Darren Fletcher happy Tony Pulis is staying at West Brom
Sunday 4 September 2016 13:15, UK
Darren Fletcher maintains he was not worried Tony Pulis would leave West Brom despite speculation he would quit after a frustrating transfer window.
Pulis eventually signed five new players this summer and broke the club's transfer record to bring in Nacer Chadli from Tottenham for £13m.
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Pulis missed Saturday's 1-0 friendly win over Delhi Dynamos due to family commitments but is staying on at The Hawthorns - and that pleases his captain Fletcher.
The Scotland midfielder told Sky Sports News HQ: "If you see the position the club were in when he took over to where we are now and how comfortably we stayed up last season, he's ambitious.
"He wants to progress the squad - he doesn't want to stand still and it's been well documented there were rumours about this and that.
"Sometimes it's just rumours and you can't be picking up the phone every time you hear a rumour. You'd be phoning people 24/7.
"Things play out. I was very calm and felt like the manager would still be there. I know he still wants to be at the club.
"He has great affection for the club and is really enjoying his time being there. I wasn't too worried when I heard the rumours and it was just nice that it got put to bed."
Pulis signed Fletcher from Manchester United last year and immediately made him captain despite the player having a number of injury and health issues.
The 32-year-old is eager to repay that faith by delivering another season which sees West Brom stay in the Premier League.
Fletcher added: "He's a great manager and a great man. He's done a great job for West Brom. I can't speak highly enough of him. He really backed me and batted for me.
"He got me in at West Brom and made me captain. He made me an important player around the place and I'd like to think my performances in return have been good to him.
"I hope the manager can show what a good manager he is with a good group of players and we can have a really good season that reflects his hard work and how good a manager he is."
