Jones makes Hodgson plea

Billy Jones: Insists manager Roy Hodgson is massively important to the club

West Brom defender Billy Jones has urged the club to extend Roy Hodgson's contract as he believes his current boss is extremely important in the Baggies' development.

The former Preston player is insistent that the 64-year-old can move the team up a notch and help them become a solid Premier League side.

Hodgson did a respectable job with Albion last season in which he helped save the team from relegation, but with his contract due to expire in June, Jones is keen to see his stay extended.

"He's massively important to the club," Jones told the Sunday Mercury.

Next level

"He proved that last season with the situation West Brom were in before he arrived. He came in and pretty much made the difference of keeping the team up.

"The direction and the organisation he brought to the team set them on that great run and I'm sure we will show that again for him this year.

"The aim of the gaffer and the whole club in general is to take the club on to the next level. We all want to get rid of that ('yo-yo') tag and become an established Premier League team looking up and onwards.

''That's definitely the plan from the team at the moment and the whole club in general to keep on pushing on upwards and improving."