Carlos Corberan warned of harsh judgement risk over West Brom and Leeds United choice by Sky Sports pundi
Carlos Corberan is faced with a “make or break” decision over whether he should leave West Brom for Leeds United, according to Andy Hinchcliffe.
The Baggies promotion hopes are seen to rest entirely on the choice the transformative manager makes, amid repeated links to an Elland Road return to replace Jesse Marsch.
And Sky Sports pundit Hinchcliffe has warned that if the Spaniard gets his next move wrong he could face very harsh judgement.
Speaking on Sky Sports News on Tuesday (6 February, 1.43pm) Hinchcliffe said: “This is a really tough call for Carlos Corberan. He worked miracles at Huddersfield to get them to a play off final.
“West Brom were struggling. He stepped in and won 10 of 13 games at West Brom, taking them from a relegation battle to what looks like a guaranteed play off place and a shot at promotion.
“West Brom will be desperate to keep him because their chances of going up really hinge on him staying there and how he’s galvanised that team, getting the best out of them now.
“What a difficult decision it is for him. In terms of his career this could make or break [it]. If you make the right call and everything goes right, brilliant.
“But if you see it as the right call and it doesn’t work out, what happens next? You can be judged very harshly.”
Pressure
The importance of Corberan to the Albion cause is not in dispute, since a look at the Championship table tells you all you need to know about his impact since taking over from Steve Bruce.
He has proven that he can be effective at the Hawthorns, and has made a return to the top flight a very real possibility at the end of the season.
But he has a past at Elland Road and they are currently a Premier League side so if they make a convincing approach it is a huge decision for him.
In contrast to the financial situation at West Brom there has been extensive investment in January at Leeds, and there is likely to be more in future when the San Francisco 49ers complete a takeover of the club.
That spending power might be enticing for Corberan, but it wasn’t enough to save Marsch so it is certainly still a risk.
This season appeared to be going down the tubes until the 39-year-old rescued it, and the effectiveness of the job he is doing makes it all the more important that Ron Gourlay does whatever is required to ensure he sticks with it.
Clearly there will be some interest in a move to Leeds as a guaranteed top flight job – until May at least – but the Baggies have proven to be an environment where he works so losing him now would be a nightmare.
In other West Brom news, a fellow Sky Sports pundit has blasted Corberan for leaving a previous club in a mess amid speculation that he could do the same again.