Shilen Patel may have quietly pulled off West Brom masterstroke with new appointment
Shilen Patel may have pulled off a West Brom masterstroke with the appointment of Matt Gill alongside James Morrison.
Morrison took charge of West Brom’s 2-1 loss against Oxford on Saturday and has now been placed in charge until the end of the campaign.
In Wednesday’s announcement, it was revealed that highly regarded technical coach Gill has been added to the backroom staff as the Baggies battle at the wrong end of the table.
Described by Morrison as a “first-class coach”, Patel will hope the pair can now guide the Baggies to safety by any means necessary.
Albion face Sheffield United at Bramall Lane on Saturday, before they welcome Southampton to The Hawthorns in midweek.
Matt Gill carries an impressive record that could steer West Brom to safety
Gill’s arrival brings a wealth of experience that could prove vital during the final stretch of the season.
The 45-year-old enjoyed a lengthy playing career, winning promotion on three separate occasions with Peterborough United, Exeter City and Norwich City.
He would move into coaching at the final days of his Tranmere career in 2014, before he returned to Norwich as Under-23s manager.
Following a spell as first-team coach at Ipswich Town, he would join up with Russell Martin at MK Dons and Swansea, where he was promoted to assistant head coach in 2022.
Following Martin to Southampton as the Saints were relegated from the Premier League in 2023, he was part of the staff who achieved promotion at the first time of asking, with Southampton overcoming Albion and Leeds in the 2023 play-offs.
After Martin’s dismal spell in charge of Rangers earlier this season, the pair have been out of work since.
Gill remains highly regarded, though, and his record both on and off the pitch proves why, with Morrison saying: “I am convinced he will help us turn the tide on what has obviously been an incredibly poor season to date.”
James Morrison and Gill’s first aim becomes clear
The current campaign has been a dismal one for the Baggies, who sit just outside the relegation zone.
After a poor start to the term under Ryan Mason, things continued to worsen under Eric Ramsay, who lost his job after the recent 1-1 draw with Charlton.
The hope for Baggies fans will be that Morrison and Gill are able to galvanise what is an incredibly downtrodden group. That will be their first aim.
Saturday’s loss to Oxford highlighted similar problems that have arisen all campaign, and the simple fact of the matter is that Albion need to pick up points quickly.
While Leicester behind them keep dropping points, they can’t rely on this until the season’s end, and must put themselves in a position where they are in control of their own destiny.
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