West Brom finalising shortlist for managerial role
Albion are finalising their shortlist as they ramp up their search for a new boss – with the club now in the process of contacting suitable candidates.
The Baggies are on the hunt for a new manager after Sam Allardyce confirmed he has decided to leave The Hawthorns following Sunday’s game at Leeds.
Allardyce will now support technical director Luke Dowling and chairman Xu Ke – who is known as Ken – as Albion look to find a head coach who can mount a promotion push next year.
And the Express & Star understands the club is close to finalising its list of targets – with those managers now being contacted to arrange a first interview.
Former Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder is believed to be a name of the list.
The 53-year-old, who was named LMA Manager of the Year in 2019, is currently the bookmakers favourite to land the top job at The Hawthorns.
Barnsley boss Valerien Ismael is the second favourite with the bookies with John Terry third. Frank Lampard and Michael Appleton make up the top five.
While Terry is currently third on the list, the Express & Star understands Albion are looking for an experienced boss – with that likely to rule out the former Chelsea defender.
Ideally the successful candidate will also have a promotion on his CV.
Alongside Wilder, other managers currently out of work who have won promotion to the Premier League include Eddie Howe and Alex Neil.
Despite reports to the contrary, the Express & Star understands former Huddersfield boss David Wagner is not in the running for the job.
Speaking after announcing his decision, to leave, Allardyce said he believes Albion’s next boss needs to be experienced.
“You’ve got to look at what success they’ve had, wherever that might have been, whether that’s in the lower divisions or in this league itself,” Allardyce said.
“I still think it’s risky sometimes taking a foreign manager in this league to try to get up in your first season unless he’s a foreign manager who’s already in this country.
“If he knows about this country and the way it works that might be an option but to bring somebody in without experience is a lot more risky than somebody in this country, either British or foreign, that already knows the way it works here.
“And I think it’s more about sustainability and building because only one in three clubs go up on average in their first year. It may take a bit longer.”
