A new name has emerged as surprise contender for the West Brom vacancy

Tottenham Hotspur assistant coach Ryan Mason has emerged as the surprise favourite to become the next West Brom manager after Tony Mowbray’s departure from the Hawthorns Stadium.

The Baggies parted ways with Mowbray last month after a huge dip in form which resulted in the club falling out of contention for a play-off place after spending most of the season looking destined to finish inside the top six places.

The Hawthorns outfit are now looking for a new coach to steer the club back to the Premier League after four years in the second tier of English football.

It had been widely reported by The Telegraph earlier in the week that Queens Park Rangers boss Marti Cifuentes had been sounded out as a top contender for the role after being placed on ‘gardening leave’ by the Loftus Road club. However, it’s now suspected that the club will move in a different direction.

Marti Cifuentes to West Brom latest

West Brom chiefs have confirmed that they are yet to offer anyone the head coach job at this stage as the search for a Tony Mowbray successor continues. Former midfielder James Morrison is overseeing matters in the coaching front until the end of the 2024/25 season which is already guaranteed to end without a play-off place finish.

EFL journalist John Percy confirmed the news and added that QPR boss Marti Cifuentes is not even on West Brom’s managerial shortlist despite speculation linking him with a move from London to the West Midlands.

The Spaniard had been linked to West Brom for some time after his stunning work with QPR which had seen him guide the club to a great escape last season, which included a 4-0 win over Leeds United and a commendable 15th place finish this term despite having limited backing in the transfer market.

Ryan Mason’s coaching career so far

After spells with the likes of Tottenham, Doncaster Rovers, Millwall and Hull City as a player, one-time England international Ryan Mason was forced to retire early from football at the age of 26 after sustaining a serious head injury.

He joined the Tottenham coaching team two months after his retirement in April 2018 and has worked alongside the likes of Mauricio Pochettino, Jose Mourinho, Nuno Espirito Santo, Antonio Conte and most recently Ange Postecoglou.

Mason has taken interim charge of Tottenham on two occasions and has an overall record of six wins, one draw and six defeats in 13 matches in the dugout, with the most notable being the 1-0 League Cup final defeat to Manchester City in 2021.

The 33-year-old has amassed plenty of coaching experience at both youth team and professional level over the last seven years but is yet to have a permanent stint in management.However, he has previously stated that it is his intention in the near future. He held talks over the position at Anderlecht in October.