Jonathan Burnett

Sat 22 March 2025 18:00, UK

West Brom are one of several clubs to have changed managers this season, and north of the border, Rangers are undergoing the same process.

The Albion dugout changed hands following Carlos Corberan’s departure to Valencia on Christmas Eve, leaving The Hawthorns after a transformational two-year period in charge.

West Brom found themselves on the merry-go-round for almost a month before Tony Mowbray’s appointment was confirmed on 17 January, returning to the Baggies on a two-and-a-half-year deal.

The 16 years between Mowbray’s 2009 departure and 2025 return have seen permanent 13 managers pass through The Hawthorns’ doors, and one of those could be heading for a surprise move up to Ibrox.

Valerien Ismael in running to take new role away from West Brom

Before Mowbray, Corberan, and Steve Bruce’s appointments, Valerien Ismael held the reins at The Hawthorns, and has had spells at Besiktas, Watford and Blackburn since his departure in February 2022.

Now, however, Ismael has been linked by Unibet, BetMGM and LiveScoreBet with the impending vacancy at Rangers, with all three, according to OddsChecker, having him as a 25/1 outside option.

Ismael, however, is currently employed by Blackburn and would be difficult for Rangers to pry out of a three-and-a-half-year contract he only signed a matter of weeks ago with Rovers, on 25 February.

Those odds are level with Jack Wilshere, Jesse Marsch and Edin Terzic’s, with Russell Martin, who was also linked with the West Brom vacancy, the 7/4 favourite to succeed interim boss Barry Ferguson.

West Brom will want to take advantage of speculation elsewhere

Though it would be bizarre to see Ismael depart Ewood Park for Ibrox just 25 days after his appointment by Blackburn, such an event occurring would arguably be beneficial to West Brom’s cause this season.

Albion have already played Rovers twice this term – losing 2-0 last month after a 0-0 draw at Ewood Park in October – meaning they’d be unable to profit directly against them, but certainly could in other ways.

Blackburn are one of several clubs aiming to chase down the Baggies in the final Championship play-off place, sitting ninth in the table and five points behind West Brom with just eight games left to play.

Making up this gap amid more managerial chaos – after the swift exit of West Brom-linked John Eustace – could be near-impossible for Rovers, potentially shoring up Albion’s place in the top six as a result.