Valerian Ismael high on West Brom shortlist for new manager
Barnsley manager Valerien Ismael is high on West Brom’s shortlist as they hunt down Sam Allardyce’s successor, according to The Mirror.
Ismael, 45, had a stunning season in the Championship with Barnsley as he defied the odds to lead the Yorkshire club to a fifth-place finish and a spot in the play-offs.
Unfortunately for the Tykes, they were beaten by eventual play-off winners Brentford in the semi-finals but the fact remains Ismael has so far done a stellar job at Oakwell.
However, if Albion want to hire the Frenchman, they’d have to pay a compensation fee worth £1.5million and The Mirror reports that counts against him.
No go?
You’ll have to go back to 2009 when West Brom hired Roberto Di Matteo to see the last time the Baggies paid a compensation fee to hire a manager.
Di Matteo arrived from MK Dons, won promotion from the Championship in his first season and while he was sacked not long after starting life in the Premier League, his promotion-winning campaign was part of the foundation’s of West Brom’s long run in the top-flight.
Since then, Albion have hired managers who are out of work, usually managers who’ve been sacked by their previous employer and none of them have lasted that long.
Di Matteo didn’t last long either but with the club now heading back towards it’s yo-yo years, is it time to hire a manager and give him time to build something no matter the outcome of the next few seasons?
Of course, if we’re nowhere near promotion then you’d have to say get rid but it’s time for Luke Dowling and the Baggies board to get a long-term plan in place and hire a manager who they know can come good in two, three or even four years’ time.
Ismael’s done a good job at Barnsley but we don’t expect him to come in due to the seven-figure compensation fee involved.
But there are managers out there who can be a long-term option for Albion if they’re brave enough to stand by their man for more than 18 months.
In other West Brom news, Phillips wants Albion to sign this exit-bound Sheffield United star amid reports Chris Wilder is close to arriving.
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