Unlike most clubs who make the big leap into the Premiership, the Baggies maintained many of their original staff and only recruited a few players to their squad. They kept their wage bill down and hoped for survival.
They were unsuccessful in this bid and departed for First Division football on a much firmer footing than previously relegated clubs.
Leicester City, Ipswich Town, Coventry City, Derby County, Norwich City, Sheffield Wednesday, West Ham United, Nottingham Forest, Sunderland, Crystal Palace and Sheffield United have all fallen out of the top league in recent years.
Most have suffered strong financial difficulties, especially over the past two years with both Leicester City and Ipswich Town entering administration after they suffered relegation. West Ham and sunderland sold big players to compensate, but both are in the red.
This must leave West Brom as a good example to follow financially. They did not let the surplus of cash from various sources go to their heads in the Premiership, but instead saved that cash and have returned to the First Division a stronger outfit.
Surely now, given their big league experience and the strong financial position the Baggies will be strong canditdates for a swift return, and be a stronger club for it.
Jewell said: "You have to say that West Brom are one of the favourites for promotion and although they would have been disappointed to be relegated last year, their players will have learnt a lot from that experience.
"I get on well with Gary Megson and he helped as a player in the weeks I played under his caoaching at Bradford. They're a good side and Gary has done a fine job so we know it will be tough tomorrow."
They have secured the signing of Rob Hulse from Crewe. Hulse was a traget of the Latics' over the summer, but has decided on a move to the Hawthorns instead. The powerful striker has started this season like he finished last, he managed 27 goals last term and has mustered 6 already this term.
In midfield the Baggies are likely to line-up with former Preston man Sean Gregan and Jason Koumas, once of Tranmere Rovers.
Gregan is likely to be the holding player allowing Koumas to assit strongly in the attacking. Koumas is a danger from set-pieces and is undoubtably the one-to-watch in the oppostion line-up.
James O'Connor is also sure of a place in the midfield. The midfielder cost just £300,000 from Stoke City.
However Wigan Athletic are arguably one of the better sides in the division aswell. We have started very well, better than 99% of the supporters could have hoped for and hopefully with a few additions to the team we can continue in this vain for as long as possible.
"We're pleased with how we've started though and will go into the game full of confidence," added Jewell. "I was upset with our lack of concentration on Saturday but we'll learn from that I'm sure and we'll be looking to build on our good start on Tuesday."
The hard-working Wigan boss was quick to add that this was not a big game in his book. "This game is no more important than the other six that we've played though - we want to win every time we take to the field and that will be no different against West Brom."
In his previous signings, Paul Jewell has been very wise and brought in some excellent youngsters going forward and some experienced heads to sure up the defence making us a very strong outfit.
He has aquired a desirable balance of skill, muscle, hark-word, youth and experience throughout his team and we will be very hard to beat this season. However the squad is a bit thin on numbers. A number of injuries could put an end to any hopes of a play-off place that we may harbour.
Jason Jarrett, Paul Mitchell and Steve McMillan are douts for the game, "Jason Jarrett jarred his knee on Saturday and is doubtful and that's why he was taken off on Saturday. Paul Mitcheel did well in his place but he's picked up a bit of a dead leg so we'll have to see how he is too," Jewell continued. "Tony dinning can slot in there though so it wouldn't be a major problem if either of those first two miss out, it's just the fact that no-one wants to miss any games as there's no guarentee they'll be able to get back into the side.
"We'll see how Steve McMillan is in the build up to the game as well and we'll leave and decisions we have to make as late as we possibly can to give the plauers as much time as possible to recover. We obviously have Neil Roberts back in contention as well which is another good dilema to have and once again I'll have some decision to make ahead of the game."
The line-up is likely to remain unchanged from that which beat Wimbledon 4-2 at the weekend.
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The only change maybe that of Jarrett for Dinning in the centre of midfield if the youngster does not recover full fitness in time for the clash.
Line-Ups: (Probable)
West Brom: (3-5-2) Hoult, Haas, Gaardsoe, Sigurdsson, Volmer, O'Connor, Gregan, Koumas, Clement, Hulse, Hughes.
Wigan: (4-4-2) Filan, Eaden, Kennedy, Jackson, Breckin, Liddell, McCulloch, Jarrett, Bullard, Horsfield, Ellington.
Prediction: 1-0 Latics with Ellington or Horsfield nabbing the winner at the death after a closely fought encounter.
Put in simple terms, the winner of the game will go top of the First Division.