West Brom next manager: Lee Hendrie shocked at news coming out of Hawthorns
West Brom concluded their Championship season with a 5-3 victory over Luton Town at The Hawthorns.
The Baggies’ win condemned Luton to relegation to League One, whereas West Brom have finished ninth in the second tier.
But a season in which The Hawthorns club missed out on the playoffs has been underpinned by Carlos Corberan’s departure, while replacement Tony Mowbray was subsequently sacked.
Shilen Patel is now tasked with hiring a new Baggies manager, while the Black Country outfit will battle for a top-six spot once more next term.
Hendrie shocked by Marti Cifuentes developments at West Brom
Queens Park Rangers boss Marti Cifuentes was linked with the managerial vacancy at The Hawthorns, and subsequently placed on gardening leave by the West London outfit.
However, it then emerged that the Spaniard was not on the Baggies’ shortlist while the West Midlands side continue to search for Mowbray’s successor.
| Opponent | Result |
| Derby (H) | 1-3 L |
| Cardiff (A) | 0-0 D |
| Luton (H) | 5-3 W |
Lee Hendrie told Football League World (2 May): “I’m very surprised actually, because I spoke about this recently. [Cifuentes] is an up-and-coming coach.
“It does make me think about where West Bromwich Albion are actually at, at the moment, and what’s their thought process of who could come in and work the football club and make it a better place.
“Quite clearly, they are a big football club, but they need some incentive to take them forward.”
West Brom will be pleased by Dike’s final day performance
The Baggies have ultimately endured a difficult campaign, which has seen the Black Country outfit fail to land a playoff spot for the second consecutive season.
Corberan’s departure ultimately proved detrimental to West Brom’s top-six credentials, while Mowbray’s return to The Hawthorns did not prove to be a success.
But a dramatic final day victory over Luton did provide the Baggies faithful with reason to be cheerful, as they witnessed the Black Country outfit score five goals.
Tom Fellows ended a stellar season with a deserved brace, while Callum Styles also got himself on the scoresheet against the Hatters twice.
However, the most pleasing aspect of the Albion’s final day victory over Luton is undoubtedly that striker Daryl Dike notched a goal and an assist.
The USA international has made just 11 Championship appearances this term thanks to injury problems, but his goal contributions against the Hatters could be a sign of what is to come in the future if he stays fit.