West Brom, Ryan Mason appointment will go one of two ways – it’s a massive gamble for Shilen Patel | OneFootball

With Albion keen on Tottenham coach Ryan Mason, it could either be a disastrous or masterstroke appointment from Shilen Patel.

West Brom could be closing in on Tony Mowbray’s successor as preparations begin for the 2025-26 season.

The Baggies have placed Tottenham Hotspur assistant coach Ryan Mason as their number one target, with The Telegraph’s John Percy reporting that the Black Country outfit are set to formally offer him the job this week.

It is yet to be known whether Mason wants to take the job though, with TalkSPORT’s Alex Crook claiming the 33-year-old is still weighing up his options this summer.

Sky Sports have recently reported that the Baggies want to talk to Mason about the vacancy and are set to approach the London club this week to request permission, although it’s unclear what position Spurs will take regarding this.

West Brom’s plan to appoint the former midfielder will only go one of two ways if he eventually lands the hotseat at The Hawthorns, with Shilen Patel taking a huge gamble for someone who would be plunged into their first full-time role in English football.

Ryan Mason’s lack of experience in management

The former Spurs player turned to coaching after his premature retirement from the professional game at the age of 26. He has since worked under various regimes in North London, which includes being part of the staff under Ange Postecoglou, who recently claimed Europa League glory over Manchester United.

Mason has had two interim spells in charge following the departures of José Mourinho and Antonio Conte, recording six victories from a combined 13 games. His spell in 2021 was a lot more successful, registering a win percentage of 57.14%, while only a 33.3% win rate was recorded two years later.

Building up his knowledge and experience as a coach while at Tottenham, Mason could well be ready for his first-ever managerial position, but it’s such a risk for West Brom to take when they have ambitions to get back to the Premier League as quickly as possible.

West Brom taking a massive gamble with Ryan Mason interest

The appointment of Ryan Mason has the potential to be a defining period of the Shilen Patel era, with many Albion supporters unsurprisingly split over the latest update.

The tenure under Mason could be a disaster with his lack of Championship know-how, risking Albion struggling towards the bottom end of the division and leaving the Baggies faithful struggling to understand why Patel and co wanted to take on a boss with zero experience of managing in the second tier.

On the other hand, Mason could adapt to Championship life with ease and be a masterstroke appointment, with Albion getting the best years out of him by giving him his first chance as a coach, and if he could get a tune out of the squad, it could result in a long-awaited promotion back to the big time under his guidance.

The choice from the hierarchy seems to suggest that West Brom will either be in for a season of struggle or success, and it’s a bold call to make after suffering disappointment at the back end of this season.

It will be intriguing to see how this plays out, with pressure being placed on Mason’s shoulders immediately to deliver success at The Hawthorns if he accepts the role.