Promotion-winning manager Ossie Ardiles has urged Albion to stick with Tony Mowbray and stay positive in the fight to return to the Premier League.

The former Hawthorns chief believes Mowbray is the man to take the Baggies forward, even if their likely relegation to the Championship is confirmed in the coming weeks.

The Argentina World Cup winner, who led Albion to Second Division play-off victory in 1993, was back at the Hawthorns as a guest of the West Bromwich Albion Supporters Club.

He said: “I think Tony is good. Whenever he talks to the press he always seems to be a very nice guy who talks a lot of sense.

“He isn’t overjoyed when he wins something and he is not too down when he loses something, which is important for a manager.

“I do like him very much and I certainly approve of his way of playing football.

“We have to see what happens because the season isn’t over yet, but it looks like West Brom are in a very difficult position.

“But they have to start next season with a lot of enthusiasm and optimism, thinking they are going to get up again to where they should be.

“West Brom is a very big club in the Midlands and should be in the Premier League.”