Wicky hire: West Brom finalising negotiations – Sky Sports News
West Brom are finalising negotiations to appoint Raphael Wicky as the new manager at The Hawthorns, according to Sky Sports.
The latest report (10 January, 15:53) issued by Sky’s Lyall Thomas is that Swiss coach Wicky is now the “preferred candidate” to succeed Carlos Corberan following the Spaniard’s return to his homeland with Valencia on Christmas Eve.
The 47-year-old now appears to be in pole position for the top Baggies job, with Rene Hake having also been a strong contender in the race.
Thomas said: “Raphael Wicky has become the preferred candidate for the West Brom job, Sky Sports News understands.
“Negotiations are understood to be being finalised. Rene Hake – the former Manchester United assistant to Erik ten Hag – had also been a strong candidate.
“Wicky is the former Young Boys boss who won the Swiss double with them in 2023.”
West Brom set to announce Raphael Wicky as new manager
In a week during which there has been a lot of managerial movement, West Brom are closing in on their man.
If all runs smoothly, it is anticipated that double-winning former Young Boys boss Wicky will be in the dugout to lead the Baggies for the first time when they take on Stoke City at The Hawthorns on 18 January.
Numerous managers had been linked with the vacancy in the past fortnight, including Hake, Luke Williams and also the former promotion-winning Albion manager Tony Mowbray, whose odds had shortened leading into Friday.
Chris Brunt now prepares to take the team for what is almost certainly the final time of his interim spell, when the Baggies head to Bournemouth on Saturday (11 January) to try their hand against Premier League opposition in the FA Cup third round.
Wicky also lists Basel, Chicago Fire and the United States Under-17 side on his coaching CV to date, since retiring as a player in 2008.
In other West Brom news, Albion fans think Jed Wallace is about to join a Championship rival after a recent report.
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