West Bromwich Albion might have found the man who can fill their current managerial vacancy…
What’s the latest?
According to The Athletic, Ron Gourlay has compiled a lengthy list of potential candidates for the job.
Headlining it is Swansea City manager Russell Martin, who has impressed already in the Championship.
Would you be happy with Russell Martin at West Brom?
With the managerial search reaching a third day now since Steve Bruce was sacked, they will want to act quickly.
The report also detailed names such as Carlos Corberan, clearly outlining how the Baggies are looking for a more progressive coach than their last.
He can rebuild their mentality
With West Brom currently sitting in the relegation zone, they are hardly an attractive proposition for managers in a job.
Especially the likes of Martin, who has motivated his Swans side to four straight victories as they take up a playoff spot this season.
His sides play a very specific way, and he is clearly a manager who is determined to stick to his principles no matter what.
Perhaps if Gourlay can tempt the 36-year-old to join, he would be the perfect fit to take his possession-based style and apply it to a side that are averaging 57.5% possession a game.
They are lacking a ruthlessness that is holding them back and applying principles that would ensure a solidity that has clearly worked for his Welsh outfit might help propel the Baggies up the table.
If he were to join, he would have the tough task of turning around a side that are winless in their last eight league games.
However, he has a track record of building a mentality that could benefit the Midlands outfit.
As aforementioned, he is a staunch believer in his tactical ideas. This was showcased in a viral video that showed the manager telling his players: “If it doesn’t work and I get sacked, at least I get sacked doing something I believe in. I don’t get sacked regretting that I have bowed on my principles.”
Speaking about that video, he said something with regard to mentality that would please fans of the club he might join.
He claimed: “It wasn’t a big deal to me – it was just common sense. It helped us build a bit of siege mentality. It was like: ‘Look, no one believes we can do this and no one wants us to be successful doing this.’”
Martin might be the perfect young and progressive manager they need, to turn the Baggies into a side that teams will soon fear.
