Ex-West Brom chief ‘to take’ hands-on transfer role at Watford | OneFootball

Former West Brom sporting director Luke Dowling is set to return to Watford in a consultancy post ahead of the summer window. The Watford Observer reports he will have a hands-on brief in recruitment, targeting players with Championship experience, and notes his strong relationship with owner Gino Pozzo.

Dowling spent four years as Watford’s sporting director earlier in his career. He also worked at Leeds, Portsmouth and Blackburn, and joined Albion from Nottingham Forest.

He left The Hawthorns in 2021, shortly after Albion’s relegation from the Premier League under Sam Allardyce, having led the hunt for Allardyce’s successor.

He wanted Chris Wilder, with David Wagner also under consideration, but then owner Guochuan Lai vetoed a move for Wilder and the club announced Dowling’s departure by mutual consent.

Last year his career took an unexpected turn when he became sporting director at Sporting Lagos in Nigeria.

Source: ExpressAndStar.com