Tony Mowbray revealed that two West Bromwich Albion players would leave the club just hours before being ousted as boss of The Baggies.
The return of the 61-year-old to The Hawthorns was initially marked as a move to try and secure a play-off spot in the final stretch of the season, but it has been a failure with a collapse in recent fixtures seemingly condemning the West Midlands club to end their season against Luton Town on the 3rd of May. This led the hierarchy at Albion to make the decision to relieve Mowbray of his duties following their loss to strugglers Derby County on Easter Monday.
Two On Their Way Out – A Third Possible
Speaking to the press in what would be his final interview of his second spell at West Brom, Mowbray delivered the news that Grady Diangana would be leaving the club this summer, and hinted that it would be likely that John Swift is also on his way out of the door. He said to the Express and Star:
“I like footballers like Grady. I hear the stories that he was amazing when he first came, like, ‘Wow what a footballer who helped this team and dragged it up by himself almost to get promotion’. Then there’s the, ‘Oh he’s dipped off a bit, does he show the same love?’.
“I think he’s a wonderful football player, but he’s one who won’t be here next year. I just hope we get the recruitment right so we can have footballers who can take the place of a Diangana and a Swift and these footballers who want to play with the ball.”
Defender Semi Ajayi is out of contract this summer, with injuries plaguing his contribution to West Brom’s season, but there has been no news on whether he will be handed a new deal.
Writer’s View
Grady Diangana has been a great player for Albion in the five years he has been at the side but a decline in performances over that time has likely given some food for thought with the chief decision makers at the club. Whilst last season was probably his best in the blue and white stripes, it looks like the club has decided to move on and rebuild their midfield, with John Swift being another casualty of this change. It is a big summer for The Baggies, as they need to find an effective replacement for Carlos Corberan before deciding who to bring in transfer-wise.
