West Brom manager search news: Ryan Mason update, next steps for Shilen Patel, Tony Mowbray exit | OneFootball

West Bromwich Albion chairman Shilen Patel has decisions to make on multiple fronts as they seek to replace Tony Mowbray.

Following their failure to reach the top six and the play-off places in the Championship all but confirmed on Easter Monday with a 3-1 defeat at home to relegation-battling Derby County, West Bromwich Albion took the decision to part company with Tony Mowbray.

Mowbray had returned to The Hawthorns to replace Carlos Corberan, who is now doing an excellent job in charge of Valencia in La Liga, but the Baggies never appeared convincing in his second stint in charge and the former Middlesbrough boss has now departed.

It has been reported by Alan Nixon, via his Patreon account, that West Brom are lining up Tottenham Hotspur coach Ryan Mason and he has been described by Nixon as being ‘top of the wanted list’.

As well as Mason, several other managers have been linked with the job but, with just two games of the campaign to go and former Albion midfielder James Morrison now in interim charge, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see chairman Shilen Patel take his time in the appointment of a new manager.

Mason would require patience from West Brom

The notion that patience would be required by Patel and the West Brom board is not just rooted in the fact there are only two games left with little to play for in the Championship but also because their rumoured key target, Mason, is heavily involved in Tottenham’s fairly crucial run-in this season.

The former Hull City midfielder is a key part of Ange Postecoglou’s coaching staff and despite renewed reports suggesting the Australian will depart regardless of how this season finishes, Mason would remain an integral part until at least the summer.

The biggest issue in terms of a quick appointment in that regard is Spurs’ current involvement in the UEFA Europa League semi-finals, whereby they face Norwegian Eliteserien side Bodo/Glimt next week.

As well as Mason, the other leading contenders for the job with the bookies appear to be Gary O’Neil, Steve Cooper, Sean Dyche and Liam Rosenior. However, there would be inevitable issues with the latter two as Dyche is now heavily linked with Leicester whilst Rosenior could well achieve UEFA Champions League qualification from Ligue 1 with Strasbourg.

The Mowbray sacking and Shilen Patel’s next steps

The departure of Mowbray doesn’t necessarily require a root and branch review of the way in which West Brom are making their decisions but it could be useful for Patel and the hierarchy to understand exactly what it is they want in the dugout.

Mowbray is known for being something of a tactical ideologue with a desire for attacking football with young players.

That is something that is more of a long-term project so for him to be let go within half a season, despite results and performances not immediately progressing, would suggest a lack of overall joined-up thinking.

The reported desire for a younger coach in Mason would again suggest that West Brom are trying to build something and Mason, in what would be his first full-time managerial post, would surely require patience and time – something not afford to Mowbray.

Figuring out exactly what next steps he wants to take with the managerial position is key for Patel and affording time to allow exactly what he wants will perhaps require more patience than just shown.