Express & Star

Darren Moore emerges as serious contender for West Brom job as Ben Foster urges board to give him the role

Darren Moore has emerged as a serious contender for the permanent Albion job after receiving backing from senior members of the dressing room.

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Darren Moore. (AMA)

The caretaker boss, who insists he's still not thinking about the job, extended his unbeaten run to four games following a 1-0 win away at Newcastle.

However, the Express & Star understands the Albion board is now seriously contemplating adding him to their shortlist ahead of a summer appointment.

Moore was already due to be retained as a coach next season, and the club were planning to demand their new man incorporated him into their backroom staff.

But after a series of remarkable results against strong opposition that have delayed Albion's relegation over and over again, he is now emerging as a candidate himself.

Bristol City's Lee Johnson, Leicester No.2 Michael Appleton, and Brentford's Dean Smith are other managers being considered.

But the senior members of the changing room who are planning to stay on next season want Moore in charge.

“I would like him to get the job to be honest," said goalkeeper Ben Foster after Saturday's 1-0 victory over Newcastle. "He’s been absolutely top-class and all the players would say exactly the same thing.

"He’s just a real good guy and you just want to work for him and do the best you can for him.

"It’s times like those last five, ten minutes of the game, when they are slinging all sorts of balls into the box, you’re more than happy to lay your life on the line because you know it means so much to him."

Albion are still clinging onto their Premier League status by their fingernails but they would need a minor miracle to stay up after Southampton beat Bournemouth at the weekend.

“It is incredibly frustrating," said Foster. "I think it hits home more now than it has in previous weeks because it’s now more a case of if only.

"That’s eight points form four games and a few weeks ago we’d have been lucky to get two or three before the end of the season.

"Mooro is dead honest and has told us just to take it one game at a time and make sure we don’t get too excited.

"It could be too late and we’re still relying on other teams, of course, but we can only do our bit.

"Myself and most of the lads would pay massive credit to Darren and his staff. They’ve brought us all together at a really difficult time.

"That’s why it’s harder to take now. We were in such a rut a few weeks ago that everything seemed inevitable but now we’ve got a real sense of belief back amongst ourselves.

"You’re always going to try but confidence had taken a massive knock - I would say that more than half of being a footballer is the confidence factor.

"When we’ve got the ball we’re all feeling confident with that and we’re more than happy to sit back and defend when we have to."