Albion look to turn good will loan stars; BOSSES LIKE TO LEND PLAYERS TO FOOTBALLING SIDES - MOWBRAY.

Byline: ROB TANNER

WEST Bromwich Albion still have plenty of fans in the game, despite their demotion.

Never before has a team's relegation been greeted with such positivity instead of the doom and gloom normally associated with the drop.

In fact, Albion's popularity stretches to the majority of managers in the Premier League who, Baggies boss Tony Mowbray has said, have shown Albion plenty of respect because they recognise Mowbray and his men are doing things the right way.

It may be a hollow compliment when the right way has left Albion heading the wrong way into the Championship, but it carries weight when the like of Sir Alex Ferguson give the job Mowbray is doing his seal of approval.

"I said in January, a lot of people would like to help our club because they think the way we play is the right way," Mowbray said.

"The top teams think that the demands they ask of their players are similar to the ones we ask of ours. It is a similar style.

"Generally they have all been pretty positive, although some days we haven't performed and you can't be too positive about that. It is always interesting talking to managers. For example, Sir Alex, who is 67 now, took time this year to sit down and talk and relax, I spoke to him for 45 minutes in my office before the game at home against United. I spent another long period with him after the game as well. There was no need for him to do that except I think he can see what we are trying to do.

"As a football coach, all I can do is try to give the club an identity. So when you watch Albion play you can see what they are trying to do. I am still in the process of doing that." That good will towards Albion could stretch as far as the loan of a few potential stars to help their attempts to book an instant return to the top flight.

After being told by chairman Jeremy Peace this week his squad must be reduced from 31 currently to around 20 next season, it is inevitable Mowbray will have to dip into the loan market.

"I think that perception of us will help us," Mowbray said. "Managers are not going to give us Torres and Gerrard, but they may look on us favourably.

"Some managers don't like their players going out on loan because they think they are going to learn the wrong habits.

But generally the feedback has been fine and potential to take some loan signings is always there.

"Obviously the player and his agent will have to agree that it is good for his career to drop to the Championship, so it is not a foregone conclusion that we are going to fill our team with the top players on loan from the Premiership." Revolution Mowbray is more Charles Darwin than Che Guevara in his approach and said this summer will be more about evolution, rather than revolution.

Although some players will inevitably leave, Mowbray aims to keep the promising core of his squad together.

"You never stop building your side," he said.

"It is a very young team in terms of the time they have been together. It is a year and a half ago that most of this team was built.

"The likes of Camara, Koumas, Perry, Quashie, Davies, McShane and Ellington all moved on. It was practically a whole team that left and we started again. This group has been together a short space of time and if we can keep that core together and add to it as we lose some of the periphery, then the team will continue to grow. I want to continue to improve this football club." That improvement will inevitably mean the arrival of some new faces, but it will be the emergence of another arrival at the Mowbray household that will particularly excite the Albion boss.

Mowbray is set to become a father for the third time and it promises to be a busy time for wife Amber and his two young sons Lucas and Max.

"Babies cause disruption in your family but they give you so much joy, excitement and love," he said.

"I try to help as much as I can but this summer all our hands will be full in our house, as well as having the right decisions to make in the football world.

"The other two are looking forward to it. We have communicated that to them.

I think they would like the baby to come pretty quick so they can have a holiday, but I don't think that will happen.

"The baby is probably going to come when we are just coming back to work."

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APPROVAL: Tony Mowbray's style has impressed rival managers