Chris Brunt: Thank-you for allowing me to become one of your own
An emotional Chris Brunt thanked Albion supporters for “letting me become one of your own” after it was confirmed he will leave the club this summer.
The 35-year-old club captain will depart when his contract expires at the end of the season, bringing the curtain down on a 13-year stay at The Hawthorns during which he established himself as a modern great.
Brunt is one of only 16 players to have made more than 400 appearances for the Baggies, while he holds the club records for Premier League appearances (269) and wins (76).
The Northern Ireland international has also scored 48 goals and is targeting a third promotion from the Championship before the current campaign is completed.
In a personal message during which he paid tribute to club staff, former managers and team-mates and his family, Brunt reserved his final words for the fans.
He wrote: “Win, lose or draw you have always supported me and for that I will be forever grateful.
“Thank you for allowing me to become one of your own. Please know I will always regard this as my club.
“I wish I could go on forever here but sadly all good things must come to an end. Hopefully, when all is safe and well, I’ll be able to come to The Hawthorns to show my appreciation to you.
"There are too many memories to mention from my 400-plus games and I will treasure them for the rest of my days."
Signed from Sheffield Wednesday for £3million by Tony Mowbray in August, 2007, Brunt was made captain by Roy Hodgson in 2011 and was an almost constant presence in the team which helped Albion become an established top flight club for the first time since the 1980s.
Brunt, who came close to joining Stoke in January, has featured just nine times under Slaven Bilic this season and acknowledged news of his impending departure will not have come as a huge surprise.
His future was ultimately decided during amicable talks with Baggies sporting director Luke Dowling this week.
Brunt says his sole focus is now on helping the club complete a Premier League return when the season resumes later this month.
He said: “I should make it clear that my entire focus over the next few weeks will be on doing everything in my power to get us back to the Premier League. To where this club and its fans belong.
“Though it may not come as a massive surprise to many, I thought it best we clarify the situation now, before we begin playing the final nine games of the season. We cannot afford to have any distractions from our goal.
"For now I will do all I can to help us get promoted to the Premier League and I’ll be ready if the manager needs me. After that, I hope, a new challenge awaits elsewhere. It will be strange to play for another club after all my years at Albion, but I still feel I have plenty to offer, and there’s a bit of football left in the tank yet!"
