Peace targets quality squad

West Brom chairman Jeremy Peace has vowed there will be no mass clear-out of players even if his club are relegated – but he will be targeting quality over quantity in future.

Peace has indicated that manager Bryan Robson will be able to make four or five additions to his squad even if the Baggies begin 2005-2006 in the Coca-Cola Championship.

Albion have been gradually pruning a squad which had become top-heavy under previous manager Gary Megson, with 35 professionals on the books at the beginning of the current campaign.

By the close season, Peace is confident Robson will have the nucleus of the players he wants to keep but also the scope to add new blood whatever division the club are in.

Peace said: “If the worst comes to the worst and we do get relegated we don’t have to say ‘Everybody Out’. We can continue to strengthen.

“Of course, you can’t stop people bidding for your players. But what you can do is make them feel an important part of this club, like we’ve done recently with Neil Clement and his new contract.

“If we can keep the ones we want to keep it will help to attract others. We want quality rather than quantity.”

Peace is not afraid to pinpoint specific numbers when it comes to the size of the squad.

“With some of the current players out of contract, I would see about five players coming in the summer – to give us a squad next season of 24 in the Premiership or 22 if we’re back in the Championship,” he said.

“Keeping the numbers in order is one of the main things we’ve been trying to do here. In the last few months we’ve been trying to slim the squad down, get the requisite quality in.

“Then, whatever level you are playing at, you will be able to compete very efficiently and improve year by year.”

Albion will return today from a five-day training break in Florida to prepare for Sunday’s must-win home clash with Birmingham.

The Baggies find themselves seven points adrift of safety following Crystal Palace’s win over Steve Bruce’s side at the weekend.