Exclusive: West Brom told to look at Stockport County boss to replace Tony Mowbray
West Bromwich Albion are on the search for a new head coach after parting ways with Tony Mowbray.
The 61-year-old finally returned to management after nearly a full season away due to his battle with x cancer. His objective would’ve been clear from the start. His predecessor, Carlos Corberan, took the Baggies to the play-offs in the prior campaign, and the hope was that Mowbray could do the same. He didn’t.
A run of five losses in six matches and only two wins since the start of March resulted in West Brom taking action and getting rid of Mowbray with two games left to go in the campaign.
Albion are now in the same boat as Cardiff City and Norwich City, set to end the season with an interim boss in charge of the first-team and lacking a clear direction for the forthcoming summer transfer window.
West Brom should look to League One ace to replace Tony Mowbray
A good few names have been mentioned as possible options for the Baggies; Sean Dyche, Liam Rosenior and Ryan Mason being among them. In the eyes of Sky Sports pundit and former Albion forward, Don Goodman, the club should be looking just a tick down the footballing pyramid at one of League One most impressive bosses: Stockport County’s Dave Challinor.
Speaking exclusively to Football League World, Goodman revealed that he doesn’t see why an established manager would want to come down to The Hawthorns at this point in time, given the state of affairs at the club when it comes to monetary availability and talent in the squad.
“I think the biggest problem that West Bromwich Albion have in replacing Tony Mowbray is that, to me, from the outside looking in, it doesn’t look like a hugely attractive job for anybody of established repute at Premier League or Championship level,” said the club’s former striker.
“There are clearly still financial issues, there’s a squad that is massively underperforming for some reason, so, like I said, I’m not sure how attractive a job it would be. I’m not sure if a Sean Dyche or a Liam Rosenior would leave Ligue 1 to come back to the Championship.
“If I was advising West Brom, I don’t know anything about the foreign coach market – it may be an avenue that they look to explore – but of those in this country, I’d look to League One and see who is doing well. I see Dave Challinor year in, year out performing brilliantly at Stockport County.
“They play front foot, attacking football – possession-based. I think that he’s a brilliant coach. Stockport fans won’t thank me for saying it but I think West Brom could do a lot worse than looking in that direction, or somebody of a similar ilk.”
Dave Challinor: an intriguing, outside choice for West Brom
Nobody can doubt what Challinor has been able to achieve so far in his managerial career. He won promotion to League Two with both Hartlepool United and Stockport, beating their rivals Wrexham to the National League title in that second iteration, and he won the fourth tier with the Hatters last season.
Challinor is now about to take County into the League One play-offs in their first season back in the division, and could easily be competing against West Brom next season.
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