Baggies chief Brendon Batson (GaryMPrior/GettyImages)

Boss Gary Megson, whose side visit derby rivals Aston Villa tomorrow, is scouring the Continent to try and line-up potential signings for when the transfer window reopens and funds will be made available.

But former West Brom skipper Batson is adamant Albion will not follow the path of other clubs who have lost their place in the top flight - with both Derby and Leicester now both in dire straits after going down last May.

'We run a tight ship financially and that was never going to change,' said Batson. 'We've managed to cut our cloth accordingly. We've set out to give it a very good shot in the Premiership, but we are not going to go mad and undermine the club's financial stability.

'Everyone is now mindful of what the finances are in the game and the experience of other clubs, particularly those that have tasted the Premiership and then suffered a downturn in fortunes.

'What you've got to look at is 'how can we achieve that without putting a club in such a financial straight-jacket that it is driving the club to the wall?''

Batson insisted, though, the Baggies will have to sell top performers such as goalkeeper Russell Hoult and striker Jason Roberts to finance any future transactions.

He stressed: 'We have no plans to sell Russell or Jason. We are trying to improve the squad and are certainly not in a position where we have to sell anyone.

'I have no idea where these stories are coming from, but the truth is that they are the furthest thing from our minds.'