Big pay-cuts for players if West Brom go down

And reports have also emerged claiming none of the Baggies squad have buy-out clauses in their contracts if they do fall into English football’s second tier.

It is now common practice in football for players to receive a pay-cut if they are relegated. And it is understood Albion’s players will see their wages slashed by either 40 or 50 per cent depending on the terms of their contract.

Widely regarded as a survival specialist, Allardyce has never been relegated before – with the 66-year-old having previously defied the odds to keep the likes of Bolton, Sunderland and Crystal Palace in the Premier League.

But the Baggies are now 1/25 on with some bookmakers to go down as they prepare for what is surely a must-win game at Crystal Palace on Saturday.

And the boss confirmed there will be financial implications for the squad if they are relegated.

“I will be devastated,” Allardyce said when asked how he will feel if the Baggies do go down and he loses his status of having never been relegated.

“It’s not what I want to achieve at West Brom and it’s not why the club brought me in.

“I won’t be happy, the club won’t be very happy and the players won’t be happy because they will get heavy reductions to their contracts.

“I’m not sure everybody gets the same.

“But they will get big reductions in their contracts if they lose their Premier League status.”

Meanwhile, reports have emerged saying Albion’s players do not have buy-out clauses in their contracts that would become active following relegation.

When the Baggies were relegated to the Championship in 2018, many players did have release clauses.

One of those was striker Jay Rodriguez was sold to Burnley a year later for an initial £5 million.

But according to reports, the club has been determined to avoid a similar scenario if they do again drop into the second tier.