Returning West Brom club chief Mark Miles' target to help Baggies in survival fight

He checked back into the relegation-threatened Baggies in a different executive director role with a target to unite all at The Hawthorns amid a desperate campaign that sees Albion in the bottom three with three months of the season remaining.

His return was revealed an hour after club president and sporting director Andrew Nestor's departure was confirmed.

Asked if he felt such "guidance, leadership and support" had been lacking, Miles said: "I think it's been missing and certainly that's how I've been focused.

"But I don't want to dwell on the past. All I want to do now is look at where we are now. We have 16 games to make sure that we can start working at the table. We do that and then everything else will hopefully fall into place behind us.

"There's a lot to do. It's not going to be easy. The only way, and I'm convinced the only way we can do that is by working together, and we have to do that all the way through."

Miles, a self-confessed Albion fan, previously worked at the club for 22 years in a logistics and then managing director role until last September. Upon his departure Nestor was promoted to president.

His appointment is not a football leadership move, but Miles was called by Patel to offer expertise and leadership at The Hawthorns, which many feels has lacked for several months.

The director's return is viewed as a big boost by club insiders - though Miles admitted he alone cannot ensure Championship survival.

He added of watching Albion's struggles from afar: "Having been so embedded in it for so many years, it's something that was quite hurtful.

"But I know it wasn't just me hurting, it's hurting for the staff, it's hurting with the supporters. So yes, the thought (of returning) had crossed my mind, but obviously when Shilen and I had the conversation, it was clear that we were on the same page and we knew what was needed.

"He asked me to come back, and there was a bit of convincing of my wife to do, but it was a no-brainer to do it. I want to feel that I can add value to where we are.

"I can't solve this on my own. Mark Miles coming back into the club is not going to save this club from relegation, but what I want to be able to do is make a difference, bring people together and we can work as a collective to do it."

Three weeks ago Miles and his wife had adopted a Cocker Spaniel and the returning club chief had his hands full dealing with an excitable puppy running around the household.

Now he returns to The Hawthorns ahead of Saturday's visit of Stoke to get the house in order at The Hawthorns.

"I'm hopeful that I can bring some guidance and leadership and support to everybody here to get us out of the position that we're in on the field at the moment," he said.

"My view is that we need to all work together. We did it a number of years ago with the different challenges (under Guochuan Lai and the takeover). We have a new challenge now.

"But the only way we'll get out of that is by everybody working as a collective. I mean everybody. That's the staff, that's the players, the supporters, all the different (fan) groups. We need to do that.

"I know that this club and the relationship it has with the supporters, we can do it. I feel very passionate about the fact that we're going to get ourselves out of where we are."