Dwight Gayle
Posted: Mon May 20, 2019 6:31 am
West Bromwich Albion have opted not to sign Newcastle striker Dwight Gayle following his season on loan with the Championship play-off semi-finalists.
"Dwight's contract is a Premier League contract," Albion technical director Luke Dowling told BBC WM.
"We will pay Premier League contracts but only when we are back in the Premier League.
"I know it won't be the news Albion fans want to hear, but they need to trust us and know we are doing everything right for this football club."
In the wake of recent events at other English Football League clubs, notably at Birmingham City and relegated Bolton Wanderers, Albion are determined to stay within realistic budgets.
"We don't want to keep players on big contracts and then have to lay off normal staff and make people redundant," added Dowling.
"We have good people behind the scenes. We want to do that and still have a really competitive wage bill on the pitch, which we will have next year."
Former Peterborough United and Crystal Palace striker Gayle, 28, ended up with 24 goals for Albion - a season's best total - just outscoring strike partner Jay Rodriguez, who got 22.
Only three Championship strikers scored more goals - Norwich's Teemu Pukki (29), Aston Villa loan man Tammy Abraham (26) and Brentford's Neal Maupay (25).
But Gayle's season was soured when, after putting Albion ahead in the play-off semi-final first leg at Villa Park, he rashly got sent off and missed the second leg at The Hawthorns.
Ex-England international Gareth Barry and Scotland midfielder James Morrison are among five players not offered new deals by managerless West Bromwich Albion after missing out on promotion.
However, they have been told they could stay if the incoming head coach wants them and they have not found new clubs.
Goalkeeper Boaz Myhill, defender Tyrone Mears and midfielder Wes Hoolahan are the others not on the retained list.
"Dwight's contract is a Premier League contract," Albion technical director Luke Dowling told BBC WM.
"We will pay Premier League contracts but only when we are back in the Premier League.
"I know it won't be the news Albion fans want to hear, but they need to trust us and know we are doing everything right for this football club."
In the wake of recent events at other English Football League clubs, notably at Birmingham City and relegated Bolton Wanderers, Albion are determined to stay within realistic budgets.
"We don't want to keep players on big contracts and then have to lay off normal staff and make people redundant," added Dowling.
"We have good people behind the scenes. We want to do that and still have a really competitive wage bill on the pitch, which we will have next year."
Former Peterborough United and Crystal Palace striker Gayle, 28, ended up with 24 goals for Albion - a season's best total - just outscoring strike partner Jay Rodriguez, who got 22.
Only three Championship strikers scored more goals - Norwich's Teemu Pukki (29), Aston Villa loan man Tammy Abraham (26) and Brentford's Neal Maupay (25).
But Gayle's season was soured when, after putting Albion ahead in the play-off semi-final first leg at Villa Park, he rashly got sent off and missed the second leg at The Hawthorns.
Ex-England international Gareth Barry and Scotland midfielder James Morrison are among five players not offered new deals by managerless West Bromwich Albion after missing out on promotion.
However, they have been told they could stay if the incoming head coach wants them and they have not found new clubs.
Goalkeeper Boaz Myhill, defender Tyrone Mears and midfielder Wes Hoolahan are the others not on the retained list.