Monday 14 May 2018 18:38, UK
West Brom chief executive Mark Jenkins will fly to China on Monday to present his choice for the club’s new manager to owner Guochuan Lai, Sky Sports News understands.
Guiliano Terraneo, the Italian sporting director who Albion appointed last month as a consultant to work directly with Jenkins on the recruitment process, will present his recommendations alongside him.
Once a candidate is signed off by Lai, the club will aim to finalise a deal by the end of the coming weekend to give the new manager as much time as possible to start shaping a squad capable of winning promotion back to the Premier League at the first attempt.
It is understood current caretaker Darren Moore and Brentford manager Dean Smith remain the two leading candidates, but Albion were waiting until the end of the season before considering any formal approach to the Bees to speak to Smith.
If Moore does not receive the job on a permanent basis, it will be a condition imposed by West Brom that he is kept on as a first-team coach.
Moore won manager of the month for April on the same day West Brom's relegation was confirmed and has been widely praised for his impact since temporarily succeeding Alan Pardew earlier this year.
After the Baggies lost on the final day of the season, Moore insisted it would be "unfair" to speculate on what his future role would be.
"The main thing here is for West Brom to look back on the season, reflect, and start making the right decisions that are going to put this club back on the football map," he said.
