West Bromwich Albion: Was sacking Eric Ramsay the right decision? Have your say on eric ramsay
eric ramsay has been dismissed as West Bromwich Albion head coach after just 44 days and nine games in charge. The club has turned to first-team coach James Morrison on an interim basis while the Baggies sit one point above the Championship relegation zone with 12 games to play.
Eric Ramsay's brief tenure
The 34-year-old was appointed on 11 January on a two-and-a-half-year deal after the departure of Ryan Mason in January. His spell at the Hawthorns lasted 44 days and encompassed nine matches in all, during which he failed to register a win.
Sequence to the dismissal
The club chose to act after a 1-1 home draw with Charlton on Tuesday. Ramsay’s side were booed off after that match, and both the head coach and his assistant, Dennis Lawrence, were summoned to meet the club owner and chairman, Shilen Patel, in the boardroom. The assistant head coach has also departed the Hawthorns.
Club statement and departures
The club released a statement saying West Bromwich Albion have parted company with men’s first team head coach Eric Ramsay, and that assistant head coach Dennis Lawrence has also departed the Hawthorns. The statement added that first-team coach James Morrison will oversee first-team affairs on an interim basis and placed on record the club’s thanks to Eric and Dennis, wishing them well for the future.
Record shortest reign and results
Ramsay’s brief stint set a new club record for the shortest permanent managerial reign in West Brom’s history, surpassing the previous mark of 17 games jointly held by Pepe Mel and Tony Mowbray. Accounts of his results note he failed to win any of his nine matches overall; another headline framed the change as a dismissal "after just eight games, " while match-by-match detail shows he did not inspire victory in his eight league matches and saw West Brom knocked out of the FA Cup by Norwich.
League standing and interim plans
With West Brom languishing in 21st place in the Championship and one point above the drop zone, James Morrison will once again take charge on an interim basis. Supporters are being asked whether Morrison should continue until the end of the season or whether the club should seek a permanent replacement immediately, and if so, who they would prefer.
Fan reaction and related headlines
Fans were vocal at the Hawthorns after the Charlton draw, booing the team as they left the pitch. The dismissal follows a second managerial departure this season, after Ryan Mason was relieved of his duties in January. Other headlines alongside the story included: T20 World Cup: Sri Lanka lose two early wickets in chase of 169 against NZ; Uefa rejects Benfica appeal over Prestianni ban; Man Utd post profit but debt rises to £1. 3bn; The Bafta-winning documentary everyone is talking about; Actor Rosamund Pike joins Romesh in the studio; Squeeze perform alongside the Concert Orchestra; "Historical moment" as Bodo/Glimt succeed against all odds; "The day Brook showed he is an England leader"; "It would be catastrophic" - are Spurs too big to go down?; and "Equal in decay" - Mayweather v Pacquiao is another boxing "carnival".
Eric Ramsay’s move from Minnesota United in MLS to become Albion’s head coach — following a background that included time with Manchester United — did not yield the results the club sought, and both he and his assistant have now left the Hawthorns. The club has confirmed Morrison will oversee first-team affairs on an interim basis while further decisions are made.
Supporters are invited to share their views on whether sacking Ramsay was the right decision, whether James Morrison should remain interim boss until the end of the season, or whether a permanent replacement should be appointed straight away.
