West Bromwich Albion fans should be full of excitement and anxiety ahead of the final game day in the Championship, hopeful that their side can enter into the second tier playoff picture.
However, Tony Mowbray’s dismal return to the hot-seat has unfortunately seen the Baggies drop out of the top six altogether, with the 61-year-old only able to mastermind a weak five victories from 17 games before being given his abrupt marching orders.
The Hawthorns hierarchy will know they need to get their next appointment spot on to ensure the Baggies can finally break out of the Championship, with a whole host of different names up for consideration as Mowbray’s successor.
West Brom could now appoint "outstanding" manager
The main name being heavily linked with a switch to the West Midlands is current Queens Park Rangers boss Marti Cifuentes, with the Spaniard even being put on gardening leave by the Hoops to see out their season.
However, it has now been surprisingly revealed that Cifuentes isn’t even on the West Brom short-list at this moment in time, meaning the drawn-out search for a fresh manager drags on.
Gary O’Neil’s name has also been thrown into conversations away from Cifuentes being floated around, with pundit Joe Jacobson tipping him to be in the frame for the Hawthorns vacancy.
The “outstanding” former Wolverhampton Wanderers head coach – as he was previously labelled by Old Gold chairman Jeff Shi – would be an arguable upgrade on the wantaway QPR figure, on top of perhaps also boasting a sturdier reputation in the game than ex-Hawthorns fan favourite Carlos Corberan.
Why O'Neil could be an upgrade on Cifuentes & Corberan
Corberan’s sudden exit from West Brom last December was the unfortunate nail in the coffin for their season, with Mowbray unable to get the very best out of a camp regimented in the now Valencia manager’s philosophies.
Whilst the Spaniard did steer the Baggies to a mightily impressive 47 victories from his 107 games in the dug-out, a promotion up to the Premier League would continue to evade his side throughout his memorable spell, with O’Neil at least holding the advantage of being a top-flight proven boss.
Indeed, O’Neil has plenty of experience in the elite division, both at the helm of Wolves and AFC Bournemouth, with his time at Molineux a bumpy ride to say the least.
The Old Gold had turned into relegation fodder by the time of his exit – before Vitor Pereira then transformed fortunes at Molineux – but O’Neil had secured a positive 15th place finish the season prior, meaning he might well be able to consolidate West Brom as a Premier League worthy outfit if promotion was to be finally secured.
24/25
16
2
3
11
19th (at time of sacking)
23/24
38
13
7
18
15th
22/23
34
10
6
18
16th
Overall, the 41-year-old has managed to pick up 25 top-flight victories in total. Amazingly, this alone only puts him three off Cifuentes’ win count at Loftus Road, with Cifuentes perhaps not ready to make the leap up to the top league like O’Neil, especially when you further consider QPR are situated in 15th spot heading into the final day.
The major hurdle for O’Neil would be whether he’s capable of cutting it in the nitty gritty of the Championship himself, but he worked well under pressure at the Cherries and Old Gold for the majority of his stays there, meaning he might be able to better Corberan in finally guiding his new team to the big time.
Whoever is chosen to be Mowbray’s replacement will have a pressurised job on their hands, but O’Neil could be just what West Brom need to put Corberan’s spell firmly to one side.
He's impressed Pep: West Brom can forget Cifuentes by hiring 4-3-3 manager
West Brom could forget a move for Marti Cifuentes by swooping for this manager.
ByDan Emery