Andrew Nestor 'surprise' revelation emerges after West Brom exit | OneFootball

A surprise revelation has emerged regarding Andrew Nestor's exit from West Bromwich Albion concerning Shilen Patel and the club's hierarchy.

West Bromwich Albion saw recent president and sporting director Andrew Nestor depart the club in the last few weeks, with new information coming to light since.

Nestor arrived at The Hawthorns with owner and Chairman Shilen Patel in February 2024, following the American's takeover of the Baggies. However, after securing a play-off berth that season, things have not gone well since.

A ninth-placed finish has been followed up by a campaign now fighting relegation to League One. That has seen Nestor step down at West Brom, following a series of failures during his almost two-year spell.

His departure follows tension behind the scenes, with the sacking of Ryan Mason as head coach coming just 14 days after an open letter, written by Nestor on the West Brom website, stated that the club needed to "apply patience in our planning to allow the playing and coaching staff to settle".

He departs while West Brom sit just two points and one place above the dotted line, with Eric Ramsay replacing Mason and losing four and drawing three of his first seven games in all competitions thus far.

West Brom surprised at Andrew Nestor decision

Further information has come to light regarding Nestor and his exit from the Baggies. John Percy of The Telegraph has revealed key details regarding his time with the club and the nature of his departure, too.

Firstly, Percy reveals that Nestor departed amid friction over the direction of the club. That is despite the fact the American introduced data platforms to supplement the recruitment team on signings.

The report reveals that he rebuilt the squad to play a specific style and formation, with more players with leadership and experience acquired to support Mason. However, many also argue he was responsible for a number of poor signings from the summer.

The most interesting update is that Nestor’s exit is alleged to have caught the hierarchy at Albion by surprise, with former managing director Mark Miles since returning to the club.

Nestor's exit also led to transfer business in the January window late on being overseen by West Brom recruitment chief Ian Pearce instead.

Since 2000, West Brom have finished at least 10th in English football's second division in every season, and as high as eighth in the Premier League in 2012/13.

The mismanagement of the club, combined with mixed transfer spending and poor managerial appointments, has seen West Brom fall into a relegation scrap in 2025/26.

Ramsay is already under pressure, with his side technically in the bottom three on points per game. Leicester City's points deduction is currently keeping them alive.

The club have only spent two seasons in the third tier of English football in their history, and have never been below that level. It would be a damning indictment on Nestor and co.'s running of the club for the Baggies to fall into League One.

But that reality is staring them in the face now, with WBA fans coming to terms with it. The Charlton Athletic and Oxford United games in the coming weeks look like being key to survival.