West Brom fans deliver season verdict and look forward in Express & Star survey results

In a supporter poll published in print and online at the Express & Star, 75 per cent of voters expected the club to finish in the Championship play-offs last season.

But the late-season collapse down to ninth - which led to Tony Mowbray's axing as head coach - was voted as unsuccessful by 100 per cent of survey participants.

Albion endured a season of turbulence in the dugout in the first full season of ownership under Shilen Patel's Bilkul.

Former head coach Carlos Corberan departed the club to return to his homeland with Valencia on Christmas Eve - a move 71 per cent of our voters felt negative about on an unhappy Christmas.

The search to appoint Mowbray, 61, as his replacement - 16 years after his original Hawthorns exit - proved an unsuccessful one and had mixed views in our poll. Forty-four per cent of voters felt positive with 26 per cent negative and 30 per cent unsure of Mowbray's appointment.

When voting for where blame lay at Albion's unsuccessful campaign, 67 per cent of participants elected the playing squad, with 31 per cent to Mowbray.

Unsurprisingly on the playing front there was plenty of love for double end-of-season award winner Torbjorn Heggem, who 87 per cent of fans felt was player of the season.

Looking forward, 68 per cent of voters feel positive about Albion's appointment of Ryan Mason to the former Spurs man's first head coach role - as Albion's youngest boss in a century.

There was less assuredness when it comes to confidence in a promotion bid next season.

A split decision came in at 53 per cent of voters saying they were not optimistic at Albion's promotion prospects in 2025/26, a fifth Championship campaign on the spin. Forty-seven per cent voted with confidence.

A bigger portion of 70 per cent believe Albion should have a realistic aim of a Premier League return within the next two-to-three seasons.

Fifty-eight per cent of voters feel Baggies boss Mason requires five or six new signings this summer to be able to launch a promotion bid. Defender Nat Phillips this week became new recruit number one as he checked in from Liverpool.

A total of 31 per cent of voters feel only three or four additions are required.

Phillips' arrival will satisfy 45 per cent of participants, who felt the defence was Albion's priority position to strengthen. The next highest category was the striker department with 38 per cent.

There were conflicting views on sporting director Andrew Nestor and director of football operations Ian Pearce's recruitment work to come - with 54 per cent declaring their confidence and 46 per cent voting the other way.

There was a wholly positive outcome when it comes to Bilkul and Patel's running of the club 18 months into their stewardship as 93 per cent of voters shared their encouragement about the ownership.

Albion continue to abide by financial fair play regulations when it comes to spending, which brought mixed reviews of 47 per cent concern from fans and 43 per cent not concerned.

Season ticket prices have seen a five per cent rise but 50 per cent of participants felt costs were 'about right', with 41 per cent electing 'value for money'.

The matchday experience at The Hawthorns - something the ownership have looked to address - took a kicking in our results, however, with 55 per cent voting it as 'average' and 28 per cent as 'poor'.