Former Premier League owner Simon Jordan does not understand why West Brom would consider hiring Chris Wilder as Steve Bruce’s replacement so soon after his departure from Championship rivals Middlesbrough, speaking to talkSPORT (11 October, 11.30am).
Recency bias certainly doesn’t paint Wilder in the best of lights.
This is a man who left Sheffield United bottom of the Premier League in March 2021, following some high-profile divisions behind the scenes at Bramall Lane. Wilder was then sacked by Middlesbrough after less than a year at the Riverside; leaving one of the pre-season promotion favourites all the way down in 22nd place.
But there’s a reason why Wilder is usually one of the first names on people’s lips whenever a job becomes available at Championship level. It was he who took Sheffield United from the depths of the third tier to the top half of the top-flight; beating Chelsea and Arsenal along the way.
A proven promotion-specialist. A man with a plan; a free-flowing and front-foot style of play the likes of which West Brom supporters have been craving since Slaven Bilic.
Jordan, however, feels that the Baggies should remember how things ended for Wilder at Sheffield United and Middlesbrough as they weigh up their next move.
Who will replace Steve Bruce as West Brom manager?
“In what parallel universe does Chris Wilder get included in the conversation? He’s just been drop kicked out of Middlesbrough!” quips the former Crystal Palace owner.
“I can’t see, on the manner that someone left Sheffield United and left Middlesbrough, that they should be at the front of the queue.”
According to reports, Michael Carrick, Carlos Corberan, Gary Rowett and Sean Dyche are currently the leading candidates to take Bruce’s place at a West Brom side mired in their lowest league position for two decades.
Dyche is perhaps the stand-out candidate. There are doubts, however, about whether the Burnley legend can emulate his Turf Moor success outside of Lancashire.
“If they sell him a vision, back him give him some proper dough (then Dyche may be keen on the West Brom job),” Jordan adds; highlighting the similarities between the gravel-voiced gaffer and one Alan Curbishley.
“We had a wonderful time watching Curbishley challenging the Premier League with Charlton,” Jordan says of a man who spent 15 years at the Valley before lasting less than two at Upton Park.
“West Ham took him out of Charlton and he didn’t set the world on fire.”
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