West Brom chief executive Mark Jenkins hails 'brilliant' Slaven Bilic
CHIEF EXECUTIVE Mark Jenkins believes Albion are fortunate to have Slaven Bilic as the club’s head coach.
It was in February 2018 that Jenkins resumed his role in the Baggies boardroom having initially opted to step down after Guochuan Lai completed his takeover.
Since then the CEO has straightened the club’s finances and delivered on his pledge to reduce season ticket prices – with Albion announcing yesterday Early Bird prices have been frozen for next year despite their lofty position at the top of the Championship.
Jenkins was also instrumental in appointing Bilic as boss back in June.
And the chief executive believes Albion hired a head coach who should be in the Premier League.
“You don’t want to speak about all the other managers you have worked with but Slaven is definitely one of the most engaging and personable,” Jenkins said.
“He knows how to manage up and he knows how to manage down. He is just great around the training ground.
“We managed to get him and you think ‘that’s good.’
“But after two or three months you really do think ‘How did we get him – why is here and not at a Premier League club?’
“He is just a really good bloke.”
Following Albion’s relegation from the Premier League, Jenkins was determined to make sure everything was in place off the field to ensure the team could instantly challenge for a return to the top-flight.
And he believes in Bilic Albion have a manager who understands how important it is that the club is run the right way.
“I know Slaven has proved a huge hit with our fans not only for the quality of football he has crafted but for the bearings he brings to the post,” Jenkins continued.
“You may recall that the summer transfer dealings ended with a frantic final day which saw us get five new players over the line.
“In all my years in the game, Slaven is the only manager I have known take the trouble to pop down the corridor to the offices of the CEO to personally thank him for all the support and efforts taken to sign the players.
“I felt then that we had a special man in the head coach’s office, and I know our fans feel the same.”
