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Tim Sherwood: Why I turned down the West Brom job

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Tim Sherwood today claimed he turned down the chance to become Albion boss because of "missing ingredients".

The Baggies claim new boss Alan Irvine was chosen ahead of Sherwood after impressing in a second interview.

But the former Tottenham boss claimed today that he was offered the chance to succeed Pepe Mel but rejected the opportunity after opening contract talks last week.

The discussions are thought to have hit a snag over terms for Sherwood's preferred coaches Les Ferdinand and Chris Ramsey, although the 45-year-old was unclear today over whether the presence of assistant boss Keith Downing and goalkeeping coach Dean Kiely had put him off.

"I went to speak to the chairman and the board there a couple of times and was happy with how the discussions were going," said Sherwood. "I was offered the job before we started to negotiate but it just wasn't right for me in the end so I decided to give it a miss.

"It (the coaching issue) wasn't a problem.

"I don't know Keith or Dean very well and I have nothing against them but I think it's important that you take your own men in and I was looking to take in a couple of guys who I trust.

"I haven't got the time when I go into a club to train somebody into my own thinking.

"There were just a couple of ingredients missing that made me decide I wouldn't take the gamble on it."

Sherwood was the leading contender after a first round of interviews and appeared to have won the race when the Baggies opened contract talks with him at the end of last week.

The former midfielder, who captained Blackburn to the Premier League title during his playing career, was 1/10 with some bookmakers to land the job after emerging as the Baggies No.1 choice.

The club claim a second round of interviews then persuaded them to change their mind and offer the post to Irvine.

But Sherwood insists he turned down the chance to succeed Mel, who left at the end of the season.

Listen to the radio interview here.