IT took two nearly months of bids, bluster and bravado but Gary Megson finally landed one his most trusted lieutenants this week in combative full-back Paul Robinson.

Deals involving his former club West Brom are seldom simple, such is the manager’s strained relationship with Baggies chairman Jeremy Peace — the man who ended his spell in charge at the Hawthorns in acrimonious circumstances five years ago.

So it was no surprise that the drawn out deal to bring the 30-year-old defender to the Reebok, which began in early June, involved more political posturing than a race for presidential candidacy.

The proposed transfer first hit the headlines of The Bolton News in early June when Robinson angered a large section of the West Brom support by stating publicly that he wanted to stay in the Premier League.

His revelation had coincided with manager Tony Mowbray’s departure to Celtic, and the Glasgow giants were linked as potential rivals for the left-back’s signature.

It soon became clear, however, that Robinson wanted only to link-up with Megson, who had made him a staple part of his twice-promoted West Brom side during his tenure in the Midlands.

An opening bid of £500,000 was rejected very publicly in the Midlands press, with an accompanying warning that it would take a figure double that amount to see the Baggies part with their man.

Wanderers looked at first to be unwilling to go that high but as time ticked on, and the “not for sale” statements from Peace and newly-installed manager Roberto di Matteo became more frequent with each passing day, some ground was finally conceded.

Robinson and fellow Wanderers target Jonathan Greening were thought to have held talks with Di Matteo, outlining their desire to play elsewhere. The Italian boss remained defiant to the end, declaring only on Friday that he did not need to sell anyone.

But by late Saturday, news broke that Robinson was having a medical at the Reebok and by Sunday morning, a three-year deal had been agreed. Officially, the transfer was listed as a season-long loan deal, much to the annoyance of the player himself — who claims he has already signed terms that will stretch beyond his 33rd birthday.

So what will the Whites be getting for their money? Robinson has developed a reputation for being a fearsome competitor, a quality admired by Megson, but does boast a rather chequered disciplinary record in recent years, with six red cards — one rescinded — and 30 yellows in the past four seasons.

Under the Wanderers boss, however, Robinson was sent off just once in nearly three years, and has also exhibited a much more control during his time at Watford under Gianluca Vialli and Ray Lewington.

Robinson was touted as a future England international by former West Brom boss Bryan Robson, but has never managed to build on the three Under-21 caps he earned as a youngster at Vicarage Road.

Persistent knee problems have hampered the defender throughout his career, preventing him from passing a medical at Wigan last year, although they have seldom stopped him from featuring on a matchday and he is expected to pass 500 career appearances in a Bolton shirt this season.