Jimmy Shan leaves West Brom with Slaven Bilic set to turn to Julian Dicks

Shan, who took over as caretaker boss last season when Darren Moore was sacked, ends a 13-year association with the Baggies.

Bilic is hoping to approach Dicks, who he worked with at West Ham, next week with an offer to be first team coach in order to fill the gap left by Shan's departure.

After working his way up from under-7s coach to under-23s boss, Shan was promoted to the role of first team coach under Moore towards the end of the 2017/18 season.

He then took over the hot-seat in March when Moore was sacked with his two assistants, Graeme Jones and Wayne Jacobs.

Shan impressed during his time as caretaker, and cemented Albion's place in the top six when it looked under threat.

He then took in-form rivals Aston Villa to penalties in the play-off semi-final despite being reduced to 10 men in both legs.

Chief executive Mark Jenkins was keen to keep Shan at the club as a permanent first team coach to help provide continuity.

But Shan admitted his time in charge had given him a taste of management and the confidence to become a head coach in his own right.

Jenkins said: “We are sorry to see Jimmy leave and we’d like to thank him for his tireless efforts over the past 13 years, no more so than when he stepped up to the challenge of leading our first team for the final 12 games of last season.

“Jimmy leaves with our blessing and we have no doubt that he will soon be in work elsewhere.

"We will enjoy watching his progress as a coach from afar and I look forward to our paths crossing again in the future. We wish Jimmy and his family all the very best.”

The 40-year-old has previously been approached by the Football Association to work with England's youth teams and that could be a possible future destination for him.

Dicks worked with Bilic at West Ham, and the former Liverpool defender is currently manager of Isthmian League North Division club Heybridge Swifts.