Bilic takes break and says no to West Brom
ForMEr West Ham manager Slaven Bilic has turned down an approach from West Brom to speak about the vacant manager’s job at The Hawthorns.
Albion’s Chinese owner Guochuan Lai was interested in talking to 49-year-old Bilic as he looks to appoint a successor to Tony Pulis who was sacked on Monday.
But the Croat, currently spending time with his family after leaving West Ham at the beginning of the month, has indicated to Albion it is too early for him to return to football and that he would ideally like a proper break until at least the New Year.
Bilic, who played in the Premier League for Everton and West Ham, made his name as a manager by leading Croatia to a 3-2 victory against Steve McClaren’s England at Wembley in 2007.
After spells in russia and Turkey, he joined West Ham in 2015 and finished seventh and 11th in his first two seasons before a difficult start to the current campaign resulted in him losing his job.
Another ex-West Ham boss Alan Pardew is favourite to take over at West Brom.
He has been out of management for 11 months since being sacked by Crystal Palace but previously worked with Albion’s technical director Nicky Hammond at reading.
However, Lai’s overtures to Bilic underline he has been looking at different options before making his first managerial appointment having bought the club in the summer.
Meanwhile, Hull City will consider the future of coach Leonid Slutsky after tomorrow’s home Championship game against Bristol City.
The club vice chairman Ehab Allam watched Wednesday’s 0- 0 draw at Millwall and is concerned at the lack of progress despite fresh investment in the summer.
Former russia coach Slutsky, 46, became Hull City’s fourth manager in 11 months last June but has presided over a run of five games without a win which has left Hull four points above the relegation zone in 20th position.