Pepe Mel starts planning for future at Albion
Albion boss Pepe Mel today revealed he has started planning for summer signings despite admitting his own future is still in the balance.
The head coach, who has ruled out areturn to former club Real Betis, has started talks with Baggies officials over potential signings for next season.
But he admitted progress was slow with the club fighting to stay in the Premier League and the Spaniard still uncertain over his own future.
"We have now an extremely important period in these next two weeks and now is not the time to start talking about the future of individual players," said Mel, who takes his side to Manchester City in the Premier League on Monday. "Now is the time to talk about West Brom.
"West Brom are a professional club who are looking forward and preparing for the future.
"I have had conversations about the future and possible players we could bring in but the process is a slow one because what we're focusing on now is getting the points to keep us up."
Mel repeated his promise from several weeks ago that the Baggies will not be relegated but, after a turbulent three months in charge, he remains uncertain about his own position for next season.
"It is impossible that West Brom will go down," he said. "It isn't something I've thought about. I will speak about my future in a few weeks' time."
Betis president Manuel Dominguez Platas admitted in the Spanish media that the club should have taken more time to consider Mel's dismissal with the club still bottom of La Liga and seemingly doomed to relegation.
Mel was sacked from Estadio Benito Villamarin in December following a poor run of form despite leading the club to the Europa League the previous season.
Platas hinted the club would consider a return for Mel in the future but the Baggies boss said: "I wouldn't consider returning. Unfortunately, you can't go back on things that you've already done in the past. Now my mind is fully focused on West Brom."
"For me, it's not a possibility to go back to Betis.
"I want to stay here, I see my future in England.
"I'll do everything to try and stay at West Brom.
"In any event, I'd still want to be coaching at a high level."
