West Bromwich Albion sporting director Andrew Nestor has revealed that new head coach Ryan Mason has been on their list of targets since last year.
The Baggies opted to make a change in the dugout in April as they began to lose ground in the race for a play-off spot. With Tony Mowbray leaving the Hawthorns after just three months, James Morrison was handed the reins on an interim basis, but just fell short.
It was announced last week that 33-year-old Mason had been appointed on a three-year deal. The former midfielder was widely tipped to take the step into management this summer after rising through the coaching ranks at Tottenham Hotspur.
Nestor Explains Decision
The decision to bring in an unexperienced head coach is a brave one for West Brom. However, Nestor believes that the one-time England international deserves the opportunity and they had been following his progress closely for some time. Speaking to official club media, he said:
“We went through a thorough and considerate approach. We wanted to ensure that we gave enough time to really evaluate a short, targeted list of candidates. As a club, we’re constantly evaluating talent, just like we would players. Last year we had developed a short, targeted list of potential head coaches in case we would need to make a change, and Ryan has been on that list since the start.
“That list really hasn’t changed, the only thing that has changed has been timing and availability. Ryan is relatively young, but in coaching years he’s not. He’s really developed an impressive career during his time at Tottenham Hotspur. He has developed a lot of respect in the football industry and that’s a reason he was on the list to begin with. We feel like, given his experiences, his character and the discussions we’ve had around vision for our club, he’s the right person for the job and I’m pleased to welcome him as the new Head Coach of the Albion.”
Writer’s View
There’s no doubt that West Brom have taken somewhat of a gamble. However, Ryan Mason has forged an excellent reputation since being forced to retire early in 2018. He has twice led Tottenham Hotspur on an interim basis, the first time in 2021 aged just 29-years-old. This made him the youngest Premier League manager in history. After seven years in a coaching capacity in North London, it will be interesting to see how he copes with the spotlight solely on him next season.
