Shilen Patel ‘must make Gary O’Neil decision’ despite West Brom backlash
Gary O’Neil would be a very controversial choice for the vacancy at West Brom.
The Baggies are seeking a new man in the dugout after Tony Mowbray was sacked on Easter Monday (21 April) after just five wins in 18 matches.
Albion have dropped out of playoff contention and face another season in the Championship as the dream of a Premier League return has faded once again and they need an experienced top-flight boss.
O’Neil emerged as the 3/1 favourite to land the role last week but is now a rank outsider at 25/1 with Tottenham coach Ryan Mason now the leading contender.
West Brom have easy decision to make on O’Neil appointment
Shilen Patel has not gotten much wrong since he took over the West Midlands outfit from Guocuhan Lai after a disastrous seven-year ownership spell.
However, the decision to hire Mowbray in January after Carlos Corberan departed for Valencia was a poor one, in hindsight.
The American businessman needs to get the next appointment right and O’Neil would be the perfect candidate if it was not for his affiliation to the Black Country club’s rivals.
That link with the Old Gold should be put to one side for the benefit of Albion and the potential to secure a top-flight berth, as he is a great fit for the role and they would not have to replace him if they were promoted.
He is a much better option than Mason as he has much more experience in charge in the top division of the English game and has proven his abilities, unlike the Spurs man.
O’Neil could take West Brom to the Premier League
The 41-year-old would have to convince Albion supporters that he could put his Wolves ties to the back of his mind but that should be easy if he got off to a good start.
He has significant top-flight experience in the dugout with both Bournemouth and the Baggies’ rivals and could flourish in the Championship.
| Stats (Premier League) | Seasons | Won | Drawn | Lost | Points |
| Bournemouth | 1 | 10 | 6 | 18 | 36 |
| Wolves | 2 | 15 | 10 | 29 | 55 |
| Total | 3 | 25 | 16 | 47 | 91 |
His positive tactical philosophy and the attractive playing style that his sides have played would be encouraging for a fanbase that is sick to death of negative football.
O’Neil has been out of work since December 2024 when he was sacked by the Old Gold and would likely welcome the chance to get back into management, even with a rival club of his former employers.
The idea makes sense for both parties and he would definitely be forgiven for his stint with the Baggies rivals if he could secure a return to the top tier for the first time since 2020-21 campaign.