Ron Atkinson: Pepe Mel a gamble and a blow for English coaches

The former Hawthorns boss admits he is worried that the home managerial market is suffering from the same influx of foreign talent as the players have experienced.

"It's an interesting appointment, a bit of a gamble," he said. "But it is a bit of blow that there did not seem to be a strong challenge for the job from our own, home-grown coaches. You wonder if that's a trend that is going the same way as the players.

"I look around our area even and see someone like Dean Smith at Walsall, or Lee Clark at Birmingham, who are doing really well in challenging circumstances . . . they must wonder 'will I ever get a chance like that?'

"I think it is an appointment influenced by what happened last season with Southampton appointing Mauricio Pochettino. He was not over-fancied at the time and has been relatively successful, although I notice that it is perhaps just starting to level out there. I don't think there would be a problem with the top, top coaches coming to our game such as a Mourinho or a Guardiola. But you do wonder if a little further down the ladder, owners are unduly influenced by a foreign name."

Atkinson admits to knowing little about his old club's new head coach – and believes that the board may have started off in much the same state of mind after sacking Steve Clarke.

He added: "I can't believe he was a coach they knew all about before this process began, but clearly they like what they hear.

"He's not a big name in Spain and his appointment is a bit of a gamble – but all appointments are.

"I think it's a terrific job because Albion have got good players who have under-performed but I don't see them as being in trouble.

"But the truth is nobody really knows how it will go. It's a 'wait and see'"