West Brom: Everton coach reportedly eyed up before Tony Mowbray appointment | OneFootball

Billy McKinlay was reportedly close to becoming West Brom's new manager, before opting to join David Moyes as Everton's assistant

Everton's new assistant manager Billy McKinlay came close to being appointed as West Bromwich Albion's new boss, before opting to join David Moyes in Merseyside.

That's according to Alan Nixon, who revealed that McKinlay was in the final frame for the West Brom job before Tony Mowbray landed it, but was eager to work under Moyes once more, having previously assisted his fellow Scot at West Ham United.

Billy McKinlay claim emerges regarding West Brom manager's job

Throughout his coaching career to date, the 55-year-old has predominantly taken up assistant manager roles, following previous spells as a reserves manager at Fulham, and a first-team coach at Watford.

But when Oscar Garcia resigned from the Watford head coach post back in 2014, McKinlay took charge of the Hornets on an interim basis, prior to Slavisa Jokanovic's appointment.

That brief spell in charge of the Hertfordshire outfit was the Scot's most recent opportunity as a manager in England, but despite his lack of experience as a number one, he was under serious consideration for the Baggies vacancy before deciding to re-join Moyes at Everton.

McKinlay first worked alongside Moyes at La Liga outfit Real Sociedad, who he joined in November 2014, but the duo were sacked a year later.

Following his time in Spain, the former Dundee United midfielder was appointed as manager of Norwegian side Stabaek on a two-year contract in 2015, but resigned in July 2016, after being knocked out of the Europa League by Welsh outfit Connah's Quay Nomads.

His next venture was with Sunderland, when Moyes hired him as a scout in 2016, before being temporarily appointed to a first team coaching role under Simon Grayson the following year.

McKinlay would then work under Moyes once more, to take up a coaching role at West Ham, but left the London Stadium at the end of the 2017/18 season, when the manager's contract was not renewed.

The Scot would go on to join Stoke City, where he became Michael O'Neill's assistant in 2019, before leaving the Staffordshire club via mutual consent in 2021.

During Moyes' second spell at West Ham, McKinlay opted to work under the former Sociedad boss once again, and would remain with the Hammers until May 2024, when he left with Moyes and the entirety of his coaching staff.

The duo are now hoping to keep Everton in the Premier League, an opportunity McKinlay opted for, rather than embarking on a Championship play-off battle as West Brom's manager.

McKinlay's Everton move could be best for all parties - including West Brom

The Scot's career pathway indicates that he works particularly well alongside Moyes, as the pair delivered the Hammers their Conference League trophy in 2023.

The Toffees will hope that McKinlay and their recently re-appointed boss can keep them in the Premier League, ahead of their move to a new stadium on Bramley-Moore Dock next term.

Meanwhile, the Baggies may not be overly disappointed that McKinlay opted not to join the club, as Mowbray boasts an extremely safe pair of hands when it comes to Championship football.

Mowbray guided Sunderland to a play-off spot in 2023, and the Baggies will hope that their new boss can emulate such success at The Hawthorns.