Experience key for West Brom insists Ron Atkinson
Former Albion manager Ron Atkinson today claimed the Baggies need an experienced new boss – but admitted there are no outstanding candidates to replace Steve Clarke.
The Baggies have opened talks with potential contenders after sacking Clarke at the weekend following four successive Premier League defeats.
And Big Ron believes chairman Jeremy Peace must now target experience rather than handing another coach his big break in management as he did with Clarke in 2012.
But Atkinson also reckons the field is lacking stand-out options.
"Steve Clarke came in at the start of a season but this situation is totally different," said Atkinson.
"They have decided they need to replace him so they now need to look for somebody with experience in the Premier League, but who they go for I don't know because there isn't anyone obvious that jumps out.
"If you were to ask me, I couldn't really name anyone.
"A few weeks ago, maybe Steve McClaren would have been an obvious candidate but he's got a job now.
"Alex McLeish still lives locally and has a fair bit of experience of fighting fires, but other than that nobody springs to mind.
"It is really tough to say who they will go for now.
"Unless they've already got someone lined up, which they don't appear to have, I have no idea who they will pick."
Clarke was sacked just seven months after leading Albion to an eighth-place finish – their best ever in the Premier League. But they had collected just 31 points from 34 league games in 2013 when Peace opted to place Clarke and assistant Kevin Keen on gardening leave and put Keith Downing in caretaker charge.
"I was surprised when I heard the news," said Atkinson.
"I know results haven't been great lately, but I was a little bit surprised that they did it now.
"It seems like once one club gets rid of a manager then others start to join in all over the place.
"Prior to the last four games I thought they were playing quite well after what was a poor start to the season.
"They had the win at Manchester United, which looked like being the turning point, then they were desperately unlucky not to get all three points at Chelsea with that penalty call.
"Then they suffered the Villa comeback at The Hawthorns, which was obviously a blow for them, but they still looked to be in a decent position until the last four games."