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Baggies go continental
West Bromwich Albion, 16:25, July 3, 2009 ,
New West Brom boss Roberto Di Matteo will have the final say on transfers but the club intend to operate a continental system.
That system has worked at the likes of Stoke and Reading and West Brom want it to be the same at the Hawthorns so that the new manager can concentrate on looking after the first team.
Sporting and technical director Dan Ashworth will take much of the burden off the boss, and he told the Birmingham Mail: "My role is to give Roberto the best possible platform to succeed and try and enable him to spend all of this time with the first team.
"It involves various strands. One is to ensure some continuity in the way we play.
"We talk about having a club DNA so the first team and under-nines play the same way.
"I will work closely with the academy to make sure we have the right technical training but the area we can save Roberto with most is player recruitment.
"Fielding calls from agents is time consuming process.
"We have a recruitment department set up in the UK and EU, to find players who fit in with our budgets and philosophy.
"We have a viewing process for Roberto to have a look at any players we identify.
"It's common practice at European clubs. Roberto, his assistant Eddie and the newly promoted first team coach Michael Appleton all fit into the process here at Albion.
"I know there has been bad press about some clubs but Reading and Stoke have people in similar positions.
"As long as everyone is part of all the agreement process then it can work.
"If Roberto comes to me and says he needs a certain player, we will have a list of players who will fit into our budgets.
"Roberto may like six or seven of those - he may not like any. So he may add people into the list. It's a process we do together but the sign-off comes from the first team staff."