Matt Maher: James Morrison call an absolute no-brainer for West Brom

How he must love James Morrison, then, for giving him the easiest decision since he first arrived at The Hawthorns more than two years ago.

To be more accurate, Morrison didn’t actually give ownership a decision to make. Appointing him head coach on a permanent basis following his remarkable rescue act falls firmly into the category of no-brainer.

Back when Morrison was confirmed in post until the end of the season in early March, this writer claimed keeping the Baggies up would surpass anything he achieved as a player.

Well, mission accomplished, twice. Not only did Morrison engineer a revival when all looked lost, turning a team which had previously leaked goals for fun into one of the Championship’s most stubborn, he also deftly negotiated the late banana skin thrown in his way by the EFL.

Not only did he keep Albion up, he did so with a match to spare and after the club had been hit by a points deduction. Other than the obvious of winning the matches drawn, it is difficult to see how the past two months could have gone any better. A season so long headed for disaster is ending amid a wave of positivity.

Who would have known after the disappointments of Ryan Mason and Eric Ramsay the right man was under Albion’s nose the whole time.

That’s not to say there isn’t a big job ahead, both for Morrison and the club’s hierarchy.

The challenge now switches from a salvage job to a building plan. There are big decisions to make in terms of squad progression. It will require a different mindset and new skills. Persuading Matt Gill, of whom all at The Hawthorns speak highly, to remain as assistant would be a big early win.

What is certain is the road for Albion and Morrison won’t always be so smooth as it has seemed over recent weeks.

Confidence, however, can be taken from the manner in which he has served the toughest of apprenticeships with such distinction.