Kyle Bartley: Give West Brom firepower they need
Albion defender Kyle Bartley has called on the club's ownership group Bilkel Football to provide Carlos Corberan with the "ammunition" required this season.
The Baggies continued an encouraging start to the new Championship campaign with a goalless draw with Leeds United in Saturday's curtain-raiser at The Hawthorns
Albion were the better side against the Whites and continue to show promise with a new-look squad this term after several departures, mostly to balance the books. Corberan has insisted the 'need' Albion have is for three more recruits to complete the squad for the season, as the Baggies hunt a striker, central midfielder and versatile defender.
Experienced Bartley, 33, who was captain in the absence of Jed Wallace on Saturday, agrees the squad is short and need further additions.
"At the moment I would say so," Bartley said when asked if expectations are seen as lower this season. "We are definitely three or four players short in my opinion in terms of players for the squad.
"I think Carlos has mentioned that and the ownership group know that. It is up to them behind the scenes to give Carlos and the squad more ammunition because it will be a long, hard season and we're going to pick up injuries.
"We will need everyone. All we can do as players and staff is try to get results at the moment.
"Hopefully by the deadline we will have some new additions."
The Baggies have made seven new signings so far this summer, five permanent signings and two loans. Four were free transfers while defender Torbjorn Heggem, who has really caught the eye so far, cost around £525,000.
Head coach Corberan does not lead on transfers at Albion, as head of football operations Ian Pearce and his team, alongside Andrew Nestor – Bilkul's chief executive who carries out the responsibilities of a sporting director – oversees recruitment.
"We hope, of course, because the faster we bring the players the better to create the habits, to adapt and create a squad," Corberan said. "I would have liked to do it before!
"But there are still three players to come to complete the 20 pitch (outfield) players to have in the squad, so we are looking at this."
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