West Bromwich Albion likely didn’t think they’d be in a position where they’d be looking for their third manager in a season, but that’s precisely where they are after they chose to part ways with Tony Mowbray. West Brom started the season with Carlos Corberan as manager. However, when the Spaniard decided to leave the midlands-based outfit to take on the job at La Liga side Valencia, The Baggies turned to a familiar face in Mowbray. The target for the season was promotion, likely via the playoffs, and West Brom were in the mix for a top-six finish, but after falling away, it was decided that Mowbray wasn’t the man to lead the club forward.
Of course, with West Brom’s potential, proven by their ability to be in and around the top six consistently for a number of seasons, it’s made the next West Brom manager odds interesting reading, to say the least. With the season’s end imminent, The Baggies hierarchy have time to mull over their decision and choose the right man for the job, which also means that the odds are likely to change multiple times before Mowbray’s permanent successor is announced.
Next West Brom Manager Favourites
The name leading the way at the top of the betting at the time of writing is Ryan Mason. Mason, who is currently a coach at Spurs and has served as their caretaker manager on occasion, is the 2/1 favourite to succeed Mowbray. A £10.00 wager on Mason at BetVictor would produce a return of £30.00 if he was hired. His lack of managerial experience could prove to be a stumbling block.
Gary O’Neil is another young name in the betting, with the former Wolves and Bournemouth manager 5/1 to be the next Baggies manager. O’Neil, who endured a torrid time at Wolves towards the end in difficult circumstances, will be hoping to get back in and prove his worth. A step down to the second tier could be just the ticket.
The next two names on the odds list are managers who have won promotion to the top flight from the Championship and managed to keep the team they got promoted up. Steve Cooper, priced at 6/1, with a £10.00 stake potentially returning £60.00, got Nottingham Forest up and kept them up.
Sean Dyche also achieved a similar feat when he led Burnley to promotion some years ago and then ensured they remained a top-flight outfit. Dyche is 8/1 to take up the post at The Hawthorns, but it’s unclear whether he will be willing to make the step down to the second tier after operating at the top level for so long.
Managers Who Could Enter The Frame
As mentioned above, West Brom could delay making their decision as there are only a couple of games left of the Championship season. And by doing so, it means they’re likely to meet more candidates before deciding who will lead the club through pre-season and into the 2025/26 campaign.
There are several interesting names on the outside of the betting who could enter the frame further down the line. Liam Rosenior, who is working wonders at Ligue 1 side Strasbourg, continues to get linked with a return to home soil and is 8/1. The same applies to Will Still, who’s further out at 16/1.
Also available at 16/1 is Luke Williams, who departed Swansea City this season. Williams, who made his name for the job he did at Notts County, particularly due to the brand of football employed, has been linked with a switch to The Baggies before, and this could prove to be the perfect opportunity to come together.
Promoted From Within
Another option available to West Brom is to promote from within. James Morrison, a former Baggies player who works as a coach at the club and is currently in interim charge since Mowbray’s departure, is in the running to get the job, according to reports.
Morrison, who’s 12/1 to get the gig full-time, knows the club inside out, and this could be seen as s positive by the decision-makers at The Hawthorns. However, while Morrison has served in multiple coach roles already and is assistant manager to Steve Clarke with Scotland, he does lack the experience of being a number one.
The next couple of games, performances, and results could influence whether Morrison is considered for the role or if he’s to return to his job with the U21s. It will be interesting to see how West Brom’s manager search plays out, with several second-tier clubs likely to need a new manager this summer.
You can continue to check out other next manager odds articles to see what else is going on in the crazy world of football management.
