West Bromwich Albion have parted company with head coach Ryan Mason after a torrid run of form, culminating in a 10th consecutive away defeat. The 34-year-old's departure was confirmed by the club on Tuesday morning, ending his tenure after just seven months.
A Downward Spiral Seals Mason's Fate
The decisive blow came on Monday night with a 2-1 loss to Leicester City. That result left the Baggies languishing in 18th place in the Sky Bet Championship, a mere seven points above the relegation zone. Mason's final record makes for grim reading: 13 defeats, nine wins, and four draws from 26 league games.
In an official statement, the club announced: "West Bromwich Albion has today parted company with Men's First Team Head Coach, Ryan Mason." Former Baggies star and current first-team coach James Morrison has been placed in interim charge while the club searches for a permanent successor.
Frustration and Financial Constraints
Speaking after the Leicester defeat, a visibly frustrated Mason pointed to a lack of luck and poor finishing. "It seems to be the way at the minute," he said. "We are on a terrible run away from home, but if you look at the last seven or eight games we have played, we have had more shots than the opponent, more shots on target, more chances created, and we have also conceded very little at our goal."
He added, "But for some reason, almost every shot on target goes in, which is incredible. We are not able to take our moments... I am proud of the team and the performance, and we deserve much more."
Mason, who was the fourth youngest manager in the EFL following his forced retirement from playing at 26, also faced significant challenges behind the scenes. He was hampered by the club's financial limitations and a squad weakened by the summer sales of key players like Darnell Furlong, Tom Fellows, and Torbjorn Heggem.
Search for a Fourth Permanent Boss in Just Over a Year
The club's form nosedived after a promising start which yielded 17 points from the first 10 games. In the subsequent 16 matches, they managed only 14 points, losing six of the last eight. West Brom now begin the search for their fourth permanent manager in little more than a year, following the departure of Carlos Corberán to Valencia in December 2024 and the sacking of Tony Mowbray after just three months in April.
The task for Morrison, and ultimately Mason's long-term replacement, will be to swiftly stabilise a season that is threatening to unravel completely, with the spectre of a relegation battle now looming large at The Hawthorns.
