Peace at Albion

Went down to Albion's training ground yesterday for a 45 minute chat-cum-interview with Albion chairman Jeremy Peace and two of his boardroom colleagues.

There was no shortage of discussion. His decision to open the door to potential investors - you've got until July 31, so no hanging around - the shirt sponsorship situation (your's for about £750k), Kevin Phillips' contract situation, the Halfords Lane stand, looking ahead to the Premier League and the recruitment of players during the summer.

There were some interesting comments along the way.

But it was perhaps the subject of Tony Mowbray which prompted Peace to become animated.

It's clear the Albion chairman holds his manager in high regard. There were some things Peace wished to tell us off the record about their relationship, which simply underlined the feel-good factor at the club.

Mowbray, I guess, is Peace's ideal kind of manager. Mowbray is a footballing man, who does 'family and football'. He's polite, courteous and, once he knows a face and a name, he addresses you with that familiarity and friendliness which makes you feel welcome and at ease. It's easy to see why Peace has few problems getting on with him. The players like him as a coach and as a person. There are no 'megastars' causing a stink and no embittered old pros hanging around moaning when they're not in the team.

Crucially Mowbray is not a political animal. Ask Tony Mowbray about a player's injury and you'll get an answer about the player's injury. That wasn't always the case with other managers in the past. You'd be amazed how a journalist's question about a player's groin strain can quickly escalate into a manager's rant against his chairman...

I got the feeling yesterday that Peace feels lucky to have Mowbray. In his six years at the club, during which time he's had plenty of highs and lows, I don't think I've ever seen the Baggies chairman looking so chilled or enthused. (Perhaps he knows something we don't about a potential investor - although I did make a note of looking out for any black Volgas with Russian plates in the TG car park...)

One thing was clear. If we are to assume that Peace will still be chairman come August 1, then Albion fans will at least go into this season knowing that they have a chairman and manager who, while perhaps not always agreeing on all matters, are at least driving in the same direction towards the same goal.