WEST BROM have lined up Bobby Robson to replace Gary Megson as manager.
And that could mean an emotional return to The Hawthorns for the former England manager almost 50 YEARS after he first played for the club.
Robson, 71, insisted after his sacking by Newcastle last month that he wants to remain in the game.
Robson made the first of his 239 appearances for the Baggies in 1956 and scored 56 goals in six years.
And Megson’s future with the Baggies looks black following the breakdown of his relationship with chairman Jeremy Peace.
Tomorrow’s home clash with Fulham is being billed as a “must-win” game for the beleaguered boss.
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| Gary Megson |
He admitted last night that the past week has been one of the most testing of his managerial career. There has been constant speculation over his job.
He also had to deal with a bust-up between Danish defender Thomas Gaardsoe and a member of the coaching staff following the 3-0 defeat at Liverpool last Saturday. That left Albion still looking for a first win of the season following promotion back to the Premiership.
Megson said: “I’m not going to say everything has been dead easy. It hasn’t. “But you have to deal with it and that’s what I’ve done. “Throughout all this the most important people at the club are the players.
“After all they’ve been reading in the papers I’ve called them together a couple of times and told them just to focus on what they are paid to do — work hard, play well and hopefully win games.”
Megson is adamant his own focus is not in question.
He insisted: “My desire, dedication and will-to-win is still the same and I have been trying to get that over to the players.
“But these situations do seem to have an effect on a club. Some see it as an opportunity to feather their own nest, and it can provide others with an excuse.
“As a manager you have to tell them there is no excuse for a lack of anything, and that they’re expected to roll their sleeves up and get on with it.”
But Megson declined to discuss his contractual situation or look beyond tomorrow’s visit from Fulham. He admits the showdown is a “huge” game for the club which can “kick-start” their campaign.
He added: “So far this season every result we’ve had has been the same as the last time we were in the Premiership two years ago.
“On that occasion our first win was against Fulham, and hopefully the sequence will continue on Saturday.”