Fry gives go-ahead to Ferguson approach

Peterborough would allow highly-rated manager Darren Ferguson to speak to Albion if the Baggies target the fans' favourite to replace Tony Mowbray.

But Posh director of football Barry Fry today warned the Baggies the Championship new-boys would 'play hardball' to try to keep their boss, who is believed to have a £1m price tag on his head.

Double promotion-winner Ferguson – son of Manchester United boss Sir Alex – has emerged as the man most wanted by supporters to take over the Hawthorns hot-seat with Mowbray poised to complete his move to Celtic this week. And, despite turning down an approach from Reading to speak to Ferguson, Fry admitted he could struggle to keep his manager if the Baggies meet Posh's compensation demands.

Fry said: "I think Darren would see most Championship clubs as a sideways step in his career, but I don't think that would be the case with Albion.

"They are a Premier League club in my opinion and I'm sure any young manager would be interested in them. We have played them four times in the last two seasons and they have a superb squad of players.

"But the situation with Darren is the same as the situation West Brom had with Tony. We don't want to lose him and we would not welcome any approach.

"Jeremy Peace played hardball with Celtic over Tony and we would play hardball with them over Darren.

"But if they agreed to pay the compensation we wanted then we would have to let him speak to them. We know he will leave us one day because he is destined for the top."

Posh turned down Reading's approach, despite Ferguson expressing a desire to speak to the Royals, who have since turned their attention to Watford's Brendan Rodgers.

Ferguson has already topped online fans' polls while supporters questioned by the Express & Star this weekend also named him as the man they want to replace Mowbray.

Celtic were continuing discussions with Mowbray today after agreeing to Albion's compensation demands on Saturday.