Express & Star

John Wile: Slaven Bilic is sort of man I'd want to play for

Baggies legend John Wile has backed the appointment of Slaven Bilic – because he’s the sort of manager he would want to play for.

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John Wile.

Bilic was named head coach last week after an extensive search, and will be officially unveiled early next week when he will also meet the players for the start of pre-season.

Wile, who played more than 600 games for the Baggies before moving into the boardroom as chief executive, has been impressed with what he’s seen of the Croatian.

And he's urged the club to help him in the transfer market this summer.

“I would think that players would want to play for him,” said Wile. “He talks sense, he’s down to earth.

“That’s the impression I get. As a player that’s the sort of thing I would have been attracted to.”

Wile played under some successful managers during his playing days at The Hawthorns, including Johnny Giles and Ron Atkinson.

He admitted his experience of Bilic was limited to his time in charge of West Ham and his punditry on the television, but he liked what he saw.

“Sometimes he says things that are a little bit different to the other panellists on TV,” added the former centre-back. “I get the impression he doesn’t suffer fools gladly, which is a good thing.”

Albion are facing a rebuild this summer, and Wile hopes Bilic’s reputation will entice a high calibre of players to The Hawthorns.

“I don’t think it will do any harm, he’s got a good name with a good reputation,” he added. “That’ll be a benefit, but that has to be backed up when it comes to laying the money down.

“Transfer windows are always tricky, ideally you want people in from the start but you don’t always get that opportunity.

“We will be recruiting the type of players who possibly will have several choices.

“Their needs to be some recruitment because there’s a few players who have left will need replacing. You’ve got to give the manager a chance."

Technical director Luke Dowling has confirmed no player will be signed without the head coach agreeing to it, and Wile expects Bilic to be at the forefront of Albion’s transfer strategy.

“There’s little point in appointing a manager of his stature and experience if you’re going to say ‘get on with what you’ve got’, I don’t think that’s fair to him or the club.

“Hopefully, and I’m sure there will be, plans in place for recruitment to strengthen the squad. Because we need it.”

UPDATE: A previous version of this story said speculation in China suggested Guochuan Lai had sold 11.5 million shares in former company Palm, but the Express & Star understands that's not the case.