Ex-West Brom chief set for 'hands on' transfer role at Championship rival

A former West Brom sporting director who had been working with a Nigerian club is set to take a hands on transfer role at one of Albion’s Championship rivals.

The Baggies went a number of years without a sporting director in place following Luke Dowling’s departure from The Hawthorns back in 2021.

Dowling, who has had spells with a number of football clubs in his career, joined Albion from Nottingham Forest.

He had also taken on roles at Leeds and Portsmouth as well as Blackburn and earlier in his career he spent four years as sporting director at Watford.

And Dowling is set to return to the Hornets in a consultancy role ahead of the summer transfer window.

It comes after his career took a bizarre turn last year, when he was named sporting director at Nigerian side Sporting Lagos.

According to the Watford Observer, Dowling has a strong relationship with Watford owner Gino Pozzo.

The report states that Dowling will be given a ‘hands on role’ in recruitment, with a remit to bring in players with knowledge of the Championship.

His arrival back at Watford will come five years since he departed Albion in difficult circumstances.

Following the Baggies’ relegation from the Premier League in 2021 under Sam Allardyce, Dowling was leading the hunt for his successor.

The 47-year-old was keen to bring in Chris Wilder following successful spells in the Championship, with David Wagner also in contention.

However, after Albion’s then owner Guochuan Lai vetoed a move for Wilder, the club announced Dowling had departed The Hawthorns by mutual consent.