Comment: West Brom trio singing redemption song

After such a poisonous campaign, one that spiralled out of control for a number of reasons, plenty of bridges were in need of repair.

And over the past couple of weeks, we’ve seen this in action.

Jake Livermore and Gareth Barry, two of the senior professionals who allegedly stole a taxi in Barcelona last season, began the process.

Livermore signed a contract extension last week and Barry’s impressive displays against both Aston Villa and Sheffield United have won plenty of people round.

Time heals all wounds and time moves swiftly in football, a fast-paced industry that flows even quicker in the Championship thanks to the relentless number of games.

Livermore and Barry have done most of their talking on the pitch, although both have also made well-judged comments after matches, thanking the fans for their support.

But this week another of Albion’s naughty boys has made the first tentative steps back towards acceptance.

In the lead-up to his 200th game for the club, Dawson insisted he was ‘really enjoying’ playing centre-back for Albion while looking ahead to the second half of the season.

After eight years at The Hawthorns, during which time he has worked his way up from humble beginnings while filling in at right-back under Tony Pulis, Dawson should be a firm fan favourite now he is looking solid in the middle.

But his transgression in the summer was refusing to go on Darren Moore’s pre-season training camp to Portugal and handing in a transfer request in an effort to move back to the Premier League.

Loyalty is important to fans, but most can also understand personal ambition and the professional’s desire to play at the highest level possible.

The transfer request, Dawson’s second during his time at Albion, was acceptable. Refusing to train, however, was not.

But Dawson only needs to look over in the dressing room at Barry and Livermore to see there is a way back.

All three men owe a debt of gratitude to their head coach. Moore has done his best to integrate all three back into the club as seamlessly as possible.

Each of them has worn the captain’s armband at different stages this season, and he has spoke glowingly of all three in public.

It has been just one facet of Moore’s co-ordinated healing process over the past eight months.

Of course, there will be those who won’t forget. There always is.

But if Dawson, Livermore and Barry help fire the Baggies back into the Premier League this season, for the majority of supporters anyway, all will be forgiven.