West Brom hierarchy make Ryan Mason decision ahead of crunch Oxford United clash | OneFootball

The 34-year-old has come under intense scrutiny in recent weeks at The Hawthorns

Ryan Mason is set to remain in his post as West Bromwich Albion head coach despite intense pressure from supporters after a wretched run of recent form.

The Baggies have faltered in recent Championship outings, with their rather impressive and fast start to life under the 34-year-old now a distant memory in the eyes of many at The Hawthorns.

Such feelings were further demonstrated amongst the away end and those on social media in midweek, as the West Midlands side suffered a third successive defeat on their travels as Sonny Carey's long-range strike flew past Josh Griffiths, with Charlton Athletic taking all three points at The Valley in dramatic fashion.

Results in midweek outings saw Albion fall as low as 15th in the second tier table, having accumulated 18 points from their opening 14 league games under Mason.

Many associated with the B71 club have viewed Saturday's home clash with Oxford United as a 'must-win', in order for the ex-Tottenham Hotspur midfielder to keep his job.

However, this doesn't appear to be the case for Shilen Patel and the hierarchy as the November international break looms large, according to fresh reports on Friday afternoon.

Ryan Mason to remain as West Brom head coach despite intense supporter pressure

Mason took up his current position in June as the Baggies looked to rectify what was a turbulent and underwhelming 2024/25 campaign which ended in a ninth-place finish, finishing four points outside the top-six.

Eventually becoming Tony Mowbray's long-term successor in the Black Country, he was handed a three-year contract after departing the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, where he was most recently assistant to Ange Postecoglou during Spurs' UEFA Europa League-winning term.

Mason oversaw a major squad reshuffle across his first pre-season and transfer window in the Midlands, with nine new recruits - the most high-profile being Norwegian striker, Aune Heggebo - compensating for the departures of 12 figures, with the club receiving eight-figure sums for both Tom Fellows and Torbjorn Heggem in the process.

By the end of September, the 34-year-old had Albion positioned in eighth, just two points behind the automatic promotion places in what is being viewed as the most wide-open Championship in many a year.

However, an overall run of two wins since August 30th has seen the Baggies slip into the bottom half, although there are still only five points between themselves and Charlton, who occupy the final play-off position at present.

As such, Football Insider claim that the Albion board have no plans to relieve Mason of his duties despite a run of form which has set alarm bells ringing amongst a fanbase who want to see their club push towards the Premier League for the first time since the 2020/21 campaign.

Patel is likely to afford the Enfield-born man time due to it being the first slump in form he has endured in full-time management.

Ryan Mason will hope to repay Shilen Patel's faith and improve West Brom results

It is a show of faith from the Albion board which not every ownership group is likely to demonstrate, meaning Mason will hope to now repay them with an upsurge in form.

Saturday's clash against Oxford is a prime opportunity to do exactly that, although Gary Rowett's side have proven tricky customers for several play-off hopefuls in the early weeks of the season.

He then has two weeks to reset and regroup ahead of the intense winter period, during which the table is likely to take even more shape despite a small gap in points across the vast proportion of the division at present.