'In next 24 hours' - West Brom finally closing in new manager after talks with ex-Birmingham City boss

West Brom are closing in on the appointment of Tony Mowbray as the club’s new head coach, taking over from Carlos Corberan almost a month after the Spaniard’s Christmas Eve exit.

Mowbray, formerly of Albion having spent three years at the club between 2006 and 2009, is set to make a romantic return to The Hawthorns. The 61-year-old has been out of a job since resigning from his Birmingham City post last February following a bowel cancer diagnosis. The focus ever since has been on spending time with family and making a full recovery.

Birmingham World understands West Brom have been in intermittent talks with Mowbray to work out if he’d be in a position to return to work and he’s thankfully been given the all clear by doctors following two successive six-month checks. The final assessment only took place in the last week, so Albion have been in discussions with other potential candidates in the meantime.

After a breakthrough in the past 24 hours, Birmingham World understands Mowbray is now in the final stages of becoming West Brom’s new manager. If all goes to plan, a deal can be expected to be completed over the weekend.

It’s understood Raphael Wicky, Rene Hake, Steven Schumacher and Sean Dyche were all spoken to at varying lengths - with Wicky very close to joining at once stage - but Mowbray has been the priority ever since he was given the go-ahead by medical professionals.

The joint interim management team of Chris Brunt and Damia Abella will still lead Albion this Saturday afternoon for the hosting of Stoke City in the Championship. Mowbray is planning to be in attendance alongside Mark Venus, who will be named as assistant manager.

Tony Mowbray a popular choice as West Brom’s new manager

Mowbray is likely to receive an extremely warm reception from the Albion faithful and not only because he’s one of the most well-respected and likeable figures in English football. In his previous spell, Mowbray enjoyed great success including the easy-on-the-eye 2007/08 season which gained a famous promotion from the Championship to the Premier League.

Not only that, but Albion lifted the title at the end of that campaign and it remains the only trophy the club has won in the past 57 years. Even when Mowbray led the Baggies to a 20th-placed finish and saw his side relegated from the Premier League at the first time of asking, the supporters were still incredibly fond of him – as displayed by masks of his face being worn for his last home game.