Do they have a point?

The row, which centres on player bonuses, threatens to undermine West Brom's return to the top flight.

The players are angry that initial plans for a �15,000-a-win per man bonus scheme - put forward by former chairman Paul Thompson - have since been scrapped.

The statement, issued to the Express and Star newspapers, accuses West Brom of offering "First Division basic pay with First Division bonuses".

Have the payers been treated shabbily?

The players are the ones who got Albion to the Premiership, so surely it's only right they are rewarded accordingly. Albion are going to make a lot of money this season, but it seems that they already lack the courage and ambition essential for survival.
Martin, Scotland

I think the board have got it right; it seems like the players don't actually care about the club's future. Why, for the sake of a few greedy individuals, should we risk the club going down the same road as the like of Bradford and Notts Forest? For the majority of these players, this will be the pinnacle of their careers, so why don't they just enjoy it for what it is?
Joe Martin, Notts, England

Although I realise that the football spending bubble has burst, I find it typical of the powers that be at The Hawthorns behaving in this manner. I've been a life long supporter and have always felt cheated that the board never appear to show the same passion and desire that the supporters have.

The players are right in suggesting that the club is being run as a First division one and not a Premiership outfit, which is something that can't be said about its fans. Albion will always be run the in the same way, so I suppose it's best that we have the memories of the day we won promotion.

Mr Peace, I think you should avoid counting the coppers and for once speculate to accumulate. Even Birmingham City are showing some ambition.
Richard Perry, Sutton Coldfield, England

The club's general attitude to promotion has been appalling. Their attitude to cost- cutting is not sensible, but ridiculous. WBA must realise that in the modern climate they have been lucky to have a wage bill in the Premiership where their highest paid player is only on �6k a week.

The fact that they are asking players like Gregan to take a pay cut, and can't even afford the services of Lee Marshall, suggests a prehistoric attitude to top flight football. The players deserve to be rewarded for gaining promotion, and deserve a bonus in line with modern rates. When will the WBA board realise that they have a great opportunity that most clubs can only dream of, and their attitude will only result in certain relegation.
Daniel Heathcote, UK

�15,000 a win! So if (however unlikely it is) the Baggies win two matches in a week the players pick up �30k? That's silly money! The players are getting paid to do a job, why should they get more if they do what they're supposed to do? Will they all pay the club �15,000 for each loss?
Bruce, UK

Let's start to think about staying up before sorting out these rewards!
Rob Dean, Walsall, England

If that is what the board promised to pay, then they should honour it.
Siggy, UK

Well done WBA for thinking with their heads and not their hearts. Like it or not football is now subject to the harsh economic realities that other businesses are faced with and they can't just throw around money like it is going out of business. What point would there be in WBA paying win bonuses they can't afford, getting relegated and then being in the position that Bradford find themselves in?
Anthony Jones, UK

I believe the club are quite within their rights to make this offer. Last year the players were offered a certain rate to do the job of keeping a then struggling club in the First division. They somehow managed to surpass all expectations.

This season they will struggle to match the 'bigger' clubs and therefore the players are trying to grab as much money as they can now!
Dave Payne, Black Country

I stand by the club. If the club stay up, as Megson said, they will do very well, and receive a big bonus at the end of the season. We shouldn't reward the players if they fail, and although we might win a few games, we could still get relegated.

Praise must go to the Albion. It may be controversial at the moment but if clubs are going to be secure in the long term, clubs are going to have to pay the players a smaller basic wage, with a higher win and success bonus.

If there are six or seven sides better than the Albion in the First Division they why did they finish second last season? There's a well know known phrase in football: the league table never lies.
Chris, Jersey

Albion would be better off offering a �100,000 per man bonus for staying up! Maybe they are upset over the amount per game because they know they will be lucky to win more than a couple of games.
Philip Carson, England

If that's the figure they were promised then that is the figure they should receive. It's as simple as that. A lack of will from the board to deliver on this will only undermine what Megson and the rest of the team are trying to achieve on the pitch.
Leigh Dicks, England

The money the board is offering wouldn't keep Beckham in haircuts! They need to be fair and discuss this with the players.
Morgan Ashley, Michigan, USA

The Albion are one of our oldest professional football clubs. They have a great history and tradition. What is of paramount importance is that the Albion continue to operate and further enhance their history.

Today it is clear to every observer of the game that professional football is living beyond its means. This summer there have been failures, there will be more. The principal concern of every management team, be it in football or not, is the continued existence of the organisation they manage.

The board are to be congratulated on taking a stance that is financially prudent and therefore offers the best opportunity for the continued existence of our great club.
Richard Frost, UK

The players already draw a wage to play the game. Win bonuses are an insult to supporters and anyone else who actually works for a living. The players in the Albion team aren't any better than First Division (especially Scott Dobie) calibre.

Maybe the board should just pay it out because they may actually not win a game this year. There are six or seven sides in Division One better than Albion.
Andrew, Canada

If Alvaro Recoba, Christian Vieri, Ronaldo and Zidane are taking ten percent pay cuts to help their teams, then who are these guys? Is any one of them a star player? This past week Barcelona let Rivaldo go for free because they could not pay his salary. Man Utd greatly overpaid for Rio Ferdinand and have dented reality for many in England. These are belt-tightening times.
Mark Doherty, USA

As a Baggies supporter of 48 years I back the club. Someone has to take a stand against the obscene wages paid by clubs.
John Burford, Australia

How can they say they are badly done-to when most of them are earning more in a week than most people earn in a year? I'd be happy making �10,000 a week to do something I love...and to only have to play twice a week at the most...and to be idolised by footy fans!
Jamie Pell, The Boro, England

Give them the �15,000 bonus. They aren't going to win many games.
Sam, UK

This is typical of the Albion. They should be proud to play for the shirt and not be greedy. I think it would be fair to give them bonuses if they can stay up!
Ashley Clapperton, Australia

I think it's a bit unfair of the players to say that their club is running like a "First Division club". Surely that's what they were a mere two-and-a-bit months ago. As a supporter of a First Division club I find it a bit insulting.
Stef Johnson, England

My dream in May was for WBA to grace the Premiership. I now firmly believe that reaching the Premiership was against the wishes and business plan of the club. We cannot cope and are looking out of our depth before a ball is kicked.

An insulting and upsetting transfer policy is alienating previously friendly club rivals, our player treatment is simply atrocious and we are being seen as petty and small-minded. I hate to say this, but we should give up our place to Wolves and let them have a proper crack at the Premier League.

I would genuinely rather see them try and fail than watch my own club hold up the white flag and embarrass ourselves. We don't need to spend multi-millions on players and wages, but if you pay peanuts...
Bob Carter, West Mids, UK

So the players are complaining about a paltry �4,000 bonus? Perhaps they should blockade the Hawthorns gates with their Ferraris?
John, Tipton, UK

I fully agree with the players. I wonder if Mr Megson is willing to lead by example - I'm talking of his new contract. What this will do to morale I don't know.
Everall Graham, USA

They need to find some middle ground. The board are correct in trying to protect the future of the club, but they must also take care of the present, as the players who won promotion deserve some reward.

I think �15,000 a win is a little much, but they need to meet in the middle and give the players some reward for bringing back some pride to the Hawthorns.
Scott Cooper, USA