OPINION
West Bromwich Albion supporters should be feeling relieved after Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill declared that his sole focus is on his current role despite speculation around his future.
According to a report from BBC Sport O’Neill is not on West Brom’s shortlist, as the club search for a permanent successor to Darren Moore, after he was sacked at the beginning of March with the Baggies in fourth place in the Championship.
On his future O’Neill told BBC Sport: “I am under a long-term contract with the IFA and have two very important games in June, that is where my focus is on at the minute.”
O’Neill had previously been linked with the vacant managerial position at the Hawthorns, according to Sky Sports, but it now appears as though West Brom will be pursuing other candidates and he will be focusing on his role with Northern Ireland.
That should be seen as a positive by West Brom supporters, with O’Neill lacking in club level experience in recent years having been managing Northern Ireland’s international team since 2011.
The 49-year-old has performed well in his role with Northern Ireland managing to guide the country to their first ever appearance at a UEFA European Championships finals, when his side reached Euro 2016 getting knocked out in the Round 16 by Wales.
However, O’Neill’s only previous managerial experience at club level has been with Brechin City in Scotland and Shamrock Rovers in Ireland, meaning he is lacking in experience at club level, especially in English football.
Having already had an inexperienced manager in Moore at the helm this season, West Brom will probably be needing to appoint a manager with a more proven record of competing in the Football League, as the Baggies look to challenge for a return to the top flight.
The Baggies managed to qualify for the play-offs this season, but were beaten by local rivals Aston Villa in the semi-finals and will now be set for their second successive campaign in the Championship, after they were relegated from the Premier League last year.
Whoever West Brom appoint as their new permanent manager this summer, the club needs to ensure it is someone with experience of gaining promotion in the Football League, with the Baggies’ main aim for next season to mount a challenge for promotion back to the Premier League.