‘A universe of difference’ - James Morrison hailed for West Brom impact

James Morrison has been hailed for bringing a “universe of difference” in organisation and discipline to West Brom under his guidance.

The Scot led a strong turnaround to steer the Baggies to Championship safety, earning him a two-year contract at the helm.

He was the club’s third head coach of last season following the dismissals of Ryan Mason and Eric Ramsay, and oversaw an impressive 10-match unbeaten run to secure survival with a game to spare.

Albion official supporters’ club chairman John Homer, a lifelong supporter of more than six decades who is also involved with the club through Foundation dementia groups and stadium tours, praised the 40-year-old for his impact and noted a significant difference in the team’s organisation since his arrival.

Asked about Morrison’s influence at Albion, Homer said: “Immediately he comes along and we go back to basic and he gets people playing in the right positions, he gives them a chance.

“He made it clear after the first game at Oxford exactly what he demands from his team. I think the quote at Oxford was 'my defenders went missing.'

“But he starts to bring out the best of players who previously we thought, oh, they've shot the bolt here. Isaac Price is a perfect example.

“He started off well and then suddenly he lost his way a little bit, whether he believed his own hyperbole I don't know, but that's by the by. But certainly he suffered from the fact that he was being tried out by people in different positions all over the field.

“Everybody knew he's got a best position and that's where he should stay. And immediately James rectifies that, puts him on the left and there he stays. And he gets the discipline into the team by saying 'this is your position, that's where I expect you to be'.

“If you compare the organisation and the discipline within the team, any game that James managed, as opposed to Norwich and Portsmouth away, there's a universe of difference, never mind the world. And you cannot argue with the results.

“At the end of the day, they were looking for a young manager - there was one on the doorstep.”

Albion’s 10-match unbeaten run came despite a lengthy winless spell earlier in the campaign. A 3-0 win at Hull City in mid-March, who went on to secure promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs, marked their first Championship victory of 2026.

Homer added on the unbeaten run: “It was never on the cards, given how it was.

“It was a similar effect when Corberan took over. We were bottom of the league, virtually. We lost his first game against Sheffield United.

“And then we won however many on the trot. There must be some sort of secret there in these people who can see what's wrong.

“And then put it right. Lots of managers see what's wrong and they haven't got a clue how to put it right.

“To start with it was going to basics and getting organised. Let's get these people in the right positions and let's make sure that everybody knows what the job is.

“And let's make sure that the people who sit on the bench are given a chance and that they're valued and that they understand that this is now a squad game. One game they might play well, but in horses for courses, we rest them or we take them out because we think the challenge in front of us is a little different and different players are needed to meet different challenges.

“But they all stood up to it, didn't they? Some of the players were the same players that you thought 'goodness gracious, we've had it.' So there is a secret to that.”