Chris Brunt: West Brom are in great hands

The Baggies secured a record-breaking fifth promotion to the Premier League last week.

But those promotions would not have been achieved without solid foundations and stability off the pitch.

Since the year 2000, Albion have finished sixth or higher whenever they have been in English football’s second tier.

And Brunt believes the staff behind the scenes deserve a lot of credit for ensuring the Baggies always remain competitive.

“You can’t take battling promotion for granted,” the 35-year-old said.

“It’s great getting promoted and it’s a fantastic achievement

“But being able to deal with relegation and not becoming one of those clubs that drop off the face of the earth isn’t easy.

“It’s a fine balance and that’s credit to everyone in the recruitment department and (chief executive) Mark Jenkins as well. He came back after a few years away and steadied the ship.

“It’s a well run football club, it always has been bar when we did get relegated a couple of seasons ago.

“Even last year we were there or there abouts all season. That is credit to everyone behind the scenes.”

As well as praising Jenkins, Brunt feels Albion’’s technical director Luke Dowling also deserves praise – with the midfielder particularly impressed with how the club has used the loan market.

“This year, and last season as well, we saw how important loanees can be with Harvey Barnes and Dwight Gayle.

“I think when you come out the Premier League, that is a big part of doing well in the championship. If you use those loans properly it’s great. But then, obviously, at the end of the season how do you replace that if you can’t get a Callum Robinson or a Grady Diangana back?

“You have got to replace that but that is why the manager is paid to be the manager and why Luke Dowling is paid to be the head of recruitment.

“The impact they (loanees) have around the place is also important too.

“And to be fair I think this season the manager and the recruitment staff have got that spot on. I think in season’s before we didn’t get that right and ultimately that cost us.”

It was only in his 13th and final season at The Hawthorns that Brunt wasn’t a first team regular.

But even though he would have liked to have played more, he still has nothing but respect for head coach Slaven Bilic.

“He is a top manager,” he added.

“He has not picked me all season but that speaks volumes for him that I can sit here and say he has done a great job.

“I respect him as a person.

“It would be easy for me to sit here and chuck my toys out the pram because I haven’t played a lot this season.

“But I have got a lot of respect for the job he has done.”