenkins.
“I am very, very surprised at how things have changed. From having £40million in the bank, to needing an overdraft facility, is quite a substantial shift in such a short period.
“The club has gone beyond its own financial limits. Jeremy would have stayed within those limits. Those two members of the board who have left went beyond those limits.”
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Jenkins has begun a root-and-branch review into every aspect of the club, reporting his findings to Lai on a weekly basis.
He is committed to turning things around, speaking passionately about how he had found it tough to watch the club’s struggles from afar.
“From the outside, it started to hurt, seeing the club lose week-in, week-out,” he said.
“It was a club that, along with a lot of other people, I established. Jeremy worked hard, Richard (Garlick) worked hard, the coaching staff worked hard.
“We all put a lot of work in. For it to unravel in 12 months was painful.”
He continued: “When I left I genuinely felt shattered and stale. I was enjoying the time off and I can’t deny it is nice to be in a position where you can retire at any early age and travel the world.
“Then after a while you’re wondering what you’re going to do and you get the phone call, you can see the issues at the club and you think you can help.
“I need a lot of help. I can’t do this all on my own.
“There’s absolutely no way. I need the team around me to rebuild this club.”
Now ten points from safety with just seven games remaining, Albion appear certain to lose their Premier League status come May.
But while still planning for all eventualities, Jenkins insists dropping into the Championship should hold no fears.
“I wouldn’t say I’m relaxed because I’m pent up and I want to do it,” he said.
“I’ve been relegated three times. I know the issues.
“It ain’t going to be easy and this probably going to be the hardest one.
“Having been established for eight years in the Premier League, you do get closeted, you do get soft, you do get cost creep - which all needs to be addressed.
“But we’ve been there before and if we do get relegated we know what needs to be done.”
