West Brom new manager: Surprise last-minute Sean Dyche twist emerges.

Sean Dyche has surfaced as a surprise last-minute candidate for the West Brom post, with Raphael Wicky still out.

Although the Baggies have been “finalising negotiations” to bring Wicky to The Hawthorns on Friday [Sky Sports, 10 January], the 47-year-old has yet to be confirmed as their new manager. Other names remain in the running, and Dyche is currently the joint-second favourite at 8/1 (Bet Victor), ahead of previous front-runner Rene Hake.

West Brom new manager race still to be resolved

Dyche’s emergence as one of the leading candidates to succeed Carlos Corberan in The Hawthorns’ dugout, despite their apparent move for Wicky, is a surprising development. The Baggies’ 5-1 FA Cup defeat to Bournemouth on Saturday was a disappointing way for Chris Brunt’s interim management team to end their tenure, and their replacement has yet to be confirmed.

With a record of two draws, two defeats and a single triumph across their five games in charge since Corberan’s exit on Christmas Eve, it’s evident that the Baggies’ new direction needs to come swiftly. The Albion remain firmly set in the promotion fight, but uncertainty over who will occupy the dugout moving forward could make its way onto the pitch, a far-from-ideal scenario in a January transfer window. Dyche is far from the only experienced candidate mentioned as a possible replacement for Corberan, but if Wicky declines the position, Albion could do far worse than to select him.

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