(Credit: Imago)

Cameron Smith

Mon 1 June 2026 12:00, UK

West Bromwich Albion are looking to improve on their dreadful Championship season, with James Morrison taking charge permanently.

Thrust into the interim job back in February, the former Albion midfielder was handed the task of steering the club to safety.

After the dismal spells of Ryan Mason and Eric Ramsay, Morrison was left with work to do, but he passed the test with flying colours.

Embarking on a 10-match unbeaten run, he would seal second-tier football for the Black Country club, sparking a hopeful atmosphere heading into the summer reset.

And after being handed the permanent post, Baggies fans will be loving what he has had to say.

James Morrison reveals emotional reaction to West Brom news

Upon his February appointment, West Brom were in disarray.

With a squad underperforming in both boxes, Morrison was left with not just the task of bringing about tactical improvements, but also galvanising a downtrodden group.

And that he most certainly did, with the switch to a 4-4-2 formation and more ‘common sense’ approach kickstarting a superb turnaround.

With survival wrapped up before the end of the term, Albion were almost left with no choice but to cement his position at the helm.

Usually a calm figure, Morrison admitted that he did let it out following his appointment.

“When we were in the office, that was the emotion I felt – how proud I am to lead this club, and certainly the emotion took over,” the Scotsman told Express & Star.

“When I spoke to the family, they couldn’t believe that I showed a bit of emotion.”

Since taking the job, he has been able to galvanise the squad and fanbase, unlike either of the two previous managers this season.

And it is just how much he respects and loves the club that will convince the fanbase that he is the man to guide Albion forward.

“That’s what this club does to me,” he added. “It means I’ll give that extra bit working for the club day-to-day.

“I am ready. I think it’s about getting the work-life balance right and me being in a positive mindframe to make big decisions and the best decisions for the club to try to improve the players and environment to be successful.”

Next year, it will have been 20 years since he made the move to The Hawthorns, and now he is the man trusted to guide the Baggies back up the standings.

Where should West Brom be aiming under James Morrison?

Naturally, promotion will not be the instant expectation given the circumstances of the 2025-26 season.

But the Championship is a division like no other, with Hull City recently ascending through the playoffs after narrowly securing their spot in the league just a year ago, with a transfer ban in hand alongside.

A big reset is needed in the Black Country, but there is no reason to suggest why they can’t be aiming for the upper echelons of the standings.

Of course, that remains a pipe dream for now, with plenty of work to be done over the summer to ensure a similar slide does not happen again.

But a season featuring genuine playoff aspirations, a strong showing or two in the derby against Wolves, and a clear, exciting style of play could be enough to get the fans fully back on board.

For now, Morrison is saying all the right things after letting his work on the pitch do the talking in recent months.

Heading into the new campaign, a season of real progress is essential, and the manager has already shown, with the late surge this term, that he is capable of making that happen.