LIVE
...

Follow us on

Photo by Rachel Holborn - BRFC/Getty Images
Photo by Rachel Holborn - BRFC/Getty Images

News

Report: West Brom could be back in for ‘incredible’ 45-year-old, Dowling wasn’t keen

Giuseppe Labellarte
Giuseppe Labellarte

West Brom are now looking not only for a new manager but a new technical director too.

Sam Allardyce left The Hawthorns in wake of the Baggies‘ relegation from the Premier League.

On Monday, West Brom also confirmed they had parted ways with technical director Luke Dowling by mutual consent.

The news came in wake of Albion’s failure to land both Chris Wilder and David Wagner.

Barnsley v Brentford - Sky Bet Championship
Photo by George Wood/Getty Images

published a report on Tuesday looking more into Dowling’s exit.

They claimed his departure was indeed by “mutual consent”, along with mutual frustration, mutual anger, and a mutual sense that the relationship had run its course.

West Brom owner Guochuan Lai reportedly vetoed the Wilder move.

This was in wake of Wilder’s criticism of a section of Sheffield United’s ownership following his departure from Bramall Lane.

claims Dowling felt his position had been critically weakened by the veto.

He reportedly sounded out alternative opinions and lined up David Wagner as a compromise candidate, but West Brom failed to land him.

Dowling’s subsequent departure means that the Baggies could now return to looking at candidates that he had doubts about.

One of these is Valerien Ismael, the Barnsley head coach whose direct style of play had apparently put Dowling off.

The Hawthorns - Home of West Bromwich Albion Football Club.
Photo by VISIONHAUS

West Brom could land an “incredible” manager

Ismael joined the Tykes in October last year and turned the Yorkshire side into playoff contenders.

The 45-year-old led Barnsley to a fifth-placed finish in the Championship, “against all expectations”

Prior to taking the Barnsley reins, Ismael managed Austria’s LASK Linz.

He also previously coached a number of German sides including Wolfsburg, Nurnberg and Hanover’s second string.

Crystal Palace are apparently eyeing Ismael, and some fans seem happy with the links.