2 pros and 2 cons to West Brom appointing ex-Nottingham Forest manager | OneFootball

West Brom are on the lookout for a new manager, with ex-Nottingham Forest boss Steve Cooper currently out of work.

West Brom are on the lookout for a new manager after Tony Mowbray was sacked following their defeat to Derby County on Monday.

The Albion hierarchy were left in a difficult position after Carlos Corberan left for Valencia at Christmas, with Mowbray eventually named as his successor.

That saw the ex-Sunderland manager return to The Hawthorns, and it was hoped that he would replicate the success he had during his first spell, which saw Mowbray take the Baggies to the Premier League.

West Brom start search for Tony Mowbray replacement

But results and performances have been disappointing, and the 3-1 loss to Derby effectively ended any chance Albion had of reaching the play-offs, which prompted the decision to sack Mowbray.

Now, all attention turns to his successor, and the board are certain to take their time to get the right appointment.

Naturally, the fans are discussing who they want, and Steve Cooper is a name that has been mentioned among the supporters, with the 45-year-old currently out of work since he was sacked by Leicester City earlier this season.

Here we look at TWO pros and TWO cons to his potential arrival at West Brom…

Steve Cooper is proven in the Championship

Firstly, Cooper is someone who has shown he can bring success at this level.

He transformed Nottingham Forest when he inherited a side struggling towards the bottom of the table in September 2021, with the club going on to win promotion via the play-offs.

That was a magnificent achievement, with Cooper then keeping Forest in the top-flight in his first season in the Premier League.

Prior to his spell at the City Ground, Cooper also took Swansea to the play-offs, so he knows what’s required to be successful at this level, and his CV suggests he could take Albion back to the top-flight, which will be the aim for whoever is in the dugout.

Steve Cooper can attract quality players to his clubs

Cooper made his name as a coach during his time in charge of England’s U17s as they won the World Cup.

That background in youth coaching has been very helpful for Cooper in his career, as he has a wealth of contacts in the game, and he has shown he has an ability to develop players.

As a result, the clubs he has been in charge of have attracted quality youngsters. James Garner was a key part of Forest’s promotion push, along with Djed Spence.

Meanwhile, Brennan Johnson improved under Cooper’s guidance, and Morgan Gibbs-White joined Forest due to his relationship with the boss.

It was a similar story at Swansea, who benefited from the likes of Rhian Brewster, Marc Guehi and Connor Gallagher all joining on loan.

So, Albion would be in a good position to snap up some of the most talented youngsters on loan, and they would be an attractive option for emerging talents who want to take that next step in their career.

There has to be concerns about Steve Cooper's style of play

This may seem harsh, but there have been complaints about Cooper’s style of play at a few of his previous clubs.

Even though Swansea were relatively successful, some fans felt they could have been a better watch, and Leicester supporters weren’t happy with their performances earlier this season.

Whilst Cooper was loved by Forest fans, their poor away record was a problem, with the side often inviting pressure on the road.

Of course, Cooper will argue that he got positive results at all three clubs, and the football with Forest in the Championship was enjoyable to watch, which is the most relevant example to West Brom.

Steve Cooper might use West Brom as a stepping stone

Finally, the Baggies know just how damaging it can be to lose a manager mid-season, with Corberan’s exit proving significant in their failure to reach the play-offs.

Therefore, they won’t want it to happen again, but there may be concerns about how long Cooper may stick around.

He has two Premier League clubs on his CV, and his reputation as a coach means he may attract interest.

With the gulf between the top two divisions appearing to get wider every year, Cooper may fancy his chances in the Premier League again if an offer comes his way.

Some will say this is a nice problem to have, as if Cooper is on the radar of top-flight clubs, it means he will have done well. But, the board would need to be convinced that he is open to a long-term project at West Brom, as they can’t afford a repeat of this season when they’re searching around for a new manager halfway through the campaign.