James Morrison smiling while managing West Brom.

James MorrisonImago

What West Brom fans need to know as James Morrison eyes ex-Baggies defender for coaching role

Head of Editorial Standards & Recruitment AUTHORITY Former senior digital journalist at Stats Perform; network specialist in live data, editorial standards, and journalist recruitment. FOCUS Editorial standards, Statscore live data integration, newsroom operations, and recruitment. THE BRIEF Pete brings deep data expertise from his time at Stats Perform to oversee the network’s use of Statscore’s live data, setting the standard for how writers use it to produce original editorial content. He is also responsible for maintaining editorial standards and leading recruitment across the network.

Published on:

03 Jul 2026, 12:00 pm

James Morrison has been busy shaping his West Brom coaching set-up ahead of the 2026/27 season.

The modern-day Baggies legend was appointed as full-time boss back in April following an interim spell at The Hawthorns.

After guiding Albion away from relegation trouble in the Championship last term, the focus will be on battling at the other end of the table this time around.

To help with those aims, Morrison added two new faces to his coaching team earlier this week, with Matt Gill remaining as assistant head coach.

Gavin Strachan and Tony McMahon were named as first-team coaches, with the former having been with Celtic, and the latter noting York City and Scunthorpe United on his CV.

Now, it looks as though West Brom are in the running for another young coach to flesh out their staff.

West Brom face EFL competition for new coaching appointment

Morrison has assumed full control of the first team, and will be keen to have a good team around him to offer supporter.

The arrivals of Strachan and McMahon - a former team-mate of Morrison's at Middlesbrough - are young and hungry coaches.

Respected transfer journalist Graeme Bailey, now working for TEAMtalk and Sports News Blitz, has now shared West Brom are eyeing the appointment of their former defender Paul McShane.

Bailey shared on X that a host of clubs are looking to land McShane, who is regarded as a top young coach.

Championship new boys Lincoln City, and League One side Stockport County are also named as interested parties in McShane.

Understand a host of clubs are battling to land former Man United and Sunderland star Paul McShane, who is now very much seen as a top young coach in the game.

West Brom, Lincoln and Stockport all understood to be keen on landing him.
— Graeme Bailey (@GraemeBailey) July 2, 2026

McShane is no stranger to The Hawthorns, with the 40-year-old making 42 appearances for Albion as a player in the 2006-07 campaign.

West Brom: Meet James Morrison's staff as two new faces arrive for 2026-27 season

What is Paul McShane's background?

McShane enjoyed a very solid playing career, having risen through the youth ranks at Manchester United.

After his solitary campaign with Albion, McShane went on to play for the likes of Sunderland, Hull City, and Crystal Palace, while making 33 appearances for the Republic of Ireland.

In July 2021, McShane returned to Old Trafford, where he took on a player/coach role, though only with the intention of being registered as n overage player for the Under-21 side.

McShane has spent three years as part of the coaching set-up for the Republic of Ireland's U21s, and was part of the staff at Huddersfield Town last season, too.

West Bromwich Albion Football Club