A major update in West Bromwich Albion’s push to replace Tony Mowbray in the managerial hotseat

West Bromwich Albion chiefs have confirmed that they are yet to offer anyone the head coach job at this stage despite rampant speculation linking the club with a move for Queens Park Rangers boss Marti Cifuentes.

The Baggies parted ways with Tony Mowbray earlier this month, less than 100 days into his return after a tumultuous season which also saw Carlos Corberan work out of the club on Christmas Eve to take up the position as manager of Valencia in La Liga.

Mowbray inherited a team that was expected to finish inside the play-offs after a solid start but struggled to build on the team’s steady early season form with just five wins from 18 matches while often struggling to pick up points on the road away from the Hawthorns.

A 3-1 home defeat against Derby County practically consigned the club to another year of Championship football and a recent 0-0 draw with Cardiff under interim coach James Morrison secured the club fate heading into the last game of the season with a home match against relegation-threatened Luton on the horizon.

What does the future hold for Marti Cifuentes?

Marti Cifuentes has been placed on gardening leave by QPR as there has been a lot of speculation about his future at Loftus Road. The decision taken by the Rs means any club looking to hire the Spaniard will have to pay a compensation fee.

Cifuentes was appointed as QPR’s head coach in October 2023 and guided them from the relegation zone to an 18th-placed finish last season in spectacular fashion while notably guiding his team to a stunning 4-0 home win over promotion favourites Leeds United.

His team currently sit in 15th position and have secured Championship survival despite operating on a small budget with little investment over the summer. In a club statement, QPR chief executive Christian Nourry said: "This is naturally a disappointing situation for everyone concerned. I fully understand and appreciate supporters' frustrations at this time. As a club, we are working to ensure this matter is resolved as swiftly as possible so we can start preparations in earnest for the future."

Marti Cifuentes ‘not’ on West Brom’s shortlist

EFL journalist John Percy claims QPR boss Marti Cifuentes is not currently on West Brom’s managerial shortlist despite earlier reports suggesting that the club had ‘sounded out’ the Spaniard after his impressive stint at Loftus Road.

Percy posted on X: ”WBA new manager - West Brom are still going through the recruitment process and no one has been offered the head coach role at this point. Marti Cifuentes, who has been placed on gardening leave by QPR, is NOT on the shortlist as it stands.”

However, despite these fresh reports Cifuentes is widely regarded as the favourite for the West Brom post, with ex-Spurs interim boss Ryan Mason, former Nottingham Forest and Leicester City boss Steve Cooper and 2023 play-off winner Russell Martin, formerly of Southampton and Swansea City being viewed as outside candidates for the role as the club try to find a coach that can bring them back to the Premier League for the first time since 2021 after four seasons in the second-tier of English football.

Birmingham World understands that Cifuentes was sounded out last week and The Telegraph reported on Tuesday night that he was a “top target” for Albion.