'An education' - Hope that West Brom owners Bilkul learn from James Morrison call
The former midfield star and first-team coach led the club to Championship safety and was rewarded with the permanent role - now he is preparing a first full campaign.
Albion owners Bilkul have been encouraged to learn the lessons of a turbulent campaign and inspired decision to turn to James Morrison.
Morrison, appointed as caretaker in February, led a late charge to survival last season after the Baggies appeared set for the drop. He is now leading preparations for the new season after taking permanent charge.
He saved the club’s status after the failed head coach appointments of Ryan Mason and Eric Ramsay, neither of whom had managed at Championship level.
Baggies supporters’ club chairman John Homer believes there were valuable lessons for the Shilen Patel-led owners group to take from last term’s struggle.
"I think they probably (now) have a stable ship, and they would have been chuffed that their decision to appoint Mozza as a firefighter has worked,” Homer told the Express & Star.
"And we have to give them credit for that. Hopefully, everybody learns from the past, so whatever they've learned from the appointment of Mason and Ramsay, hopefully, there is a positive in some respects.
"It's an education for them in terms of the Championship and what's required in terms of leadership at the helm."
Chairman Patel last week wrote to fans apologising for last season’s difficulties and mapped out how the club will move forward.
Homer added: "I believe that to a certain extent, they've probably fallen in love with the football club, because they've seen the history, they've come at a time when we had this 125 year celebration at The Hawthorns.
“They would’ve had a full appreciation now of the history and the culture of the area and the place.
"I think that they have embraced that, and they want to know more.
"In terms of the board I know (former sporting director) Andrew Nestor went, for whatever reason and (executive director) Mark Miles has come back, another chap who's ingrained in the football club and loves this football club and knows it inside out. I think that was a wise move.”