Luke Dowling shares update on hunt for new West Brom U23s boss
Luke Dowling has confirmed that West Brom are hoping to appoint a new manager for the Under-23s side before the end of the season.
Michael Appleton returned to The Hawthorns in August to manage the Baggies reserves but his spell back in the Black Country was shortlived when Lincoln City managed to hire him as their first-team boss a month later.
The Express & Star had reported that Craig Shakespeare was under consideration to replace Appleton before he eventually teamed up with Nigel Pearson at Watford.
Deon Burton has been in charge of West Brom’s Under-23s for most of the season and has done an impressive job with them sitting third in Division 2 of Premier League 2, only bettered by West Ham and Manchester United.
Albion’s technical director Dowling is now hopeful of filling the vacancy with a permanent hire soon but it remains to be seen whether Burton is a contender.
“We have now ended the application process and will be conducting interviews over the next few weeks with a view to an appointment before the end of the season,” said Dowling, as quoted by the Express & Star.
Based on how well Burton has done in charge of the Under-23s this season, you would imagine that he is a frontrunner for the job.
However West Brom really pushed the boat out to hire Appleton as the last manager considering his experience in charge of clubs in the EFL while with Shakespeare, you get the sense that he might have been over-qualified.
It shows that the Baggies are taking their Under-23s very seriously, which can only be a good thing but it also seems as though they are interested in coaching staff who have previous affiliations with the club.
Burton has been a part of the Albion set-up for some time now and based on his results, it might be unfair to not give him the job permanently.
In other West Brom news, Nigel Quashie has been raving about this player after his display at Swansea.