Preston manager Alex Neil is interested in the West Brom job, according to Express & Star journalist Matt Wilson.
The reporter claimed via the Baggies Broadcast podcast [6:39 onwards] that Preston do not want to lose the 37-year-old to the Baggies, who could potentially be an opponent for them when it comes to the play-offs at the end of the regular Championship season.
“Preston would not want him to go at this stage of the season, even if he was keen on the Albion job, which I believe he is, or would be,” said Wilson.
“I would wager that even he was having reservations about leaving at this stage of the season if you think about what he could achieve with Preston.”
West Brom sacked Darren Moore a week and a half ago and it has been widely-reported that caretaker James Shan could be left in charge for the rest of the season with a more experienced set of hands to come in and help him.
OPINION
Neil has a very impressive CV despite him being such a young manager. The 37-year-old won promotion to the Scottish top-flight with Hamilton in 2013/14 before heading to Norwich and also achieving promotion to the Premier League there. Both of those promotions were won via play-offs, which is where fourth-placed West Brom will more than likely have to win their return to the Premier League this season if they fail to catch up with the top-two. Neil is now impressing at Preston, who have one of the lowest wage budgets in the second-tier. The Lilywhites are currently seventh in the standings, with goal difference being the only thing to keep them out of the top-six. There is no way that Preston would let West Brom talk to Neil at this stage of the campaign, but he might be a good hire if the Baggies do not win promotion this term if they approach for the Scot in the summer.