West Bromwich Albion midfielder Jason Koumas has pledged his loyalty to the club and expressed his determination to guide the Baggies back into the Premiership.
"There's one job we have here — that's to get promotion and make sure we're in the Premiership next season," said Koumas, who has been linked with top-flight side Blackburn Rovers,.
"I'm 100 per cent committed here and want to repay the club. The fact is I know where I'm going to be for the next few years and it's nice to have my future planned out.
"Albion have looked after me and I want to repay them. Speculation is going to happen; your better players will always attract bigger clubs.
"They always want to strengthen and look to teams like us but I am very positive nothing will happen in January because it's far more important this club goes up than makes a bit of money which, I'm sure, is exactly what the chairman would say anyway."
Koumas was awarded a three-year contract in the summer and is another player who has seen his career changed by Bryan Robson's departure — though in an admittedly more positive direction than Wallwork's.
Koumas was farmed out to Cardiff City for all of last season and was the public target of Robson's ire on more than one occasion for his apparent reluctance to track back.
But in the last couple of months he has become a rejuvenated character and played a central role in some of the most attractive football seen at Albion for many years.
He has also reclaimed his role in John Toshack's Wales team and even scored twice in last week's 4-0 friendly victory over Liechtenstein.
Meanwhile, Albion manager's Tony Mowbray's pruning process began yesterday when Ronnie Wallwork moved to the brink of a loan deal with Barnsley.
The Albion manager has been told he has to make space in his squad before he can buy anyone when the transfer window opens in six weeks’ time and has identified Wallwork and goalkeeper Pascal Zuberbuhler as the likely candidates.
Wallwork, who joined the club on a free transfer from Manchester United four years ago, is today expected to finalise a loan arrangement with the Yorkshire side which will see him stay at Oakwell until January 1.
Albion can recall the 29-year-old with 28 days’ notice and he will not be allowed to play when the two sides meet next month but it seems he has little future at Albion under Mowbray.
He has not played since the calamitous 3-3 draw with Queens Park Rangers and his appearance on the bench in last Saturday's 3-0 victory over Burnley was the first time he has even made the matchday squad since.
The new manager's arrival has seen Richard Chaplow and Darren Carter overtake him in the race for the one vacancy in an Albion midfield stacked with creative talent.
With Zoltan Gera nearing fitness and Jonathan Greening back from suspension — and Koumas a fixture in the middle of the park — Wallwork has little prospect of enjoying any first-team football at The Hawthorns.
Which is remarkable considering the fact that only three players appeared more frequently than Wallwork in last season's relegation from the Premiership and that he had started 11 of the first 12 games this term.
But with Mowbray favouring more dynamic types to play his attacking brand of football Wallwork's temporary exit in the next couple of days is likely to become more permanent either in the New Year or next summer.
If he can agree terms with managerless Barnsley — who sacked Andy Ritchie this week after slumping to second bottom of the division — his stay will include the home clash with Ipswich on Saturday plus their fixtures against Southend, Leeds, Leicester, QPR, Burnley, Sheffield Wednesday and Wolves.
