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Video: Nick Hammond on his West Brom role

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West Brom's new technical director Nick Hammond insists head coach Tony Pulis will retain final say on the club's transfer dealings.

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Hammond, who began work at the Hawthorns this week following his switch from Reading, was set to have dinner with Pulis on Thursday night as the Baggies continue to formulate plans for the summer window.

The 48-year-old spent 14 years as the Royals sporting director and overseeing recruitment is included in his wide-ranging brief.

But he insists Pulis remains very much the club's "leader" and maintains no player will be brought in without the Welshman's consent.

Hammond said: "You need a strong leader and make no mistake, Tony is the leader. He is at the coal-face and has to get those players working together.

"I never brought a player to Reading that the manager didn't want. There is just no point to it, from a common sense perspective it makes no sense.

"There has to be a function which supports it and that is where you have a recruitment network. We have a process and Tony is part of that process.

"Ultimately, it is the club who purchase players because that is where the finance comes from.

"But Tony is right at the top of that decision-making process. There is no point bringing in anyone who he doesn't want."

Hammond ended his near two decade association with Reading in order to join the Baggies and revealed he contacted the Albion's former technical director Dan Ashworth, who now works with the FA, in order to get the low-down on his new club.

He also held a meeting with Pulis, who he described as an "outstanding football manager," before accepting the job.

Hammond said: "Had that not been a good conversation (with Tony) I would not have come, it is as simple as that.

"Now I need to talk to talk to him more about the squad and where it is at, the feelings around the summer window.

"We are going to meet for dinner. I think I'm paying - he was very insistent about that! First and foremost, I need to understand how Tony sees the squad.

"He and I together need to take that to the chairman and board. When we know where we sit, then we can make decisions and go forward.

"I want the manager to have a strong opinion on players. You always want to support the manager in what they are trying to do.

"At the same time, I'm also working for the club, so you have to make sure things fit in the parameters of where the club is."

Ashworth's work as Albion's technical director drew wide acclaim and saw him poached by the FA to become their director of elite development in 2012.

Hammond said: "Technical directors are a little bit like the Masons, it is like secret handshakes and things like that!

"Dan and I have spoken over the years about my role at Reading and his role here and I guess compared notes and talked about the issues and challenges that arise.

"When I was first contacted by Albion, he was one of my very first ports of call. He was so positive about the way this club is run. It's a proper football club and is run in the right way.

"That is the model which has run here for a period of time. It is a model I was very much used to with Sir John Madjeski at Reading. I see a lot of similarities between the clubs.

"My previous experience with Mark (Jenkins), Richard (Garlick) and the chairman and, of course, Dan, gave me confidence to step away from where I was and come here, because this is the Premier League.

"Football people want to work at the highest level and this is the very highest level in world football as well. It's a great opportunity for me, a great challenge and I am thoroughly looking forward to it."