Gary Rowett does not fit Ron Gourlay template for West Brom job – BBC journalist
Gary Rowett is not in line to take the West Brom manager’s job because he does not fit the “template” of chief executive Ron Gourlay, Simon Stone reports.
The Millwall boss was reported to be heading towards the Hawthorns hot seat by The Sun on Wednesday night (12 October), but it appears that is not the case, with interim boss Richard Beale to take charge of the Reading game on Saturday (15 October).
Bruce was fired on Monday (10 October) having left the club languishing in the relegation zone, with Gourlay leading the search for the replacement, but Rowett is apparently not the right man for him.
In a post on Twitter late on Thursday morning BBC journalist Stone wrote: “Gary Rowett not in line for WBA job am told. Chief exec Ron Gourlay leading extensive recruitment process and Rowett doesn’t fit template.
“Richard Beale in charge for Saturday’s game against Reading.”
One down
Gourlay is going to need a much better job of filling the role than he did last time, when he declared that Bruce was the only man for the job.
There is at least a process this time, with a number of names in the frame, but they are starting to be ruled out either on the club side, or in Roy Keane’s case direct from the horse’s mouth live on TV.
It remains to be seen what the “template” is that the chief executive is looking for, but they are going to need to be someone who knows how to firefight.
Things have quickly nosedived this season, and without marked improvement very quickly not only can any faint hopes of making it back towards the playoffs be forgotten but another relegation will become a real possibility.
Sean Dyche will surely remain the preferred choice of many unless or until he is ruled out, and he definitely seems to be ready for a new job, but whether he is prepared to give up on the Premier League yet is the question.
Rowett has a decent reputation in the Championship, and would have linked back up with one of the brighter points from the season so far, summer signing Jed Wallace, but it looks like that reunion is now off the table.
In other West Brom news, one candidate who is currently available is already set for talks with the club.