West Brom dealt blow as key figure quits The Hawthorns, announcement made
West Brom have seen several changes at The Hawthorns, but not all of these are positive.
Ryan Mason has been appointed as West Brom’s youngest-ever permanent manager, and there could be a focus on younger players in the coming years.
West Brom need to revamp their squad this summer after a disappointing end to the second half of last season, and some significant sales may be made.
Tom Fellows has been linked with an exit, and a key figure in his development with the Baggies has now departed.
Richard Beale leaves West Brom
West Brom confirmed on Monday (23 June) that Professional Development Phase Manager Richard Beale has left The Hawthorns to pursue an opportunity at another club.
Beale was in charge of the Under-21s for the past four seasons and led the Baggies to Premier League 2 Cup glory against Wolves in 2022.
| Stat | Richard Beale |
| Matches | 94 |
| Wins | 36 |
| Trophies | 1 |
| Points per game | 1.35 |
The 46-year-old was highly regarded at West Brom, and his departure is a blow as the Baggies aim to eventually integrate more youngsters into the first team.
Beale even had a three-game stint as interim manager of the first team in 2022 and was a key figure at The Hawthorns before his exit.
Beale played a key role in Fellows’ development
Fellows is one of the best academy graduates that West Brom have produced in recent years, and he developed in the youth ranks under Beale.
The academy will be vital in the coming years in helping both build the West Brom squad, as well as making pure profit in the transfer market, and losing Beale is frustrating given his previous work.
Fellows made 24 appearances under Beale during his time in charge of the Under-21s, and this was the period in which the winger established himself as a prospect ready for the first team.
West Brom will now hope to find a replacement who can help discover the next gem in the academy.
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