Campaign to install McInnes as West Brom manager gathers pace
The momentum behind former captain Derek McInnes to be appointed the next manager of West Bromwich Albion has been gathering pace over the last week.
The 37-year-old, who played for Albion under Gary Megson from 2000 to 2003, topped a poll of fans’s favourites in the Post’s sister paper, the Birmingham Mail, last Friday with over a third of the vote but it isn’t just the supporters who would welcome McInnes back to The Hawthorns.
His former team-mate Neil Clement, who is the only player remaining from McInnes’ time at Albion, has also said he would also like to see the Scotsman as Tony Mowbray’s replacement and has backed him to take the club forward.
“He had lots of respect as captain,” said Clement, who is the only remaining Albion squad member from when McInnes was a player at The Hawthorns.
“One of my mates at St Johnstone, Jodie Morris, has told me what a great job he is doing up there.
“No one at West Brom has a bad word to say about him. He is very highly thought of.
“He is a class guy and always gives 100 per cent in everything he does.
“I think he would do a tremendous job and I think someone as forward thinking as him could only take the club forwards.
“He is a diplomat and a clever guy, and he has done extremely well in his first managerial job.
“I would like to see him here. I have always got on well with him.
“I feel he would take the club on and do a really good job.
“When Gary Megson was manager he built up a really healthy relationship with him but he does that with everyone.
“He is a great ambassador for the club and he would be an inspired appointment.”
McInnes’ name is likely to appear on Albion chairman Jeremy Peace’s list for the vacancy but he will be by no means the only option being considered by the Albion board.
After a weekend of deliberations and discussions with various applicants, Peace now has his shortlist and is on course to have his new man in place by the time the players return for pre-season training on July 1.
However, Albion will have to agree compensation with McInnes’ current club St Johnstone, who he has just lead back to the Scottish Premier League.
McInnes has returned from a scouting mission at the European Under-21 championships in Sweden but has told friends he has heard nothing about an impending Albion approach.
Albion could now be ready to register their interest in McInnes formerly this week and Peace is keen to get his new man in place as soon as possible as there is much to be sorted.
Paul Robinson, Felipe Teixeira and Borja Valero have all expressed their desire to leave this summer and the new man will have some big decisions to make.
A £500,000 bid from Bolton Wanderers has already been rejected for Robinson, who does not want to drop back into the Championship.
Despite the absence of a manager, efforts are still being made to sign midfielder Youssouf Mulumbu and striker Juan Carlos Menseguez permanently after their promising loan spells last season.
Deals for each player have been agreed in principle with their clubs, Paris St Germain for Mulumbu and San Lorenzo for Menseguez, and are now just being finalised.
Meanwhile, Albion have announced they will face NK Nafta in their opening game of their pre-season tour of Slovenia.
The game against Slovenia’s oldest club will take place on Wednesday, July 15 (ko 4.30pm BST).
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