Comment: West Brom board will have to clarify their decision eventually

Understandably, there is little appetite to change a winning formula, and the reality is more managers will be available in summer when the Baggies will also know which division they’re in.

But despite winning three games in a row, the board are also tentative to commit to caretaker James Shan for the rest of the season.

They want to leave themselves wiggle room in the event of a nosedive; an ability to act.

For many supporters, this inertia has been frustrating as we enter the business end of the season.

Perhaps the board are wary of inexperience, regardless of how impressive Shan has been, having been burned before. Or perhaps they’re wary of lessons learned elsewhere.

In the division above, Ole Gunnar Solksjaer has struggled since he was made permanent boss of Manchester United.

In the division below, Mick Harford is steering Luton Town to the title despite being in temporary charge.

We’ve seen this trend before. As soon as a caretaker is made a more permanent fixture, form begins to change.

At Leicester City it happened to Craig Shakespeare, a coach who could well come in to help Shan see out the season.

What is the reason behind this phenomenon? Do caretakers clam up when they have something to lose?

Interim bosses are free to make bold decisions. Shan handed Kyle Edwards his first league start for the club against Brentford and he scored the winner.

Then there is the relationship with the players.

Albion’s squad have been vocal in their support for Shan, and a number of senior professionals approached by the board for their opinion have given him a glowing report, including some not currently in the team.

That is a feather in the cap of Shan, an analytical coach whose clear instructions are going down well in the dressing room.

There is also an element of camaraderie involved, a sub-conscious acknowledgement an inexperienced caretaker is in charge and the players need to step up.

One such player who has stepped up under Shan has been Chris Brunt, the club captain who has been named in the Championship team of the month for March following three influential performances.

“He's been really important,” said Shan. “Chris has been here a long time, he’s club captain.

"I think many managers would run a few things by the club captain, schedules and things like that, ask them 'what are your thoughts as players?'"

The concern is player power could grow too strong, and having an inexperienced coach leaning on the squad may not be a suitable long-term solution.

But for Albion’s short-term aims this season it could work, and based on the first three games, it appears to be doing so.

Perhaps this is the best way to get the best out of this squad – which is the only one available – in the limited time left.

“I don't think it should be a one-way thing,” said Shan. “If you strike a happy medium as a coaching staff and a playing staff and work together as one, you get better results.

“It would be naive of me with my inexperience of working at first team level not to speak to the experienced boys, and get their views and feelings.”

It would be doing Shan a disservice to overplay the role the players have.

He’s made bold decisions in the dug-out during his short stint in charge, and as he pointed out yesterday, has 18 years of coaching experience. It's just not been with first teams.

As long as the players he’s working alongside are striving for the same goal, then it makes sense.

“The group is a good group, we've got some good characters in there, the professionalism is second to none,” said Shan.

“Chris has been highly important but he's just one of many that has been important.

“They self-govern the changing room very well, they buy into things, their application has been outstanding.”

Despite that, the board are not wholly convinced, because they’re yet to publicly back Shan until summer.

Luton, after all, announced in February that Harford would be in charge for the rest of the season and it hasn't dented their form.

Albion's is a strange situation that has rumbled on for four weeks, and while the victories keep coming, indecision will be masked.

Eventually though, the board will have to get off the fence and clarify both their's and the club's position.