West Brom new manager: Steve Hermon drops Gary O’Neil update – ‘It’s true’
Steve Hermon has shared the latest update on Gary O’Neil and other candidates as West Brom step up the hunt for a new manager.
West Brom left fans stunned after sacking Tony Mowbray hours after their 3-1 defeat against Derby County at The Hawthorns on Easter Monday (21 April).
While there had been increasing shouts for Mowbray to be sacked, not many expected Shilen Patel to actually pull the plug on the 61-year-old with only two games left.
Nevertheless, James Morrison has been appointed as the interim manager, with the process to hire a new head coach already underway.
O’Neil and two others emerge as West Brom candidates
West Brom have already prepared a list of candidates to replace Mowbray, although they are in no rush to make an appointment.
Former Wolves boss O’Neil has emerged as the bookies’ favourite to take the reins at The Hawthorns, having been linked with the job before the veteran was appointed in January.
| Matches | Wins | Draws | Losses | Goals | Points | Points Per Match |
| 17 | 5 | 4 | 8 | 19:22 | 19 | 1.12 |
While it is true that 41-year-old has emerged as an early favourite to replace Mowbray, Hermon does not believe that is the case, urging fans to take the news with a pinch of salt.
The BBC Radio WM journalist also cited Steve Cooper and Russell Martin as other potential candidates, revealing that the latter turned down an offer from the Baggies after Carlos Corberan’s exit.
“There are [potential candidates], I would take a lot of them with a pinch of salt because, I mean, we saw it last time, there were how many bookies’ favourites in the 24-day search for Carlos Corberan’s successor?”, Hermon said live on BBC Radio WM (22 April, 7:42 am).
“And a lot of them turned out to be wrong, apart from Tony Mowbray hours before he was appointed, because it was pretty much nailed on.
“The current bookies’ favourite, believe it or not, and I don’t believe it, is the former Wolves head coach Gary O’Neil.
“It’s true, well, it’s true with the bookies. That’s why I say, take it with a pinch of salt.
“The rest of the names on there… There are plenty of familiar names. Steve Cooper, he was a name that was floated around a lot last time around.
“Russell Martin, I believe from some sources, was offered the job last time. He is the former Southampton manager, he turned it down.”
Albion give up on promotion race
West Brom were just one place behind the playoff spots when Mowbray took charge in January, but have since fallen four places and six points behind.
It had become increasingly evident that the former Blackburn boss was not the man to lead the Baggies forward, despite his attachment to the club.
Therefore, Patel and Co. cannot be faulted for sacking the manager even before the season drew to a close.
However, the timing of the sacking suggests that Albion have already given up on this season, despite mathematically still being in the race for the playoffs.