West Brom appoint club legend Chris Brunt to loans manager role
Chris Brunt has been appointed West Brom's new loans manager.
The Baggies legend, who played 421 times and scored 49 goals for the club, winning three promotions to the Premier League, became an academy coach at the club in 2021.
And more recently he stepped up alongside Richard Beale, James Morrison and Gary Walsh in an interim team that took charge of three games before the appointment of Carlos Corberan.
Now the former Northern Ireland international will take up a new role at the club, managing the club's loan players.
On taking up his new role, Brunt said: “I’m delighted to take on a role that will help to continue the development of the young players I have been working alongside over the last 18 months.
“I hope to pass on my experiences from my time as a professional, in addition to my youth career at Middlesbrough. As a young man I was a long way from home, and I know that can be difficult. It’s part of my role to offer support to the lads on life and football.
“Loan spells are key to developing players and it’s a big part of providing the pathway from our academy to the first team. I’m looking forward to getting out on the road to see the progress made by our loan players.
“I’d like to thank the football club for their support since I retired as a player, and I am now determined to repay their faith in me by fulfilling the role to the best of my ability.”
Albion's senior professional development phase manager Beale, has backed Brunt to succeed in the job - and believes he has a lot to offer the club's youngsters.
He said: "Last year Brunty would come in and help with the coaching a little bit, as and when he was available. This year he is going to be the loans manager which is fantastic, because to have someone like him - number one Chris is a fantastic guy, so humble.
"He's been a real loyal servant to the club and he's really keen to keep that up. Now it's been formalised, everyone's happy and that will only benefit the academy and the youth department that we have someone of the experience of Chris, and his humility, who will help steer those young players in their careers.
"He's already set about his tasks in a really good way, and everyone knows how good a guy he is so it's a really big thing for the academy to get him in.
"He will come and get around the 18s and 21s as he has done, he'll just do whatever anyone needs and helps and wants. What he can bring, especially to midfield players, is invaluable, so he'll be around with his job, but with his coaching."
