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who if any one will alan irvine attract to come and play for the albion? will the players get behind him? cause they didnt with pepe.

I've no doubt players will buy into him. One of the clear messages come through from many people I've spoken to is that he's a boss players respond to. As for attracting players - I understand that reservation but ultimately the club's financial packages towards those footballers will be the biggest key, rather than pedigree of boss. But, yes, that is the slight worry. If, say, a Mark Hughes (as an example) wants the same player as a Albion do...then it might come down to more than money. But first and foremost £ rules. I should also add that the pool Albion will be fishing in is likely to be the overseas market. Some of those players might be happy to get a PL move in first place. Where it will become a bigger issue is if many clubs of relatively similar size and resource are wanting the same player

He's clearly a well rated coach, which is good and done well bringing kids through at Everton. However, that's not what's needed for us right at the moment. He doesn't seem to offer potential ( too old) and his managerial credentials are poor. Biggest thing is getting players in, so, unless that is handled by Burton et al, what's the point of having a great youth coach?

If we get relegated this season do you think Peace should walk?

kevintaylor01, I can't help but agree with you to a degree. JP was at pains to point out that Hughton had a similar record to Clarke's (though he still spoke to CH)....so what makes Irvine a stand out candidate? The only thing he really does have in his favour is that he fits the structure in terms of the club wanting a coach.

Hi Chris, not Irvine related I’m afraid, earlier on in the year it was suggested that our two highly regarded scouts White and Spearing were to leave the club, however since then the looming presence of Dave Mcdonough has left the club. Are Spearing and White still expected to leave or have they indeed left?

Maguire it's not really a viable option. He's the main shareholder and until there comes a point where someone wants to buy him out then Albion are stuck with him and vice versa. The chief executive role, however, is perhaps more vulnerable to change if there is a failure

Dom Hill, Spearing and White are still very much there. My own personal view is that there retention is one of very few positives to come out of last season. Their input got completely sidelined during the last two windows when, effectively, McDonough took over the proceedings. Which is why Albion ended up with the likes of Lugano, Thievy, Anelka, Sinclair (the latter two were pushed by Clarke too ). White and Spearing have been carrying on with their roles

Danny, It's not looking great is it. I said a while ago that Albion are heading into this summer from a position of weakness compared to 2010 when they were last promoted. Given the resource of 2 of the 3 sides who came up (LC and QPR) you can only see a season of struggle for Albion. The transfer dealings during the next 2 months will be critical. Irrespective of IRvine's credentials, good players will be key to survival.And Albion don't have enough of those at the moment

Are there any clues to what our transfer budget will be this summer? Also, a few have asked about players coming in, any suspicions of players wanting out? Thanks Chris

Seems to me that Irvine is clearly a good coach. Done well at Everton bringing kids through. Unfortunately, that's not what we need at the moment. Doesn't offer youth, and managerial credentials are poor. Biggets thing at the moment is attracting decent players and I'm very unconvinced he'll be the name that will work

Attracting big players like Anelka you mean Kevin ?

People may well shoot me down and I honestly don't understand why, but Vydra and Thievy I thought was better potential prospects than Saido Berahino who in my honest opinion isn't good enough. Fans may argue he's top goalscorer, however it means nothing when your switching forwards every week.

kevintaylor01, take your point. But in most cases players are swayed by £££ offered, not necessarily by the coach. Not in all cases obviously - but in most cases (Lukaku for instance being one example). That's not to say Albion didn't miss out on players when Roy was boss because they did. Ultimately the bigger issue is whether Albion are willing to compete financially to bring players in

Will this cause some of our top players to leave ?

Birdlej74, I think Peace was fully aware of what he was unleashing when the appointment was announced on Saturday. Even so, not sure he would have foreseen this

Jamie Eaves, again that's in complete contrast to what most people within the club say and certainly the impression given. Does Downing have an influence within the dressing room? Well, yes...so he should he's a front-line coach. And last season, when there was a non-existent relationship between Mel and the players (based on artistic differences, rather than any animosity) it was KD who was key to keeping the team moving along.

Conrad, you're spot on re financial backing. Roy Hodgson was an exception for Albion in recent years, but generally the managers/head coaches have been as good as the players they've had.

johnrowland53, he's on a one-year rolling contract so there is no set-term to his tenure as such. I think he'll get some time. Unless it's an absolute disaster (results wise) I see little reason as to why he won't get a while to instil his methods. For all of the anger over his appointment, it's someone the chairman and Board wanted. So he'll get time

If, during pre-season, Peace demonstrates a clear lack of ambition - this twinned with the Irvine appointment........... It would be fairly safe to assume that Peace accepts a loss of Premier League status as a viable option?? Is there anything you can say to suggest otherwise? It may be hypothetical at the moment however most of our fans believe this may well be the case.

Chris, will you get an opportunity to sit down with Irvine anytime soon? It would be nice to know his ideas with no need for the usual press conference cliches and defensiveness. Is there, for example, any chance that some of the kids will be promoted to fill the current holes in our squad? (Speaking of which I was a little surprised to see Cameron Gayle go given our FB situation - I guess we don't see how they are on a daily basis, but he looked a decent prospect to me).

Peace has accepted loss of Premier League status for every season we've been in the league. We're run specifically in case we go down. The lack of financial spending power is annoying, but as a qualified accountant he isn't wrong.