View: West Brom board has never recovered from losing ‘Brilliant’ Dan Ashworth
It’s no coincidence that West Brom slipped down the divisions after the departure of technical director Dan Ashworth.
In the past decade, West Brom have gone from a steady Premier League side to a team hovering just above the Championship relegation zone.
Of course, that certainly doesn’t match the expectations the club had going into the season, but the current situation at the club cannot be avoided.
Yet 10 years ago, in Ashworth’s final season as director, the Baggies secured 10th in the Premier League and looked to have a bright future ahead of them. What went wrong? The board didn’t learn to live without Ashworth.
The 51-year-old was appointed technical director at The Hawthorns in 2007 and his incredible success in transfers, youth progression and talent identification saw Ashworth scooped up by England in 2012.
Simon Cox spent three seasons at West Brom between 2009 and 2012 and spoke extremely highly of Ashworth in the latest Baggies Broadcast via Express & Star.
“He was brilliant, he was the go-to man and the face of the club with Jeremy (Peace) back in his office at the ground,” said Cox.
“Anything you needed you would go to him, and if he could do it he would, if he couldn’t, he would say he couldn’t.”
If it wasn’t already clear how talented Ashworth is in a director role, he also oversaw the brilliant progress at Brighton with Graham Potter between 2019 and 2022, when he then joined Newcastle United for the current season.
He’s one of – if not the best out there – in a director position and West Brom’s biggest regret over the past decade will be not trying to keep hold of him in 2012.
The board ever since has not settled on a clear director, with Ron Gourlay currently possessing the chief executive role at the club. Guochuan Lai’s takeover has also rocked the boat at boardroom level and the club is crying out for some consistency and leadership.
Transfer windows have often been lacklustre and lacking direction, while managers have come and gone after receiving no help or backing from football-minded board members at the club.
Carlos Corberan looks to be a great appointment, but he’ll need help from above if he is to truly succeed at West Brom.
In other West Brom news, Baggies legend Ally Robertson insists automatic promotion is not out of reach this season