West Brom backing does not bring immunity - Mason

West Bromwich Albion head coach Ryan Mason says he is not - and should not - be immune from criticism, or the potential risk of losing his job, despite recently receiving the club's backing.

In a message to fans on 23 December, Baggies sporting director Andrew Nestor said Albion were "not interested in change for the sake of change" and "remained committed to our process, entrusting individuals with high integrity, skill and work ethic to move us forward".

The club's limited spending power heading into this month's transfer window were also underlined with the need to navigate "razor thin" profit and sustainability margins due to the financial problems inherited from the previous regime., external

"The message from the club was to make people understand our situation and why we are where we are and why in January certain things might not materialise because of the situation we inherited," Mason told BBC Radio WM.

"Andrew has sent a message to the fans explaining why we've had to sell some of our better players in the summer and why we're not able to make certain signings in January."

Nestor's support of Mason came with the Baggies 16th in the Championship and on a run of only three wins from 12 games.

That inconsistency continued over the festive period with a home defeat by Bristol City on 26 December, a win against Queens Park Rangers at The Hawthorns three days later and a ninth away loss on the spin at Swansea City on New Year's Day - their worst run on the road since 1972-73.

It has left the club seven points clear of the relegation places, nine adrift of the play-off spots, and Mason still under pressure.

But the Baggies boss says that is the way it should be, regardless of any public support from the board.

"I don't think anyone's immune to anything... there shouldn't be any," he said.

"It certainly isn't that [the statement from Nestor] when you represent a big club you need to feel the responsibility and we all need to own that.

"I think for some of the players at the minute, not being able to change, I think you need people to push you.

"The situation we're in is disappointing but that's the reality."

Albion head to Leicester City in their next game on Monday knowing a 10th defeat in a row away from home would equal a single-season club record stretching back nearly 100 years.

Although Mason has called the losing run "a bit embarrassing", seven of the nine defeats have been by a one-goal margin.

"We should've come out on top in quite a few of them, and that's the difference," he said.

"Football's a game of such small margins. As players and coach you have to take responsibility.

"We are creating and putting ourselves in positions but you've got to be able to take the chances and for some reason we aren't and there are many different reasons for that.

"But we're not a million miles away. Sometimes you need a bit of brilliance, need a bit of quality, a bit of luck, sometimes when you're on a run it doesn't always go your way."

Mason added that he is "not going to ask the fans for patience" and says they are right to feel unhappy with current results.

"We've lost too many games. I'm unhappy and it hurts me," he added.