Championship side West Brom have recently announced the dismissal of Ryan Mason following a poor first half of the 2025-26 campaign. Sat 18th in the division, a late defeat at Leicester City sealed the 34-year-old’s fate.
The West Midlands outfit currently find themselves seven points above safety, and ten points away from the play-off spots, after a return of six defeats in their last eight league outings.
This article will explore which managers could take charge and be a good fit for the struggling club moving forward.
Michael Skubala – Lincoln City
One manager that West Brom could look at is Lincoln City’s Michael Skubala, who currently has his Lincoln City side sitting second in League One.
Skubala has regularly defied expectations since joining the Imps in November 2023, establishing City as a top-half side in the third tier, while performances have persistently improved despite the losses of key players in the transfer market.
Their league position is far from a false one, with the Lincolnshire outfit amongst some of the best in the division for both goals scored and conceded.
Currently unbeaten in eight league outings, the 43-year-old’s leadership is continuing to affirm his side’s promotion credentials with some notable victories over Cardiff City, Stockport County, and an in-form Peterborough United.
Stepping into the dugout at West Brom would present an element of risk to an up-and-coming manager; however, there is no doubt that the resources at West Brom could present a manager of Skubala’s ability with some fantastic potential.
Liam Manning – Unattached
Despite recently parting ways with Norwich City after a difficult start to the season, Manning was regarded as one of the league’s most exciting coaches just seven months ago.
Delivering Bristol City to an unexpected play-off spot last season, his tenures with MK Dons and Oxford United also saw the coach deliver impressive win percentages of 49 and 48, respectively.Â
While his time at Carrow Road will be one to forget for the manager, it should not distract from his exciting career trajectory before the move.
Perhaps the Hawthorns could present an environment for Manning to rebuild the stock he had at Ashton Gate.
Michael Carrick – Unattached
Continuously linked with any available job in the Championship is the ex-Middlesbrough boss, but not without good reason.
Heavily regarded for the attractive style of play he enforced at the Riverside, Carrick established Boro as regular play-off contenders while delivering a fourth-placed finish in his first season.
Largely credited for the development of Hayden Hackney, who is now regarded as one of the best midfielders in the division, the younger players at the Hawthorns, such as Isaac Price and Alfie Gilchrist, could heavily improve under the ex-Manchester United man’s coaching.
While unable to deliver Premier League football to the Riverside, the coach’s attractive football and development of players have given the coach high stock for another Championship job.Â
Alex Revell – Stevenage
Again, delving into the division below, Alex Revell is another manager performing well in the League One promotion chase.
Many believed a new manager would struggle to repeat the work of Steve Evans after his departure to Rotherham in April 2024; however, Revell has performed brilliantly since stepping up from academy coach to first team manager.
Finishing fourteenth last season and further consolidating the club in England’s third tier, Stevenage have gone from strength to strength this season and are now challenging for the play-offs in League One.
Sitting in seventh, two points adrift of Stockport County with two games in hand, Revell has earned a lot of praise in his first stint as a senior manager.
West Brom would undoubtedly offer fantastic resources for the coach to work with, and the role offers the chance of natural progression.
The 42-year-old has worked wonders with a physical striker in Jamie Reid in his tenure, and could potentially bring the best out of Daryl Dike, who has declined since his switch to the Hawthorns.
Carlos Corberan – Unattached
With Carlos Corberan’s position at Valencia under heavy scrutiny while the club sits in the La Liga relegation zone, the chance for West Brom to go full circle with managers could present itself in the coming weeks.
Corberan has high stock in the Championship and amongst Baggies fans, nearly delivering Premier League football to Huddersfield Town in 2022 and securing a play-off spot for West Brom in 2024.
Now, with the January window firmly underway, it is unlikely that West Brom are willing to wait on Corberan’s situation to unfold; however, there is no doubt he would be welcomed back to the Hawthorns.
The Spaniard’s return would be a great relief amongst the fanbase, likely instilling the positivity that has been lacking at the club this season.
He instilled a fantastic sense of stability through uncertain times in his first tenure, and that stability would be more than welcomed back.