'Come on son!' - West Brom boss James Morrison on the challenge of balancing management with family life

The transition from coach to head coach is a significant one and has not been easy on any level.

‘Mozza’s’ efforts of an unbeaten run of four and back-to-back wins has breathed life into Albion’s desperate survival bid when the situation at the foot of the Championship looked doomed.

But the role is all-encompassing. Morrison, 39, has previously spoken about his desire to have a career in management. Here at The Hawthorns he is feeling every second of what it takes.

For a young man with a young family - Morrison has a daughter, aged 12, and son, 9 - the challenge is steep.

“Definitely!” Morrison smiles when asked about having less time to do other things. “You don't switch off.

“I'm trying to get that balance right with family time, and the kids.

“I'm trying to be present, trying to get the work done here so I can be at home with the kids and be there for them.

“Tuesday is picking the daughter up. I take her to gymnastics, six until eight, and then sometimes Wednesdays 9pm I have to pick her up.

“She keeps me busy and it's good when I'm around her, it takes my mind off stuff. I'm finding that challenging because sometimes when I get home I'm exhausted because I'm constantly thinking. I've got to try and adapt with that.”

Darlington-born Morrison, the Baggies legend of nearly 350 appearances almost exclusively in the Premier League, admits his body clock is getting used to a much earlier start to the day.

“Sometimes I'm like ‘oh my god’ - and I’m not getting back to sleep!” He adds. “When I spoke to (Tony) Pulis he did say that.”

That was one of the first warnings from former boss Pulis. He, Scotland boss Steve Clarke and Tony Mowbray, who brought Morrison from Middlesbrough in 2007 and returned last year, have been in touch.

Another of Morrison’s former Baggies bosses Roy Hodgson clearly cannot let go of the bug. Hodgson, 78, is exactly twice Morrison’s age and is remarkably back in at mid-table Bristol City after two years out of management.

“My kids are understanding, my partner is supportive,” Morrison adds.

“My little lad's daft as a brush really. I don't even think he's that bothered.

“I asked him if he wants to come to a game? And he's like ‘I’ll think about it’ - ‘come on son!’ He’s not got the bug yet.

“My daughter loves it really. She's just started first year of senior school so she loves it.”

Morrison’s daughter is a passionate gymnast and dancer, the latter does not leave much time for football at weekends, but she loves the reality of her dad as Baggies boss. She was a mascot at Morrison and Chris Brunt’s testimonial in 2022.

His son enjoys football but does not play for a team and while still only nine, Morrison is fairly sure he will not follow his dad into the professional game.

“I've tried to (balance it) but early on I felt like I wasn't in the room,” Morrison says.

“Thinking about things, like players, and then as the weeks have gone on I've got better.

“Like I said, day to day I'm learning on the job basically. But I'm loving it.”

Morrison tries to give time to return to the north-east to visit his parents and other family members.

It is not easy and time does not allow for many visits, but they can be invaluable. And the support is there from 200 miles away.

“They watch on telly,” former Scotland international Morrison adds.

“I was back for Mother's Day, we had a nice family meal.

“We had the game Saturday and I drove up to Middlesbrough Sunday morning and back down on the night.

“My dad's getting on now, he's 74 and he's got a bit of health issues.

“He's just sporting from home really, so I speak to him and they can see it from there.

“Some days I'm stressed. But it was nice to be home, it really was.”