West Brom’s only priority from now until the end of the season will be to ensure their Championship safety.
Ryan Mason began the season in the Albion dugout for his first full-time management post, but things did not go as planned, as he left The Hawthorns after Albion’s tenth consecutive defeat on the road – the club’s worst away record in over a century.
Mason departed Albion 18th in the Championship table and seven points outside the bottom three at the time, prompting the Baggies leadership to choose former Minnesota United coach Eric Ramsay as his replacement.
And that was an even bigger disaster, as the Welshman’s 44-day reign as Albion manager came to an end with a 1-1 draw at home to Charlton Athletic, meaning the ex-Baggies boss had failed to win a single Championship game in nine games and left the club just one point above the relegation zone.
Now, the Black Country club has rehired Albion great James Morrison as interim manager, and he has so far instilled faith and optimism in the Baggies’ ability to fight their way out of their current situation.
With Morrison on first-team duty until the end of the season, the Albion hierarchy will be putting arrangements in place for a new manager to take over this summer, with much of that dependant on which level they play in next term.
With this in mind, FLW has chosen the five most qualified applicants for the position, ranking them from worst to best.
5 Michael Skubala
Michael Skubala, the current Lincoln City manager, ranks fifth.
Skubala took his first managerial post at the LNER Stadium in 2023, following caretaker and first-team coaching experiences at Leeds United, and he has already demonstrated that he is a top-tier manager in the making.
After two seasons of flirting with the prospect of moving out of League One, his third season in command has his team on track to return to the Championship for the first time since 1961.
What would be a significant accomplishment, it’s no surprise to see the 43-year-old linked with many bigger names in the second division, with the impression that Skubala has many more gears to go through in his management career.
Despite all of the advantages, he is ranked fifth because of his lack of Championship-level management experience. Albion have already suffered greatly under inexperienced managers Ryan Mason and Eric Ramsay, so it appears that selecting a manager with a similar profile would be risky.
Not to mention that Skubala may wish to continue his project with Lincoln. They should go on to complete the job and secure a spot in next season’s Championship campaign, so he may see it as unfinished work after assisting them so successfully in League One.
While Skubala should be considered, the Albion hierarchy may be concerned about his lack of second-tier experience.
4Dave Challinor
Next up is Dave Challinor, who has been on an upward track as a coach since taking over at Stockport County in 2021.
Challinor, who has a stronger managing background since 2010, has made his mark at Edgeley Park, guiding the Hatters to two promotions in three years, winning the National League title in 2021-22 and then lifting the fourth-tier title at the end of the 2023-24 season.
And since entering League One, Challinor’s men have been extremely competitive, finishing third last season and firmly in contention for another play-off spot at the end of this season.
Challinor’s climb through the divisions and ability to put together a very solid League One squad means it’s only a matter of time until he emerges in the Championship, with Albion a highly appealing assignment for him to take on.
The 50-year-old is ranked higher than Skubala because of his longer-term success with Stockport and strong managerial background, but his lack of experience managing at a second-tier level may concern some Baggies fans, though he remains a viable option.
3Russell Martin
Russell Martin comes in third, looking to restore himself following a terrible period with Rangers.
Martin proved to be the Gers’ shortest-serving permanent manager in their 153-year existence, so a return to the Championship could be just what he needs to get his career back on track.
The former MK Dons and Norwich City defender has earned promotion from the Championship by bringing Southampton back to the top division in 2024, defeating West Brom in the play-off semi-finals.
A big aspect that could lead Martin to Albion is the appointment of Matt Gill to assist Morrison in the closing months of the season.
Gill previously worked with Martin at MK Dons before becoming his right-hand man at Swansea, Southampton, and Rangers, so the two have a tight relationship, and Gill might be persuaded to stay beyond this season if Martin walks into the building.
His strong and possession-minded attitude would be welcomed at The Hawthorns, where players are encouraged to take risks, while he believes in playing young players and aims to propel the Baggies as high as possible in the standings.
It would surely be an appointment that splits opinion, but following past experience of achieving promotion out of the division, Martin must be high on the shortlist of people who can take this club ahead.
2James Morrison
James Morrison, the current temporary manager and Albion legend, is in second place, having done an excellent job of reconnecting the playing team with the fans thus far.
When Hull City came to town, the Hawthorns was at its raucous best, with Albion tearing their opponents apart and mauling the Tigers to earn their first league victory in over three months.
With the stadium rocking, the players replied with a display of heart and determination, and they shown similar qualities in their draw with Southampton, as they were rightfully cheered off the field that evening.
Morrison has returned the spirit and drive that should be displayed when donning the blue and white stripes, and there is hope that the players have found a figure with whom to battle and scrap during such a major final showdown.
The 39-year-old’s ability to recognize flaws and adapt his systems swiftly has also set Albion up for success, with the club switching to an old-fashioned 4-4-2 formation following their defeat to Oxford United, which has made the team appear much more free-flowing and dangerous in the final third.
Morrison appears to be a proactive and forward-thinking manager, and the present playing squad clearly respects him and wants to compete for every ball under his leadership.
Provided he can keep the Baggies in the Championship, he should be high on the list of candidates, and the majority of Albion fans would undoubtedly enjoy seeing the former Scotland international return to the dugout on a full-time basis and add to his already glowing reputation in the Black Country.
1Sean Dyche
Sean Dyche is ranked first, and while this is an audacious appointment, the former Everton manager may be interested in the position if Albion remain in the Championship next season.
The 54-year-old recently left Premier League club Nottingham Forest, where he won six of his 18 top-flight games in charge and left the Reds three points above the relegation zone.
Crucially, Dyche has managed at the Championship level. He has not worked in English football’s second tier since 2016, but he has a track record of success in the level, having led Burnley to the title that year.
All of that expertise, along with keeping the Clarets in the Premier League for five consecutive seasons, as well as his roles at Everton and Forest, would make him an extremely enticing choice and result in a true coup for West Brom.
Dyche may also be interested because Albion’s financial condition appears to be improving, implying that the management may be willing to assist him in building a side capable of competing for a spot back in the top flight.
Dyche’s mantra of making teams difficult to beat and sturdy both with and without the ball is something Baggies fans would like watching, even if he may have to move down to the second tier in order to return to the Premier League circle later on.
xz
