The priority for Shilen Patel should be sorting out a new contract for Carlos Corberan at West Brom, according to Jobi McAnuff.
Speaking on Sky Sports on Friday (16 February), the pundit said it’s a testament to the Albion boss and the job that he’s done that matters off the field haven’t been allowed to affect his side on the pitch this season.
He added that the first thing he would be doing if he were the American businessman is ensuring the Spaniard is the manager to take the club forward as there is “real optimism” now at The Hawthorns after an agreement has been reached to acquire Guochuan Lai’s 87.8 per cent majority shareholding.
There is clearly uncertainty around the club when all the issues have been going on previously in the background and it can filter down,” said McAnuff. “I think it’s testament to him and the job he’s done that he hasn’t let that affect matters on the pitch and actually where they are today.
“If I’m the new owner, the first thing I’m doing is making sure that is the guy who’s going to take this football club forward. I know he did sign a new contract last year, but I think that would be the big priority for me, get him secure, get him locked down and then start to build.
“There’s going to be a turnover with players in the summer, with players coming out of contract. But at least now there’s real optimism and an affinity to move forward constructively.”
Carlos Corberan deserves Shilen Patel backing at West Brom
You would be hard-pressed to find many people who don’t believe Corberan deserves the full backing of Patel at West Brom after the job he’s done over the past 18 months.
The Baggies manager was forced to overhaul his squad last summer and let a number of experienced players go, but they have been stronger for it so far this season.
While the team is still lacking in places and there isn’t an awful lot of depth, the Spaniard has got the absolute most out of several players and they deserve credit as a collective for their efforts during this campaign.
The takeover news didn’t quite give them enough of a boost to pick up a result against Southampton on Friday as Albion fell to a 2-0 defeat, but there is plenty of optimism that better times are ahead for the club.
Corberan will be crucial in any success his side could achieve over the next few months, so it wouldn’t be too much of a surprise to see him handed fresh terms to keep him at The Hawthorns.
