West Bromwich Albion announced yesterday that they had opted to part company with head coach Eric Ramsay, just 44 days after appointing the 34-year-old.
There’s no getting away from the fact that it’s been a disastrous campaign for the Baggies. The appointment of Ryan Mason last summer was thought to be a shrewd one, but he too found himself cast aside in January.
Ramsay’s tenure that followed failed to garner a single win. In fact, the former Manchester United coach oversaw just four goals in his eight games in charge.
Club legend James Morrison is back in interim charge for the third time. He previously temporarily held the reins last month as well for a brief spell between April and May last year.
It remains to be seen as to whether the midfielder may finally get a longer shot in the dugout. Here we explore five options the West Midlanders should consider.
James Morrison – Current Interim Boss
West Brom are perilously close to the Championship relegation places. As such, an unthinkable drop into League One is a very real possibility.Â
It’s likely that the club will now take their time to find the right man after getting the last appointment so drastically wrong. Morrison will be the main beneficiary of that and could now feel that he is being given his audition.
Having earned promotion to the Premier League twice with the club as a player, whilst also picking up the Player of the Year award in 2014, his presence will be one the fans will take to in the short term. See the recent boost at Manchester United under Michael Carrick as an example.
If the former Scotland international keeps the Baggies in the Championship, and does so comfortably, they’d be silly not to consider handing him the job on a full time basis.
Sean Dyche – Unattached
Sean Dyche was the latest manager to be shown the revolving door at Nottingham Forest earlier this month. That was despite improving the fortunes of the East Midlands-based outfit and possessing a rather impressive 40% win rate during his time at the City Ground.
There are very few managers out there that are better at navigating clubs to survival, albeit in the Premier League. However, the 54-year-old also has vast experience in the second tier having twice won promotion with Burnley.
The real sticking point here will be whether Dyche is willing to drop back down to the Championship after years spent in the division above. He may also not be keen for an immediate return to work and is someone that is likely to be in demand in the coming months.
West Brom would feel securing his services would be a major coup and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see them sound out his interest, at the very least.
Russell Martin – Unattached
Yes, Russell Martin seems to be linked with every job that becomes available in the Championship. After all, he does have success in this division having won the play-offs with Southampton in 2024.
With previous spells at MK Dons and Swansea City under his belt, a return to the English game seems his most likely move after his disastrous spell at Rangers earlier this season. He left the Glasgow giants after just 17 games, a run which also included an embarrassing 9-1 aggregate defeat against Club Brugge in the Champions League.
Martin was heavily linked with the position at the Hawthorns last month following Ryan Mason’s exit and he is likely to be among the frontrunners again.
Alex Revell – Stevenage
West Brom tried something different with Eric Ramsay which backfired spectacularly, so it’s unlikely fans will want to see their club take another risk. Alex Revell does fit into this category, but that shouldn’t put them off.
Currently in charge at Stevenage in League One, the 42-year-old is performing an excellent job at the Lamex Stadium. Taking over from Steve Evans in 2024 was no easy task to follow, but he has arguably improved the Hertfordshire-based club.
They currently lie eighth in the third tier, although they are four points behind sixth-placed Huddersfield Town with two games in hand. It’s only a matter of time before a Championship club takes serious interest in the former Brighton & Hove Albion attacker, although it’s not out the equation that he will take his current employers up a level this season.
Michael Skubala – Lincoln City
Michael Skubala has certainly earned his admirers over the past couple of years. Having taken over at Lincoln City in his first managerial role in 2023, he has built a stellar reputation.
Another currently in League One, he could also be seen as a risk. However, there’s little doubt that he will be managing in the Championship next season. The Imps currently sit second and are 10 points above Bolton Wanderers in third, who have played a game more.
The ex-Leeds United coach has picked up the Manager of the Month award on two occasions this season. He is certainly a head coach that is on an upwards trajectory and was another linked with a move to West Brom last month.
Although he is likely to be well-regarded by the Baggies hierarchy, this is one move that would be tough to pull off. With Lincoln looking likely to end a 65-year wait for second tier football, Skubala would take some prising away from the LNER Stadium.
