Moore tells Baggies to learn from harshest of life lessons
DARREN Moore has urged Albion to learn from their chastening relegation as the club heads into a crucial rebuilding programme.
Moore managed to restore some pride – and even had fans dreaming of the most unlikely escape – during his six-game stint as caretaker manager.
But the 2-0 defeat at Crystal Palace on Sunday, Moore’s only loss as acting head coach, meant Albion went down as the Premier League’s bottom club – a finishing position few would have foreseen after the Baggies opened the campaign with two victories.
And after the club was lauded far and wide for their recruitment in last summer’s transfer window.
A summer of great change is expected at The Hawthorns, with chief executive Mark Jenkins set to reform commercial and football operations as the club prepare for a crack at promotion back to the top flight.
“The biggest thing is to learn what’s happened here this season,” Moore said. “We’ve been eight consecutive years in the Premier League and it’s come to an end.
“The main thing is to learn from this season. Certainly, in the confines of this club are the right ingredients to move forward.
“It’s important the club comes together this summer and starts to implement the right plans and procedures, people, players, whatever the structure might be for West Bromwich Albion. The club as a whole will be starting this process.”
Recruiting a manager is the top priority, with Moore high on the shortlist after his hugely impressive turn as caretaker, which heralded 11 points.
Jenkins and technical consultant Giuliano Terraneo flew to China yesterday to present in person their recommendations to Guochuan Lai, Albion’s controlling shareholder.
They will also speak to Lai about the technical director role, left vacant after Nick Hammond was sacked in April.
Terraneo, who joined on a sixmonth contract last month, has been conducting a complete review of the club’s recruitment.
The Italian, a retired goalkeeper who played for AC Milan and Torino among other clubs, recently dis- missed talent scouts Andy Thorn and Simon Ford as part of his shake-up.
Brentford boss Dean Smith is understood to be the board’s leading contender for the manager’s job.
Michael Appleton, Graham Potter and Derek McInnes, who all have Albion connections, are also under consideration.
Much of Moore’s success as caretaker hinged on his likeable personality and ability to galvanise staff across all departments as someone who has enjoyed a long association with the club in various positions.
Not only did Moore play for the Baggies, he also worked as a youth-team coach, a developmentphase coach monitoring players on loan and as a first-team coach, thanks to his promotion by Alan Pardew.
But he does not feel the next manager needs historic links to West Brom to land the job.
“It’s down to the individual,” Moore said. “The biggest thing for me, it’s not so much already knowing the club, it’s that the club moves forward.”