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National World - LocalTV
  • 30/05/2025
As West Bromwich Albion look to reset after falling short in the race for the play-offs, focus now turns to the club’s next big decision—appointing a new manager capable of leading a genuine promotion push. We spoke to BirminghaWorld reporter Charlie Haffenden to get a feel for the mood at The Hawthorns.

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Transcript
00:00As West Bromwich Albion look to reset after falling short in the race for the playoffs,
00:08focus now turns to the club's next big decision,
00:11appointing a new manager capable of leading a genuine promotion push.
00:15With uncertainty over who will take the reins,
00:18the upcoming summer window takes on even greater importance.
00:23The club's ownership and hierarchy face a pivotal moment.
00:27Having stabilised financially in recent seasons,
00:30the challenge now is to assemble a squad that can compete at the top end of the championship table without overstretching.
00:38That means getting recruitment spot on,
00:40especially with key players potentially moving on and areas in need of fresh blood.
00:46There's a platform to build from, but no room for missteps.
00:50With other championship side strengthening,
00:52West Brom's decisions in the coming weeks will be crucial in determining
00:57whether they can finally break back into the Premier League.
01:01We spoke with Charlie Haffenden of Birmingham World about the mood surrounding the Hawthorns.
01:08Charlie, starting with West Bromwich Albion and just to catch up on the situation,
01:13obviously, Tony Mowbray sacked after the disappointing Easter weekend.
01:17Obviously, we mentioned that Easter weekend can be so important in terms of championship
01:21and the EFL in general, six points up for grabs in the space of a few days.
01:26West Brom really failed to excite the fans and it all sort of came crashing down on Mowbray's tenure.
01:33What went wrong?
01:34What do you feel was the issue and do you feel it was the right decision to let Mowbray go?
01:39Obviously, you know, the championship experience is undeniable, but the results just weren't there.
01:45Yeah, it was a real shame really to see Tony Mowbray leave the way he did
01:49and to see the games go the way they did because obviously such a legend at the football club,
01:5418, 17, 16 years ago, winning the championship as well.
01:58In the past, the fans absolutely loved him and they welcomed back of open arms,
02:02but it just didn't work out as they would have hoped. His tactical style, just not quite there.
02:07He went on a lot about trying to dominate games and wanting to play entertaining football,
02:10but a lot of the time, passing was sideways, it was backwards, it wasn't very quick,
02:15it wasn't fast flowing. I know it's difficult when you face up against a low block and that
02:19was often the case, but West Brom just not able to penetrate enough and swinging balls into the box
02:24when there wasn't really a target man there or vice versa. When there was a target man,
02:29they weren't putting crosses into the area, so it just didn't really make sense at times
02:32and the results weren't there. Losing as many as he did just wasn't acceptable.
02:36To fall away from the playoff fight when they did, not acceptable as well.
02:40I was there for both games over the Easter weekend. The Coventry City defeat was just horrendous.
02:46They could have lost by far more goals than they did. Just such a hapless performance rather.
02:51And then against Derby County, a team that's fighting relegation, losing 3-1 at the Hawthorns as well.
02:58Meant to be a fortress. It's been anything but that recently and you could just feel the discontent
03:03from the fans, the booing. And then after the game, sat in the press room and we had half an hour
03:08with Tony Mowbray in his final press conference. We didn't know at the time it would be his final
03:13press conference. Trying to work out as well if he knew at that stage. But then about half an hour
03:18after that ended, he was sacked by West Brom. So a real whirlwind weekend over Easter.
03:24And since West Brom, of course, is falling away, guaranteed not to get into the playoffs.
03:29A complete failure of a season in the end after it looks so good at the start.
03:33Yeah, I mean, you know, ignoring Carlos Corbran and the success he had with such a small,
03:38you know, squad, small budget. Before that, you know, it's sort of a bit of paper over the cracks.
03:43Albion's recruitment in terms of managerial stints, there's, you know, a sort of stats not long ago
03:47that the number of permanent head coaches that have been in the Hawthorne's dugout
03:51has been incredible in the last sort of five, six, seven years or so.
03:57You know, it's so important that they do get the next recruitment right because it's just
04:01sort of a recurring problem. Who do you feel could be any candidates to come in and maybe
04:08to look at this summer? It just sort of shows back to square one. They need to reset and they
04:12need someone with a bit of a fresh identity and a bit of a fresh bit of passion to get the fans
04:17back on board.
04:20Yeah, it's so important to take the right amount of time and patience with this one.
04:23That was the approach with Mowbray and it didn't quite work out. I think with Shilin Patel,
04:28the new owner, the honeymoon period is over because of that decision. They need to get
04:32the next one right. They need to make sure the next manager is the correct one because
04:36if they don't get champion, if they don't get playoff football next season, there's a
04:40risk they could just get stuck in a championship for years and years and years.
04:43Yeah.

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