'Too early': Former favourite gives Tony Mowbray West Brom verdict and calls for full Ryan Mason backing

A hero to many for his Championship winning exploits in 2008, Mowbray was still regarded as a very capable manager in the division.

But despite green shoots of progress in some areas, Albion slumped to five defeats from six games and Mowbray was shown the door with two games remaining.

It was a sad end to three months that came as Mowbray's route back into the game, after his battle with cancer.

The dust has now settled as Ryan Mason looks to take Albion in a different direction, but former defender Paul Robinson is of the opinion that owners Bilkul Football may have taken the job away from Mowbray too soon.

He admits that he understands why his former boss was axed, but insisted that with time and patience this summer, Mowbray would have been able to attract top Championship talent, and continue his fine record of developing young players.

He said: "I'm just a bit gutted with it.

"I know Tony well still and we speak regularly, and I think he grateful to still be alive with what he has gone through.

"He was given a chance back at West Brom but West Brom was never going to be the same as when we were there, it is a different generation with a different understanding of the game.

"Players come in and players go, the game has changed and I am gutted because he never got the chance to take the team forward with the summer recruitment.

"I know Tony can attract players to teams, he can develop players, just look at what he did at Sunderland and Blackburn.

"I think it may have been taken away too early but the owners are the owners, it is their money and they want to see things moving forward.

"You have to respect that, Ryan is in charge now and he needs support and backing to take the club forward to the Premier League."