The 1970 – 1971 campaign was the last one that saw Alan Ashman in charge at the club as Albion could only manage a disappointing 17th place finish in the top flight, fortunate to avoid relegation at the end of the campaign. Don Howe took charge at the club in 1971, however in the following two seasons he failed to reverse Albion’s league fortunes as they finished the 1972 campaign off in 16th place before finishing off the 1973 season in a miserable 22nd position, in turn relegating the club to the second division, a place they had not been for the previous 25 years.
The 1973 – 1974 league season saw West Brom finish off in eighth position, not seeing the immediate return to the top flight they had been hoping for and to make matters worse, after reaching the fifth round of the FA Cup they suffered a 3-0 thrashing against Newcastle in that stage of the competition. Howe led Albion to a significant improvement at the end of the 1974 – 1975 league campaign as his side finished doff in sixth position, edging closer to the top flight. The 1974 – 1975 league season saw the emergence of future England international super star, Bryan Robson, a player who would o on to make over 90 appearances playing for his nation and captain his country in a world cup finals. Don Howe left the managerial post at West Brom in 1975 as Johnny Giles took over as manager shortly after wards.