Source: Eurosport
Greening chasing new Baggies deal
Jonathan Greening has pledged his future to West Brom - even if they are relegated from the Premier League - and is willing to sign a new deal.Greening was one of the first players to insist he wanted to stay put after Albion lost the Championship play-off final to Derby two years ago.Now the former Middlesbrough player has taken a similar stance with Tony Mowbray's side eight points adrift of the safety zone after failing to win since mid-January ahead of Saturday's trip to Portsmouth.Greening, 30, said: "I think it is a case of everyone to their own decision. It (the Premier League) is the best league in the world and people want to play in it."For a young lad, who wants to be in the best league in the world, and has got international aims, they want to play in the Premier League."If we go down, I can understand why people would like to see if anything comes up. But, for me personally, this is a great club, with great backing, great fans."I know we are bottom of the Premier League at the moment but it is a club on the up and has got a really bright future."Greening added: "I would like to stay. I'm trying to hint to the chairman for the past few weeks to offer me a new contract but I don't think anyone is listening!"I've got one more year after this. You usually start talking when there is a year left so, as long as the manager and the chairman would like me to, I'd love to stay but it's all up to the top bosses."Hopefully it can be sorted. I've played 225 games for West Brom and I'd love to get to the 500 mark if I possibly could."Greening also believes that some of the current West Brom players would benefit from a season in the Championship.He said: "People have got to look at the overall picture and sometimes it is better to have a couple more years to get a bit more experience and a club like this, with a manager like we have got, can only get better."I think it is better to get the experience on board. The Championship is a tough league with some tough teams in there and sometimes it can help you to grow as a player."For young lads like Jonas (Olsson) and Borja (Valero), to play in a strong league like the Championship, can make you stronger mentally and physically and prepare you better for the next time you get promoted."It didn't do me any harm having two years in the Championship. I played 55 games both seasons and it was some of the best football I ever played."Sometimes you've got to look at the football aspect of it and take that on board as well."Greening is determined to stay upbeat as long as Albion have a mathematical chance of staying in the top flight this season.He said: "I know everyone is saying we are definitely down. They were saying that all the year of the 'great escape' five years ago and it would be nice to prove people wrong, seven games left."Football is a funny thing. We could go on and win all seven games. Whilst there are points to be played for, we are going to give it 120%."It is important to draw on the 'great escape'. It was a good time. Staying up the last game of the season was a brilliant feeling and it would be brilliant if we could do it again this year."[LNB]
