West Bromwich Albion's new head coach James Morrison has been endorsed as the best candidate for the position by the club's executive director Mark Miles. Miles insists that Morrison's appointment was based on his coaching abilities, not his long-standing playing career with the Baggies.
Morrison, 39, who is currently in his 19th year at the club, was awarded a two-year contract as permanent boss last week following an impressive stint as caretaker manager. The former Scotland international, who made nearly 350 appearances for Albion during his 12-year playing career, has been praised for his leadership.
Club Executive Praises Morrison's Coaching Skills
Mark Miles, who returned to The Hawthorns in February after a brief absence, told the Express & Star that the decision by owners Bilkul was strictly based on merit. "Don't get me wrong - James has been appointed because he's the best man for the job, that's why we've done that. It's great that he's got the knowledge (of the club), the background, being a club legend. But he's the best person for the role and we think to take this club forward through the summer, next season and hopefully beyond that," Miles said.
Morrison's playing career ended after the 2019 play-off defeat to Aston Villa, with retirement confirmed a few months later. Since then, he has taken on various non-playing roles, including coaching at the academy level on two occasions and being drafted into the first-team setup by Sam Allardyce and later Tony Mowbray during Mowbray's brief return in 2025. Morrison also coached the Scotland national team under Steve Clarke for a year.
Focus on Togetherness and Future Prospects
Miles highlighted the importance of togetherness in the club's recent revival. "This is a great club and really important to me and James has said the same. One of the key things we've seen over the last couple of months is the importance of togetherness. James and his staff have galvanised the whole club, we've come together out of a tricky situation and can start looking forward," he added.
Morrison's appointment comes after Albion secured Championship survival on the penultimate weekend of the season. The club's hierarchy, including chairman Shilen Patel and non-executive director Jason Roberts, have expressed confidence in Morrison's ability to lead the team forward.
