West Brom manager Gary Megson has insisted that he will not quit the club if they are relegated from the Premiership. Megson is regarded as one of the best young managers in the game and has been previously linked with moves to Leeds United and Sunderland. Birmingham City co-owner David Sullivan has also admitted that Megson would have been a target had they not been able to appoint Steve Bruce last season.
Megson performed miracles to earn Albion promotion from Division One last season and he has earned praise at the way he has managed to retain even a slight chance of staying in the top flight with the smallest squad and lowest wage bill in the Premiership.
He is certain to be in the frame for more high profile posts when the inevitable managerial merry-go-round swings into action in the summer. But Megson has vowed to stay and try and help the Baggies regain their place amongst the elite if they do fail to beat the drop.
He said: “Will I be here next season if we go down? Yes. I'm contracted for three years and it doesn't say what division we will be in. People talk about moving on but you've got to have somewhere to go to. I've got a great rapport with the supporters and they are a big part of why I am here. I enjoy working at West Brom.
Megson is realistic enough to realise there is no guarantee of Albion being able to bounce back easily if they are relegated.
He said: “I knew we weren't the second best team in the First Division last season. I know the wage bill we pay now wouldn't get us into the top eight of the First Division. I'm realistic. People mention the examples of teams like Sunderland and Charlton, who went down and came straight back, but there are a lot more clubs go down and don't come back.
“That's why we want to try and make sure it doesn't happen to us if at all possible. It is looking a bit tenuous at the moment because of our position but we've got to give it everything we've got to the end of the season. We are not surrendering. I'll be bitterly disappointed if we go down.”
Filed by Johnny Proby
