Why West Brom decided against ex-Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder in favour of David Wagner

According to reports in the West Midlands interviews for the role vacated by Sam Allardyce at the end of the season concluded at the weekend, with Wilder having been one of those to have held talks with the Hawthorns hierarchy.

However, it appears as though former Huddersfield Town manager David Wagner is now set to take over after impressing in his meetings with Baggies chiefs.

Wagner has been out of work since being sacked by Schalke 04 in September, a position he took on after leaving Huddersfield in January 2019, the club he had taken to the Premier League and kept up in their first season, against the odds.

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The Express and Star report that a deal could be struck between the two parties by the end of the week.

They also report that it was the nature of Wilder’s departure from United that put an end to his chances of getting the West Brom job.

It has been claimed that the board unanimously had the ex-United boss down as their first choice only for that to be vetoed by the club’s ownership “due to the strained relationship Wilder had with the owners at Sheffield United.”

That leaves the question where next for Wilder?

On the face of it, the West Brom role seemed perfect for the Bramall Lane icon – a big club that needed a bit of a shake.

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Wilder had been thrown into the mix to replace Roy Hodgson at Crystal Palace but reports yesterday suggest that Nuno Espirito Santo is now in line for that post.

He’s also a very outside bet at 20/1 to take over at Everton.

The 53-year-old is keen to make a swift return to management almost four months on from leaving his beloved Sheffield United.