A Ryan Mason move by West Brom is brave and refreshing - and follows modern football trend

Mason, who retired early due to a head injury before going in to coach at Spurs, working his way up to assistant manager is now the top candidate for the vacant Baggies role.

It would seem Albion have been waiting for him, with the Premier League season just concluding.

In recent days, he has emerged as the front runner, with reports this week claiming an official move for the former midfielder is now close.

The increased interest has caused debate among West Brom fans about whether it is the right move, to go with someone without managerial experience.

Time will tell, but it is a brave and commendable decision from Albion's owners.

They want to go in a different direction. When they missed out on Raphael Wicky in January, they made what looked like a sensible move for Tony Mowbray.

He wasn't their man and when it went south it made it easier for them to give him the axe.

Now they have had time to assess things and Mason, who was a liked candidate in January, is top of the list.

He is young, fresh, highly rated as a coach by many and above all, it gets West Brom off the managerial merry go round.

Carlos Corberan and to an extent Mowbray weren't on that, but Albion have ticked off pretty much all the candidates on that merry go round in recent years.

They are going in a different direction. Some fans have welcomed it, some are not sure.

However, for those who aren't sure, this isn't Albion going in a direction that is completely new to football.

It has happened across football for some time now. Main examples of success at the likes of Kieran McKenna at Ipswich Town, but there are others in all EFL leagues.

Albion are following that trend, but have obviously seen something to justify it.

If Mason does agree to the role, then it is just Albion getting off the merry-go-round and onto the fancy, trendy new train. It has worked for others, so why can't it work for West Brom.