Damia Abella set for West Brom exit as James Morrison eyes two new coaches

Damia Abella seems set to leave his coaching role at West Bromwich Albion.

The 44-year-old was hired as First Team Statistical Analyst in 2023 as part of Carlos Corberan's coaching staff.

The former Middlesbrough defender did not depart when his compatriot returned to Valencia, instead sticking around at The Hawthorns, due to family reasons.

However, his three-year stint in the Black Country appears like it will come to an end in the near future.

James Morrison is set to revamp his coaching staff, and it looks like Abella will not be a part of it.

West Brom seek Abella replacement quickly

West Brom were boosted by the news that Matt Gill is sticking around despite links to Russell Martin, but Abella's exit will put a dampner on that.

A report from Eya We Gew via X on 8 June claimed that Morrison was already looking at a replacement for the Spaniard.

It stated that the boss is also expected to bring in another experienced coach ahead of the new campaign.

Will Abella be a big loss for West Brom?

Abella is rated highly by those who have worked with him in his time at Albion.

Chris Brunt shared the dugout with him after Corberan's departure, and he was full of superlatives for the four-cap Catalonia international.

Speaking in January 2025, while they were in interim charge, he said: “I think the lads respond really well to him. He speaks really well, he was involved a lot before with Carlos’ individual meetings, he ran all of that.

“It’s been great for me having him there because he’s a lot more experienced at coaching than I am, with leading sessions. Tactically on the touchline he sees things very quickly and is very sharp with it.”

To lose a figure who is so highly respected by the dressing room and the staff that he works alongside will be a blow for the Baggies, there is no doubt about that.

However, keeping Gill around is a boost, so it is not all bad news for the Throstles ahead of a really important summer.

They will hope to get the replacement and the other new coach sorted as soon as possible, so work can begin, and the side can go into the campaign in the best place.

Hopefully, it all works out and they can push towards a promotion spot after a miserable time last season.

The impact of the backroom changes will not be known until the season kicks off, but it would have been ideal if they could have kept both.