Exclusive: Don Goodman drops Martí Cifuentes claim as West Brom set appointment stance | OneFootball

Don Goodman has told FLW his verdict on West Brom's search for a new manager

Don Goodman has warned West Brom that they have to get this next managerial appointment right after ruling Martí Cifuentes off their shortlist.

It was reported by Darren Witcoop in late April that the Baggies were admirers of the Spaniard amid their search for a permanent replacement for Tony Mowbray.

However, it was later claimed by John Percy that Cifuentes is not on the shortlist of potential candidates to take over the first team squad at the Hawthorns, despite the coach being placed on gardening leave by QPR.

No official appointment has since been made, with West Brom hoping the next manager can improve on the side’s ninth place finish in the Championship table this season.

Don Goodman makes West Brom manager search claim

Goodman is unsure whether Cifuentes would’ve been a good fit at West Brom or not, highlighting QPR’s disappointing Championship campaign.

However, he believes it is crucial the Baggies get their next managerial appointment right after their play-off push collapsed in the final weeks of the season.

“I say this often when I’m answering questions about players and managers, it’s really not for me to say whether Martí Cifuentes is somebody that West Bromwich Albion should be considering,” Goodman exclusively told Football League World.

“It’s one of those scenarios, isn’t it really? I always compare the parallels of Martí Cifuentes’ arrival in the Championship at QPR to Danny Rohl’s arrival at Sheffield Wednesday.

“They were both in a massive, massive hole and the two head coaches dug their respective clubs out of it.

“But then obviously this season it’s been very, very disappointing to say the least, from Queens Park Rangers particularly.

“I think Sheffield Wednesday you could probably forgive ultimately where they finished in the Championship because of all the turmoil off the pitch.

“So, it’s a difficult one, really, but like most clubs that are searching for managers in the Championship, West Brom, it’s a huge appointment that they simply have to get right.”

West Brom finished four points adrift of the top six, dropping from fifth in the table in 2024 to ninth in 2025.

Cifuentes appointment could have worked for West Brom

Losing Carlos Corberan as manager was clearly a massive blow to West Brom’s campaign.

But they can now use the summer to reset after a disappointing second half of the season, and bringing in a new head coach could breathe a new lease of life into the club.

It’s surprising that Cifuentes was ruled out so quickly, especially as speculation began to mount over his future in the final weeks of the campaign, as he has shown a lot of potential while at QPR.

But Goodman is right that the next appointment is crucial for Albion because the new owners have to show the fans that they’re taking the team in the right direction.