Jonathan Greening: West Brom should get Roberto Di Matteo tied down to a long-term deal

Oct 17 2010 by Chris Lepkowski, Sunday Mercury

JONATHAN Greening returns to the Hawthorns next week urging his former employers to get Roberto Di Matteo tied down to a long-term deal.

The 31-year-old is back at B71 next Saturday with Fulham, for the first time since his Albion departure last summer.

Greening moved on loan to Craven Cottage for the initial year before his permanent move was formalised this summer.

The former Baggies skipper left just a couple of months into Di Matteo’s reign as Albion boss, playing two competitive games.

But Greening saw enough of the Italian to know he would be leaving behind a strong club, which would inevitably win promotion.

He feels that Albion’s progress is of no surprise to those who have worked for the current Baggies boss.

Greening watched Roy Hodgson leave Fulham for Liverpool during the summer – with Di Matteo being linked with that post before Mark Hughes’ arrival.

Di Matteo is currently on a one-year rolling contract and, although that is the norm at many clubs, Greening has urged Albion to do all they can to keep the manager tied to the club.

“Robbie has done a great job at West Brom,” said Greening, who made 224 appearances for Albion during a five-year spell, helping the club to the Championship title in 2008.

“As a player you look up to people who have achieved something themselves as footballers.

“I’ve got it now with Mark Hughes at Fulham and it was the same with Robbie.

“I remember what he did as a player and he demanded high standards.

“I speak to Deano (Kiely) sometimes and he tells me how strong the coaching staff is.

“Robbie is charismatic and will inevitably get interest from elsewhere. West Brom have to keep him happy because he can achieve a lot for the club in the future.

“Continuity is important and Robbie has got a momentum now at West Brom. I think he can take them far.

“When Tony Mowbray left it was a big decision for the club to have to make because obviously they’d just got relegated.