West Bromwich Albion have insisted that new head coach Pepe Mel is "happy" to work with the current staff, including Keith Downing and Dean Kiely, who were in temporary charge while the club looked for a new boss.

Mel reportedly initially turned down a move as he was blocked from bringing in his own team, but sporting director Richard Garlick said that for the time being the Spaniard would work with the current staff.

"There was a discussion about how he would fit in with the structure and how they would fit in if he wanted to bring in staff," Sky Sports News quotes Garlick as saying.

"That was the same process we went through with a number of candidates. He is more than happy with the staff he's got. He's pleasantly surprised about working with Keith and Dean and all the other staff.

"We said to Pepe we would monitor the situation and if there comes a point where he feels, or the club feels, he needs support then we will look at it. But there is no rush. He is more than happy with the staff he's got."

The Baggies are currently 14th in the Premier League.