Championship manager now odds-on favourite to be sacked next as press conference scheduled
West Brom boss Ryan Mason is now the clear favourite to be the next Championship manager relieved of their duties ahead of their game against Sheffield United.
West Brom took a gamble when they appointed ex-Tottenham midfielder Mason as their new manager in June, and it has not paid off so far.
His rocky start to life as Baggies boss has seen them lose nine of their first 20 games of this season, and they currently sit 16th in the Championship as a result.
Southampton ran out 3-2 winners as the two sides met on the south coast on Tuesday (9 December), with many supporters calling for Mason to be sacked after their third loss in the last five matches.
Michael Carrick has been installed as the favourite to be West Brom’s next boss, but the club are seemingly set to stick by Mason despite the odds of a turnaround not being in his favour.
Mason is favourite to be sacked next in the Championship despite West Brom backing
Football Insider have revealed that West Brom’s board are set to stick by Mason with a tough game coming up against in-form Sheffield United at The Hawthorns on Friday (12 December).
The Express & Star’s West Brom reporter Lewis Cox has reported via X that he has been told that the 34-year-old’s pre-Blades press conference will take place on Thursday (11 December) afternoon.
Baggies chiefs clearly have no imminent plans to sack Mason, but the latest bookmakers’ odds have him as the 4/5 odds-on favourite among second-tier managers to be dismissed next.
He is out in front of Leicester boss Marti Cifuentes, at 9/2, while Sheffield Wednesday’s Henrik Pedersen makes up the top three managers at 6/1.
Mason has hit back at sack rumours but must oversee immediate improvements
Sources have told Football Insider that the West Brom squad is still “firmly behind” their boss right now despite their lacklustre form, with the board seeing that as a big vote of confidence in his abilities.
He still clearly needs to oversee a clear improvement in results to get into the promotion race soon, but has insisted to the Express & Star that he can do so, saying: “Yeah, I do (think I can improve results). Otherwise, trust me, I wouldn’t be sitting here.”
Mason has also been open about his future in charge, insisting that he “understands football” in regards to the pressure being on and there being doubts around his position when results are not going the clubs way.
Even though he is seemingly set to keep his job for now, but that could change if the Baggies are unable to pick up points from a tough run of games against the likes of Sheffield United, Hull, Bristol City and QPR in the weeks to come.