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West Bromwich Albion boss, Bryan Robson, on Monday became the first manager to lose his job this season and Steve Cotterill has become the early favourite for the job in the national press.
The announcement by Albion chairman Jeremy Peace came as some what of a shock, coming just eight games into the new season, and with the Baggies having collected 12 points and despite sitting ninth in the Championship table, they are just two points behind the Clarets in third.
Robson (pictured above looking as happy as ever - LC) took the reigns of the Midlands club in November 2004 and led the club to the ‘Great Escape’ as they became the first club to come back from being bottom at Christmas to avoid relegation in the history of the Premiership. He failed to repeat that fete last season however, as Albion were relegated to the Championship and fan unrest following Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Southend was the final straw for Peace.
"After much deliberation, and in view of the results since early 2006, it has been decided that a change is necessary if the club is to achieve its aims for this season and beyond," Peace told Albion's official website.
"This is a very important time for West Bromwich Albion. With promotion a priority, the Board felt that given the club's current league position, the best way forward was to agree to make a change now."
The first day favourite was Alan Curbishley, however, it now seems that he has ruled himself out of the running as he holds out for a Premiership job, and that has led to Steve Cotterill being made the new bookies tip to replace Robson at the Hawthorns.
Cotterill seems to get at least one mention when a Championship job
becomes available, but, other than with Leicester, he has never been this strongly linked. The Sun this morning reported “Steve Cotterill emerged last night as the early front-runner to succeed Bryan Robson at West Brom”. The article, titled ‘Robbo’s Cott Down’, goes on to claim that Peace is said to be a big fan of Cotterill, who would cost £350,000 after a clause was written into his contract allowing him to talk to clubs who offered that amount of money as compensation.
Cotterill, has guided Burnley to third in the table after the first eight games of his third season in charge, has always expressed a desire to manage in the Premiership and could see West Brom as being in a better position to help him achieve that dream than Burnley or Leicester, who he was heavily linked with last season.
Odds on him succeeding Robson have been as low as 3/1 by bookmakers.
kevrobinson |
