Jayson Molumby has already spoken at length with manager in running to replace Ryan Mason at West Brom
Alex Neil has been linked with the West Brom job amid growing pressure on Ryan Mason at The Hawthorns.
Last month, it was reported that West Brom are looking at Millwall manager Neil as they put in place a plan of action in case Mason has to be dismissed.
Unfortunately for the 34-year-old ex-Tottenham coach, that eventuality is becoming increasingly likely as the Baggies suffered their seventh consecutive away defeat on Wednesday at the hands of Southampton.
That defeat at St Mary’s has left Albion 16th in the Championship table, with the prospect of dropping further this week.
West Brom host in-form Sheffield United at The Hawthorns on Friday night amid ear-burstingly loud calls for Shilen Patel and the Baggies board to get rid of him now before things get even worse.
If Bilkul do remove Mason from his post, it won’t be easy to hire Neil due to the compensation fee it would take to release him from his contract at Millwall, plus the fact that the London club is third in the table.
However, Patel and Andrew Nestor might hope a familiar face might help lure him to the Black Country if they do end up talking to Neil to replace Mason.
Alex Neil is a big fan of Jayson Molumby
Jayson Molumby played for Neil at Preston North End in 2021.
The Millwall boss signed him on loan from Brighton on 5 January, with the Republic of Ireland midfielder going on to play 16 times for the Lancashire club.
When he signed for Preston, Neil waxed lyrical about the now-West Brom player’s attributes, saying: “He has great energy, is good on the ball and is an Irish international.”
After moving to Deepdale on loan, Molumby revealed that he was quick to hold behind-the-scenes talks with Neil, as well as the fellow Irish players who helped him settle in the North-West.
“I am really happy to be here. I spoke to the gaffer and the Irish boys here, who I know quite well, and it was a no-brainer in the end and I am looking forward to getting started,” said Molumby.
In Molumby’s first Championship start for Preston, he helped his side win 1-0 against Birmingham, assisting the only goal of the game.
“In this game, he triggered the press great, he was aggressive, his use of the ball was good, his weight of pass for the goal was excellent,” said Neil about Molumby’s display in that game.
“He ran himself into the ground and it will be really interesting to see how much distance he covered because it felt like he pressed three players himself at times.“
Jayson Molumby: Liability or a midfield essential?
There’s no questioning Molumby’s work ethic.
If you’re going to war, you’d want him beside you, probably over every single other player in the West Brom squad.
Unfortunately, the midfielder’s aggressive style of play crosses the line too many times, and that has landed him in hot water, with no Albion player picking up more yellow cards than him since his arrival at The Hawthorns, initially on loan, in 2021/22.
Molumby’s West Brom disciplinary record:
- Yellow cards: 35 – most at the club since signing
- Red cards: 3 – second most at the club since signing
- 25-26 fouls per game: 1.47 – 16th highest rate in the Championship [Sofascore]
As shown in the graphic above, Molumby’s form has steadily declined over the course of 2025.
However, the Irishman’s inclusion in the starting line-up – and the squad overall – has correlated with better results for Mason’s side this term.
Albion have won five out of the 12 league games Molumby has started, and just two of the eight that he didn’t start.
Unfortunately, he didn’t start one of those games due to his own fault after being sent off stupidly against Coventry City.
Molumby can win games, as he did against Swansea. But he can also lose them, like he did when he picked up two bookings against Coventry when Albion were 2-0 up.
If Mason does go and Neil does, somehow, come in to replace him, maybe the Scot is someone who can fine-tune Molumby’s performances so that the Baggies are getting peak aggression without the red mist ever descending.
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