Ian Pearce Joins West Brom as Head of Recruitment

[The Palace Fan]

That's a blast from the past.

West Brom have hired Ian Pearce as their new head of recruitment.

Pearce - a Premier League title-winner with Blackburn Rovers in 1995 - joins the Baggies from Brighton, where he was in charge of UK recruitment.

The 44-year-old is the first appointment made by Albion's new technical director Luke Dowling, who said: "Ian has got a good background and he brings good experience and ideas to the role.

"With his work ethic, I also believe what he looks for and sees in players will work for us. He was very keen to join us - this is a really, really well-liked Club and he understands the way we need to operate.

"He has rejected offers to go to other clubs but this challenge really appeals to him. He's very forward thinking and has a keen understanding of how management of a football club works and where we want to go."

Pearce joined Brighton as a scout in 2014 and has been part of the recruitment department that signed the likes of Anthony Knockaert and Glenn Murray, and build their promotion-winning team of 2017.

Pearce retired from playing in 2012 following spells at West Ham, Fulham, Lincoln City and two spells with Kingstonian.