West Bromwich Albion considered Brentford’s Dean Smith as Alan Pardew’s replacement but could Bristol City, Millwall or Preston bosses also interest them?
Two have connections with the club in Michael Appleton and Derek McInnes, with the current Leicester City assistant and Aberdeen boss having played for the Baggies.
The third is from the area, with Brentford chief Dean Smith having been born in West Bromwich and has consistently overachieved in the Championship with the Bees.
So here are three others surpassing expectations in the second tier of English football currently West Brom should perhaps consider.
Neil Harris
Millwall moved ahead of Smith’s men into tenth at the weekend with a 1-0 victory over them at the New Den as the South London side continue to impress following promotion from League One.
Harris is a Lions legend as both a player and now manager, but the 40-year-old could perhaps be tempted to the Hawthorns with the chance to manage in the Premier League.
Lee Johnson
Bristol City’s form may have faltered somewhat in recent times, but they still remain in seventh place and three points off the playoffs after a fine start to the season.
This comes after Johnson had to fight off relegation for the Robins over the previous two seasons and still only 36-years-old he looks set to have a bright future in the game ahead of him.
Alex Neil
Another 36-year-old and the only one of the trio to have managed in the top flight having guided Norwich City there in 2016 before being sacked in March last year with the Canaries having dropped back into the second tier and not made the playoffs.
Now at Preston North End, Neil continues to impress and despite not having anywhere near the same sized budget as other teams in the division, the Lily Whites are currently eighth in the table.
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