Paul Robinson only too happy to help ex-West Brom colleague if call comes after finding 'buzz'

Former Albion favourite Paul Robinson admits he would be delighted to lend his assistance to former team-mate James Morrison in any way required.

Robinson, 47, has worked on the coaching staff at Blues, Millwall and Watford since hanging up his boots in 2018.

The former left-back, two times a Baggies promotion-winner, left boyhood club Watford after Tom Cleverley’s departure last May and admitted he had ‘lost love for the game’.

Robinson has since rediscovered his connection with football lower down the pyramid and would be only too happy to help a friend and former team-mate if new Albion head coach Morrison was ever in need.

“I’ve really enjoyed it, I got my buzz back again for football because I lost it when I was at Watford,” Robinson told the Express & Star.

“It just wasn't the club that I know and came through. There was no pathway for any of the academy players. The place was run like an absolute shambles.

“Oxford gave me the call and obviously you're not working with any egos at that level. You're working with players who want to learn, they want to develop and they want to do well.

“It was like a new lease of life for me.”

The make-up of Morrison’s backroom staff beyond this summer remains unknown with Matt Gill, so influential in the final few months of the campaign, out of contract and deciding on his future.

Gill is the long-term assistant to Russell Martin.

Robinson briefly inspired Stratford Town at step three of non-league before a call from Oxford City of the level above.

He initially went in to coach on a part-time basis alongside his Paul Robinson Sports Mindset business, with the club in the mire in National League North.

His role developed into a full-time position after the new year and Oxford lost just three of the final 16 matches to secure survival.

“If Moz’s staff situation drags on he knows he can give me a call and hopefully I can be back at West Brom one day,” he added.

“For me it’d be a no-brainer if Mozza ever called me. I’d be straight over to help him.

“What's frustrating is that when you're not working, people just assume that you're not working whereas you want to get back in work like you do because I love the game.

“Your phone stops ringing and that's the hardest thing to deal with is that no-one really understands the quality of coach that you are and what you've done in football. Dropping down to get confidence and belief back was a great idea.”