West Brom contemplate short-term appointment after hearing from David Wagner
Albion are contemplating hiring a short-term boss until the end of the season after being told David Wagner wants to wait until the summer.
The Baggies have approached Wagner over their vacant head coach role, but after leaving Huddersfield Town in January, he does not want to get back into football yet.
Albion would also have to pay Huddersfield a hefty compensation if they were to appoint the German this season.
That has opened up the possibility of hiring a temporary head coach until the end of the season with the aim of giving the Baggies a necessary shot in the arm to win promotion.
Albion’s first choice for the long-term job is Slavisa Jokanovic, and technical director Luke Dowling hopes to continue talks with his former Watford colleague this week.
Jokanovic has won promotion from the Championship with both Fulham and Watford, and is currently out of work having left the Cottagers in November.
He turned down the Nottingham Forest job in January after Aitor Karanka was sacked.
Wagner’s success with Huddersfield is also desirable, and his response to the club’s approach has expanded their options.
However, it remains to be seen whether Albion would need to win promotion for him to join in the summer.
On top of that, a number of other candidates have also made their interest in the job known since Darren Moore was sacked on Saturday night.
Former players Michael Appleton and Derek McInnes would welcome approaches from their old club.
Albion had initially hoped to have Moore’s successor in place in time for tomorrow’s home match against Swansea City.
But it’s now looking increasingly unlikely a new boss will be in the dug-out for that game.
First team coach James Shan, who has been placed in temporary charge following Moore’s sacking, has been taking training this week.
Shan, who joined the club as under-7s coach in 2006, is currently expected to take charge of the first team against Swansea at The Hawthorns on Wednesday night.
However, Albion are keen to get their new head coach in place in time for the trip to Brentford on Saturday.
The Baggies are currently fourth, nine points off the automatic promotion spots but just seven points clear of seventh.
