Baggies reject Koumas transfer request

West Brom manager Gary Megson has dismissed out of hand a written transfer request submitted by playmaker midfielder Jason Koumas.

Koumas, who has two seasons yet to run on his existing Hawthorns contract, had been in protracted discussions with Megson over a proposed extension to his current Albion deal.

But with Koumas apparently frustrated at a lack of headway, the 24-year-old Welsh international midfielder tabled a written transfer request at the Black Country club this afternoon.

But Megson said: “His transfer request has been flatly refused.

“We want Jason to stay here and continue progressing as a player, as he has done during almost two years with us.”

Wrexham-born Koumas had joined the Baggies for £2.5million from Tranmere in August 2002 and has gone on to make 81 appearances in all competitions, scoring 14 goals and playing a vital role in Albion’s promotion from the First Division and into the Premiership at the end of the 2003-04 campaign.

Baggies chairman Jeremy Peace said: “We have received a written transfer request from Jason which we have turned down.

“We’re interested in getting him to sign a new contract which suits both him and the football club – not selling him.”

Meanwhile, Adrian Boothroyd, West Brom’s youth development manager, is set to join Leeds United’s first team coaching set-up.

Boothroyd, who joined the Baggies last October after quitting his post as Norwich’s youth team coach, could link up with the Coca-Cola Football League Championship club as early as tomorrow.

Dan Ashworth, who Boothroyd recruited as Albion’s eight-year-old to 16s youth co-ordinator in February, will take temporary charge of the youth department.

Ashworth has previously served as youth academy director at Peterborough and centre of excellence director at Cambridge.