Shilen Patel sends new five-word message as West Brom appoint Eric Ramsay
Shilen Patel has sent his first message to new West Brom boss Eric Ramsay after his appointment was confirmed.
West Brom have been searching for a new manager since the sacking of Ryan Mason, following the 2-1 defeat to Leicester City on 5 January.
Ramsay emerged as the frontrunner to replace Mason, and the Baggies quickly agreed a compensation package with Minnesota United.
The 34-year-old was then officially announced by the Midlands side, just hours after they beat Swansea City on penalties in the FA Cup Third Round.
Eric Ramsay welcomed by Shilen Patel
Ramsay has a huge job on his hands at The Hawthorns, with West Brom currently sitting 18th in the Championship and closer to the relegation zone than the play-offs.
The Baggies are only seven points clear of Norwich City, who sit 22nd and in the bottom three, whereas they are eight points adrift of Watford, who occupy the final play-off place.
Mason lost six of his last eight Championship games in charge of the Midlands outfit, meaning that Ramsay is inheriting a squad lacking confidence and belief.
West Brom chairman Patel was quick to welcome the former Minnesota United boss to the Baggies, posting a message on X.
Quote-tweeting the official announcement post, he said: “Welcome to The Albion, Eric.”
Why are West Brom hiring Eric Ramsay?
West Brom fans were less than impressed by Ramsay when he was first rumoured as an option to take charge at The Hawthorns.
Some Baggies supporters feel that the 34-year-old is lacking the experience needed to be a success.
Ramsay has been part of the coaching setup at Manchester United, working under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Ralf Rangnick, and Erik Ten Hag, as well as spending a period as assistant coach for the Welsh national team.
The young manager then took over at Minnesota United in February 2024 and has had a successful two-year spell in the MLS.
Speaking about Ramsay after his appointment, Patel revealed that he impressed the hierarchy as a person and a coach.
Patel said: “Eric impressed us as a person, a coach, and a fit for our squad. I am pleased to welcome him to the Albion as we work with purpose to seize the opportunities and confront the challenges before us.”
Let’s hope this goes better than the Mason experiment.