West Bromwich Albion have begun the search for their eighth permanent manager since 2020 after deciding to part ways with head coach Ryan Mason. The former Tottenham Hotspur coach was dismissed on Tuesday, 6th January 2026, following a poor run of form that has left the club languishing in 18th place in the Championship table.
Mason's Short-Lived Reign at The Hawthorns
Ryan Mason's tenure at West Brom proved to be brief and ultimately unsuccessful. Appointed in June 2025 on a three-year contract, he managed just nine wins from 27 games in all competitions. The final straw was a dramatic 2-1 defeat away to Leicester City on Monday night, where Abdul Fatawu's added-time winner sealed Albion's fate. This marked their fourth loss in five matches, leaving them ten points adrift of the play-off positions and just seven points above the relegation zone.
The Early Favourite: Local Candidate Lee Carsley
England's Under-21 coach, Lee Carsley, has emerged as the early frontrunner with bookmakers offering odds of 4/1. The former Birmingham City and Coventry City midfielder has been heavily linked with Championship roles since his interim spell in charge of the senior England team. His local knowledge is a factor, but his appointment would represent a significant gamble.
Carsley has limited club management experience, with only a seven-month spell at Brentford in 2015 on his CV. The question for the Albion board is whether now, with the club in a precarious league position, is the time to appoint a coach whose primary success has come in international youth football.
Established Contenders and Familiar Faces
Close behind Carsley in the betting is Michael Carrick at 8/1. The former Manchester United midfielder has proven Championship pedigree, having guided Middlesbrough to the play-offs in 2023. However, he has been out of work since June and may be holding out for a potential return to Old Trafford.
Intriguingly, the list also features a potential romantic return for Carlos Corberan. The Spaniard, who led West Brom to the play-offs in 2024, is under pressure at La Liga side Valencia. With his boyhood club now in the relegation zone, a Hawthorns comeback could appeal to both parties, with odds of 10/1 available.
Other names in the frame include former player James Morrison (8/1), Russell Martin (8/1), and League One leaders Cardiff City's highly-rated boss Brian Barry-Murphy (16/1). The club's former manager Tony Mowbray is a 16/1 outsider for a third spell in charge.
The coming days will be crucial for West Brom's hierarchy. With 20 games remaining in the season, their choice will define whether the campaign becomes a battle for survival or a late push for the top six. The pressure is on to make an appointment that can unite the fanbase and revive the team's fortunes.
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