Mark Jenkins: West Brom 'sacrificed their principles'

The Baggies chief was brought back to the club in March by Guochuan Lai following the Chinese owner’s decision to sack chairman John Williams and chief executive Martin Goodman.

And Jenkins, who believes his predecessors mis-spent during their 18 months in charge, says the club deviated away from the financially shrewd model that had made Albion successful.

Jenkins returned to find the Baggies needing their first overdraft for 10 years after the club’s £40million surplus of funds had been spent.

But he also suggested that the eight-year stay in the top tier eventually caught up with them.

“When you are eight years in the Premier League, sometimes you have to sacrifice your principles, sometimes you have to do things you don't really want to do,” he said.

“You sign a player on a loan you don't really think you should or you do something on a contract you don't think is wise. It is a case now of getting back to basics.

“I just think the wrong type of management was in place,” added Jenkins. “The controls weren't in place which we had had for many many years.

“The income streams which this club generates are not in comparison with other clubs in the Premier League so we have to spend every penny wisely and that just didn't happen.”

Albion spent roughly £40m on transfers last season, putting them in the top half of the league's net-spend table.

They also brought Grzegorz Krychowiak and Daniel Sturridge in on loan on huge wage packets worth more than £100,000-a-week that made both men their top earners.

However, neither signing worked out and between them Krychowiak and Sturridge scored no goals and laid on just two assists for Albion in the Premier League.