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Jeremy Peace pays tribute to Terry Burton

West Brom chairman Jeremy Peace today paid tribute to Terry Burton for bridging the gap between the Baggies boardroom and the team.

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Peace insists former Wimbledon manager Burton has become a key figure at the Hawthorns since joining in June as the club's new technical director.

And the 61-year-old has also received backing from Richard Garlick – the Albion director he partially replaced.

Burton, who served briefly as a coach at The Hawthorns under Roy Hodgson, returned in the summer when Garlick, who had replaced Dan Ashworth as sporting and technical director, was moved to a new role as director of football administration.

Peace said: "Terry will explain things in football terms for us on the board so it actually does make sense.

"And he will always do it very thoroughly so we actually do know why decisions have been made.

"We might have a bit of a gap without that individual there. I have found it really good.

"During the summer Terry would come out of the offices at the end of the day (looking at potential signings) and he would be knackered. He would be tired and white!"

Garlick, who remains in charge of negotiating transfer deals with agents and players, is delighted with the new arrangement.

"I get on very well with Terry, he and I speak regularly and we have offices next to each other," said Garlick.

"It gives us a football person on the board, rather than only lawyers and accountants.

"Terry has got the gravitas and the acceptance on the football side of things so he can speak with Alan Irvine and the coaching staff. Terry was able to go and say 'listen guys, we are doing this, this, this and this'."

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