What Shilen Patel said after James Morrison's appointment as owner insists West Brom survival 'no accident'

West Brom owner Shilen Patel has insisted the club ‘did not survive by accident’ as he hailed James Morrison after handing him the permanent Albion job.

Former midfielder Morrison was placed in interim charge for the second time this season and the third spell overall - after the dreadful nine game run under Eric Ramsay.

Morrison had a big task on his hands to address the slide - but he did so with a ten game unbeaten run that has led Albion to Championship safety.

He becomes the latest manager to take the Albion hotseat and the third of this campaign - after Ryan Mason was axed and Ramsay lasted just a matter of weeks.

Patel, who took over the club back in 2024, has come in for heavy criticism from supporters this season for the club’s managerial appointments.

For a period it looked as though Mason may succeed at the club but form quickly nosedived - with Ramsay then failing to deliver a victory in his nine games in charge.

But the decision to hand Morrison the job on an interim basis proved to be the right move.

On announcing Morrison as the club’s new permanent head coach, the Baggies owner insisted survival was no accident, as he praised Morrison for leading Albion through ‘adversity’.

He insists the former midfielder ‘embodies what the club is about’.

He said: “James has led the club out of a real moment of adversity, and I would like to thank him and his staff for helping to bring us all together.

“We did not survive by accident, and James’ appointment is thoroughly deserved. His burgeoning leadership was key to inspiring and uniting the entire club when we needed it most.

“He embodies what this club is about and conveys the standards expected by our fans. “James has all the qualities required to take this club forward and I am excited by a future with him leading our players.”