Ex-West Brom defender in running to replace Darren Moore as Port Vale manager
Managerial casualties continue to happen across the Football League, and Ryan Mason is fortunate to still be in a job at West Brom.
Mason is being threatened with the sack at West Brom after failing to establish Albion as top-six contenders in the Championship.
As a result, Carlos Corberan has been mooted with a shock return to West Brom a year after leaving The Hawthorns in disastrous circumstances, while other clubs are pulling the trigger on their managers.
Former Baggies boss Darren Moore was sacked by Port Vale on Sunday, and now a former player has emerged as one of the favourites to replace him.
Liam Ridgewell in frame to replace Darren Moore at Port Vale
According to Football Insider’s Pete O’Rourke, Liam Ridgewell is in contention to replace Moore at the League One side.
Port Vale are bottom of the third tier following a dismal run of just three wins from 21 matches, while their last victory in the league came in September.
Ridgewell – who is currently assistant manager to Phil Neville at Major League Soccer side Portland Timbers – is seen as a possible replacement for Moore despite his limited experience in management.
The 41-year-old has only held a role as first-team coach for National League side Dover before moving to the MLS.
West Brom fans will be familiar with Ridgewell after watching him spend two-and-a-half seasons at The Hawthorns between 2012 and 2014, with the defender racking up two goals and five assists in 78 appearances.
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Ridgewell could take inspiration from Roy Hodgson
Much like Mason, who joined West Brom after never managing before, Ridgewell could make a switch to Port Vale with limited experience.
The former Albion defender has only held coaching positions at Dover and Portland Timbers, with many supporters probably seeing his potential appointment as a risk.
Nonetheless, several figures in the game could offer him advice, including former West Brom boss Roy Hodgson.
Hodgson famously signed Ridgewell from Birmingham City in 2012, and in an interview with The Athletic in 2020, the former defender spoke highly of the veteran.
“Roy knew how to make players feel and perform better than they were,“ he said. “Everything was position-based.
“He let you do your own thing but he gave you the tools and the words to make sure you did it to the best of your ability in your own position. It was a clear message for me of how a manager gets the best out of players.”
If Ridgewell can take the above advice, he will be delighted to achieve half of what Hodgson did in management.
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