ALBION today welcome Ian Pearce to the Club as our new Head of Recruitment.

Ian, a former Premier League title winner with Blackburn Rovers, is joining the Baggies from Brighton where he has been working as Head of UK Recruitment.

His arrival represents the first major appointment from Albion’s new Sporting and Technical Director Luke Dowling and marks the start of an overhaul of the Club’s recruitment team.

“Ian has got a good background,” says Luke, “and he brings good experience and ideas to the role.

“With his work ethic, I also believe what he looks for and sees in players will work for us. He was very keen to join us - this is a really, really well-liked Club and he understands the way we need to operate.

“He has rejected offers to go to other clubs but this challenge really appeals to him. He’s very forward thinking and has a keen understanding of how management of a football club works and where we want to go.”