James Morrison drops biggest hint yet on West Brom and head coach future with 'bug' comment

The 39-year-old has been coy about his future while at the helm, having been appointed until the end of the season.

Morrison has insisted his sole focus is to keep the Baggies away from relegation from the Championship between now and May 2.

But, speaking in his pre-Millwall press conference on Thursday, the former midfield legend gave his biggest hint in almost 12 months about his desire to become a head coach in the long-term.

“That feels a long time ago!” Morrison said of late April last year, when he first told the Express & Star of his aspirations to work as a head coach.

“I feel like I've grown a lot in that time.

“I have grown me arms and legs in this situation. I think it's the more time doing it. Does it give me the bug? Yes, it does.”

Morrison added of correspondence with the club on the matter: “I've had just conversations, but nothing else about later on.

“I think you'll get the sensible answer. Me and the club knew where we’ve stood from the start.

“This is just - let's all work together, let's get the job done first of all. That is all I'm thinking about.

“It's a big thing for me, really, with a club that I've been here for nearly 20 years now, to not want to see us get relegated.”

Morrison, in his third caretaker stint at the helm, led the Baggies on a resurgent six-match unbeaten run to go four clear of the drop zone.

Albion had looked in the mire and appeared to be staring in the face of relegation to the third tier for the first time in more than three decades upon Eric Ramsay’s dismissal and after Morrison opened up with defeat at Oxford.

Morrison, with the coaching qualities of Matt Gill and Damia Abelia, has led a response.

Many feel survival would eclipse the achievements of his 12-year stint as a player at The Hawthorns.

Morrison said of that claim: “It's different as a player, isn't it? You have different insights.

“It will just add to another achievement. If you're asking that personally - it will be another achievement where I can look with pride.

“Like I said, after this is done, you'll have fond memories and be proud.”

Morrison, the 46-cap former Scotland international, missed out on the March manager of the month award after being nominated this week.

The gong went to Southampton’s Tonda Eckert, who has masterminded a late push into play-off contention.

Morrison took eight points from a possible 12 last month after the Baggies had been winless in 2026 until March 14.