Legend John Wile worried by West Brom's 'lack of discipline'

Goalkeeper Ben Foster and defender Craig Dawson both refused to make the trip to the Baggies’ training camp in Portugal.

And Wile – who played 500 times for Albion and was managing director from 1997 until 2002 – feels the ‘lack of discipline’ could result in similar problems to those experienced as they crashed out of the Premier League last term.

“My initial response was that I was surprised – two senior players seemingly at odds with the club,” he said.

“I’m sure Darren is not at all happy with what’s gone on. Without knowing the real reasons, it smacks of last year when Nacer Chadli decided that he didn’t want to go abroad.

“When you see those sorts of issues, there’s obviously problems at the club.

“You naturally think there must be a lack of discipline. If you have players who are dictating what they want to do, it’s not good. There has never been a team with ‘I’ in its spelling.

“These players have a fantastic job, and lifestyle, and their allegiance should be to the team.”

It is believed Foster and Dawson are unhappy with the board’s attempts to keep them at all costs this summer.

Foster’s former club Watford are reportedly interested in offering him a route back to the Premier League, while Burnley and West Ham are keen on Dawson.

Both players have been at the Baggies for many years, with Foster joining in 2011 and Dawson signing from Rochdale a year earlier.

It is understood the matter will be dealt with internally, with both players expected to be fined.

Wile – third in the club’s all-time appearance list – feels it would be a shame to see Foster and Dawson leave in such acrimonious circumstances.

He added: “The fact that is the case, they’ve both been at the club for many years, makes you think there are serious disciplinary problems – the club showing the players a lack of respect, or vice versa.

"It’s a strange course of action to take and it would be a shame to see both of them go in this way as they’ve both been good servants to the club.

“At the same time, they’ve been very fortunate to play for West Bromwich Albion for so many years. I think that bit is sometimes forgotten.”

Chadli decided to skip last year’s training camp in Austria following a bust-up with then boss Tony Pulis.