West Brom fans think new manager is now imminent after big Patel news
Shilen Patel’s message of thanks to the interim management team at West Brom left fans thinking a new manager could soon be in post.
Patel posted on his X account (4 January) following Albion’s 1-1 draw at Swansea, thanking Chris Brunt and his fellow staff for taking the reins at The Hawthorns following Carlos Corberan’s exit.
Corberan departing to Valencia on Christmas Eve has seen Brunt, Boaz Myhill and co take charge of four matches in just 10 days, overseeing a loss, draw, and win apiece before their stalemate on Saturday.
Patel said: “I want to thank Brunty, Damia Abella, Boaz, Ian Pearce, Andrew Nestor, and Mark Miles among many others for dropping everything without hesitation on Christmas Eve to keep us on a competitive path amid sudden adversity.
“Grateful to their families this time of year as well.”
West Brom close in on new manager appointment
Had Patel not shared his thanks to Albion’s interim management team following four closely-fought matches in 10 days, he may well have been criticised by Baggies fans on social media.
However, his statement a week ahead of their FA Cup tie at Bournemouth has left some fans optimistic about a new managerial appointment, with one saying “Does this read like the interim trio have finished now?”
That interpretation was shared across social media, with one supporter saying “Hopefully that’s a sign” of an appointment being close and another adding, “I sense a new manager”.
Patel’s words led to further speculation, with a fan stating “Sounds like you’ve chosen the man”, and another supporter questioning if they were “clutching” at the prospect of a new manager being in post.
Further fans were happy to read Patel’s “hint” as they mooted if “something could be close”, whereas others were more hesitant to state whether or not a managerial appointment had already been decided.
One supporter took the statement as a simple message of thanks to Brunt, Myhill and their team, saying that an appointment towards the end of next week, “in time for Bournemouth” was more likely.
Another fan poured water on the prospect of an imminent announcement, adding “Surely someone would have seen this ‘new manager” at the match against Swansea if a decision had been reached.
A new announcement could be incoming.
In other West Brom news, a potential ‘catastrophe’ regarding Josh Maja has been mooted after Carlos Corberan’s departure.
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