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According to The Express & Star, Northern Ireland boss Michael O’Neill has emerged as a candidate for the permanent managerial job at West Brom.
What’s the word?
West Brom’s promotion charge ended in heartbreak, finishing the season with a penalty shoot-out defeat as they were left facing another campaign in the Championship.
And in a week where their dreams had been crushed, Chris Hughton and Patrick Vieira were among those being considered to take over from Jimmy Shan.
However, those reports haven’t materialised and now O’Neill is being touted as a potential man for the job. That’s per The Express & Star who claim West Brom are set to ask the Irish Football Association for permission to speak to him.
The 49-year-old was keen on the Albion job back in November 2017 according to the report, but the club decided to hire Alan Pardew instead.
Disaster for West Brom
As potential managerial appointments go, this is arguably as dull as it can get for the Baggies. After two months of being in limbo, this report will hardly be welcoming to Albion fans.
The Northern Irishman has done a fantastic job as manager of the national team, taking his native country to Euro 2016. However, he hasn’t been in a club environment since 2011.
Therefore, Luke Dowling and Mark Jenkins would be staring disaster in the face if they made a move for him.
The fact is that O’Neill has never managed in England, previously taking charge of Brechin City and Shamrock Rovers. At the latter he won two league titles but that will hardly whet the appetite of the Hawthorns faithful given the standard of football.
Considering O’Neill’s lack of experience in the English game it would be an incredible risk to bring him in. The Baggies need someone who is either a progressive coach with a vision or has knowledge of the lower leagues in England.
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The former player has neither, and as a result, it would be a poor decision to continue to pursue him.
West Brom arguably need to take more risks, but this is not the type they should be considering.