West Brom target improved recruitment after 'toughest' season

West Brom's former manager Pepe Mel

West Brom chairman Jeremy Peace described last season as "the toughest" he can remember and says incoming technical director Terry Burton will play a key role in identifying Pepe Mel's managerial successor.

The Baggies finished 17th in a campaign that saw Steve Clarke sacked as manager in December before his successor Mel departed earlier this month.

"Terry will provide more footballing knowledge and experience," said Peace.

"It was not the campaign we hoped for."

Burton previously worked at the club as first-team coach under former boss and current England manager Roy Hodgson during 2011-12.

The 61-year-old former Wimbledon boss has recently been working as Arsenal's head of youth.

He is expected to play an important role in the club's recruitment of new players, something Peace feels let West Brom down last season.

Peace added: "This has undoubtedly been the toughest season I can remember.

"But the most important thing is that we can attempt to correct the mistakes that have been made whilst still a top-flight club.

"The squad we assembled during the summer transfer window - regarded in some outside quarters at the time as our strongest for more than three decades - has not performed as consistently or as well as we would have hoped.

"We have been taking a long, hard look as to why this has proved to be the case, especially in terms of our player recruitment."