Ben Foster reacts in two words to big West Brom, James Morrison twist | OneFootball

Former West Brom goalkeeper Ben Foster has shared his reaction on social media after James Morrison was appointed as the club's new head coach.

It has been a turbulent season for West Bromwich Albion in the Championship, but they will be hoping that brighter times are ahead under new head coach James Morrison.

After appointing former Tottenham Hotspur assistant coach Ryan Mason in June, West Brom made a strong start to the season, picking up 10 points from their first four games to emerge as one of the early front-runners.

However, the Baggies were unable to maintain their initial momentum, and after an inconsistent few months that saw them slide down the table, Mason was sacked in January with the club sitting in 18th place.

Eric Ramsay made the move from MLS side Minnesota United to replace Mason, but he failed to win any of his nine games in charge during a nightmare 44-day spell at The Hawthorns, and he was dismissed in February with Albion languishing just outside the relegation zone.

Morrison took charge of Albion on an interim basis after Ramsay's exit, and he has overseen an impressive upturn in form in recent weeks to secure the club's Championship status, which has been enough to earn him the permanent job.

Ben Foster reacts as West Brom announce big James Morrison decision

Having scored 39 goals and provided 34 assists in 341 appearances for the club during his playing days, Morrison has a lengthy association with West Brom dating back almost 20 years, and after hanging up his boots in 2019, he began working in the club's academy before being promoted to a first team coaching role the following year.

After becoming caretaker for the third time after Ramsay's departure in February, Morrison's tenure got off to a difficult start as his side were beaten 2-1 by relegation rivals Oxford United, which put them in further danger of dropping into League One.

However, after it was confirmed that he would remain in charge until the end of the season, Morrison has led the Baggies to a 10-game unbeaten run, with his side winning four and drawing six of those matches, and they sealed Championship safety with a 0-0 draw against second-placed Ipswich Town at The Hawthorns on Saturday, despite being hit with a two-point deduction last week.

With their place in the second tier next season now guaranteed, West Brom confirmed on Thursday that Morrison had been handed the permanent job on a two-year contract, and it is fair to say the news was well received by the Albion faithful.

After the club shared the news about Morrison's appointment on Instagram, former Baggies goalkeeper Ben Foster, who made 223 appearances during a seven-year spell in the Midlands between 2011 and 2018, was among those to react, writing: "Love that", accompanied by a clapping emoji and a heart emoji.

Bold West Brom call is a deserved reward for James Morrison

Of course, it is always a big gamble to appoint an interim manager on a permanent basis, but Morrison's caretaker spell made it almost impossible for West Brom to overlook him.

The Baggies looked to be in serious danger of what would have been a catastrophic relegation to League One after Ramsay's disastrous stint, but their fortunes have improved significantly under Morrison, and his record is particularly commendable given the pressure he has been working under with the club's Championship status on the line.

Morrison may need to add another experienced coach to his backroom team to support him, but he has done more than enough to suggest that he is the right man to lead Albion forward long-term, and he will certainly be a popular choice among The Hawthorns faithful.