Millwall manager Gary Rowett is ‘very interested’ in replacing Steve Bruce at Championship rivals West Brom, former Birmingham Mail reporter Chris Lepkowski tells The Liquidator podcast.
Now, Rowett might not be the most glamorous or high-profile name linked with the vacant Baggies post.
But while the 48-year-old does not command the reputation of a Sean Dyche or the intrigue of a Michael Carrick, it should not be forgotten that he led Millwall to a highly-impressive ninth place finish in the Championship last season; one place and two points better off than a talented and expensively-assembled West Brom side.
Since then, the gulf has only grown between the Lions and the Baggies. That is despite the fact that Millwall lost their most talented player – Jed Wallace – to West Bromwich Albion when his contract expired over the summer. Wallace, for what it’s worth, has labelled Rowett an ‘unbelievable’ manager.
And, after three years punching above his weight in the capital, the Bromsgrove-born coach is reportedly keen on the idea of taking on a new role at a more ambitious club with a larger budget.
Who will replace Steve Bruce as West Brom manager?
“I’m reliably informed (Rowett) is very interested in the job,” Lepkowski explains. “By the quirks of football, we happen to be playing Millwall very soon (on October 22nd).
“I’m not a betting man. I’m not saying that Rowett would definitely get the job. But he might be one to watch in all of this. Because I’m fairly sure that he will be a strong candidate.”
Interestingly, Rowett is a coach who tends to thrive at the helm of an underdog. Rather than a team expected to perform at the top end; see Birmingham City and Millwall. Spells at Derby County and Stoke City were, in contrast, far less impressive.
And West Brom, 22nd in the Championship, certainly have a lot more in common with Stoke circa 2018/19; an underperforming side limping along at the wrong end of the table after beginning the season as promotion favourites.
Alongside Carrick, Dyche and Rowett, former Huddersfield Town boss Carlos Corberan is another on West Brom’s radar.
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