West Brom boss 'disappointed and frustrated' by departure of key player behind his back 24 hours before Brighton trip
West Brom manager Slaven Bilic has claimed the club went behind his back to allow an important defender to leave just one day before he was due to start against Brighton.
The Baggies held Brighton to a 1-1 draw at the Amex last night but Bilic mainly spoke about his disappointment and frustration in his post-match press conference.
Bilic said the club had promised they would not let Egyptian defender Ahmed Hegazi leave, only to then allow a loan move to Saudi Arabian side Al-Ittihad, just 24 hours before their trip to the South Coast.
Bilic said: "It definitely it wasn't my decision, [so] not a football decision. I’m very disappointed. We are a team which needs good players.
“He is a player that has know-how in the Premier League, has vast experience, he’s an international player, a great professional, he played last week against Burnley and the whole week, he was training with us when we were doing the shape."
Bilic said he had assurances Hegazi would not leave, as 'he wanted to stay and I wanted him to stay'.
"I am very disappointed and frustrated," he said. "We did great to keep our players from last season.
"We are not in a position to lose those style of players."
When asked if he would consider his own future at the club, Bilic said: "He [Hegazi] was meant to play today, he’s a top professional, he had to wait for his chance but because of his know-how, he got his chance and took it really well.
“I counted on him big time, to lose him on basically Sunday morning, yesterday morning find it out, makes me really disappointed."