Phil Jones to West Brom question answered after Blackburn Rovers announcement

Phil Jones is set to leave his role as first-team coach at Blackburn Rovers, coming at a time when West Brom are looking a new coach of their own.

Like West Brom, the Lancashire club found themselves battling against the drop for large parts of the season.

And as was the case with their rivals from the Black Country, they also secured survival at the back end of the season.

Arriving for the run-in, Jones joined Michael O'Neil's team of backroom staff, operating as a first-team coach at Ewood Park.

O'Neil would arrive on an interim basis like West Brom boss James Morrison, though he has been replaced by former Baggies and Rovers icon Tony Mowbray, with O'Neil continuing as Northern Ireland boss.

Morrison's backroom team is not fully formed for next term, but Jones will not be a part of that as the Midlanders aim for a more prosperous campaign.

Phil Jones speculation brought to a swift end after Blackburn departure

On Thursday, Blackburn would confirm the departure of Jones on their online channels.

Announcing his retirement from professional football in 2024, Jones would take on his first role away from Manchester United earlier this year, joining O'Neil at boyhood club Blackburn.

After fulfilling his duties, his departure would be confirmed, sparking a question from a Baggies fan as to whether he could be on his way to The Hawthorns, with Morrison still forming the group around him.

Popular Albion news source EyaWeGew answered that question directly on X, though, and made clear Jones is not on West Brom's radar.

Since the end of the season, reports have suggested that popular coach Matt Gill would be staying in the Black Country ahead of the coming season.

However, it has since been suggested that a departure could be on the cards this summer - potentially linking back up with Russell Martin, should he rejoin the managerial conveyor.

Is James Morrison ready to make big decisions on his own?

Having taken charge on an interim basis twice before his most recent appointment in February, Morrison has tasted what it is like to be in the dugout for West Brom.

However, taking charge on a permanent basis is going to be increasingly harder, with the level of expectation set to shift

But Morrison has shown supreme maturity thus far since his arrival, from his chats with Tony Pulis, appointment of Gill and even the common sense style of play that profiled the squad perfectly.

Now, there are big decisions to be made in terms of who he has around him as Albion tackle the coming campaign.

His maturity, though, suggests that Morrison is the right man to make these decisions - potentially setting West Brom up for a much better 2026-27 return, after being dragged into the relegation battle.