'The decision that started the downfall': Why West Brom should not have sacked Tony Mowbray
Since the departure of Carlos Corberan - a catalogue of errors from the Albion hierarchy has left the club in a terrible mess.
Since the Spaniard left in Christmas 2024 - Albion have gone through three permanent managers - and may appoint a fourth in the coming days.
The comedy of errors will be scrutinised over the next few weeks - and maybe beyond if Albion fail to survive in the Championship.
But when did the downfall begin and how has it gone so badly wrong?
It is an open question and purely down to opinion - but for me it began on April 21, 2025. The date? The day the club sacked Tony Mowbray.
Having failed to bring in Raphael Wicky, Albion went for Mowbray - and emotional appointment to galvanise the fanbase and the club. It was also a smart appointment - a classy operator who has put together top drawer Championship outfits on more than one occasion.
There was some good and bad in Mowbray's time in charge - as he tried to put his stamp on Albion.
Ultimately they slipped out of play-off contention - and Mowbray was shown the door after a dismal defeat against Derby County.
Some thought it was the right call - some didn't. I have always very much been in the latter camp.
It surprised me at the time, the timing of it - and looking back it is where the downfall started and why the decision making of the club's ownership has to be called into serious question.
The season was over at that point - that has to be admitted. But at the time my thinking was, why not give Mowbray the summer to build and put a side together?
And sitting here now, having watched Eric Ramsay become the latest manager to feel the Bilkul axe, I am of that thought more than I have ever been.
Under Ryan Mason there were times where you thought it would work - and then it fell off a cliff. Under Ramsay, it never got going. When he was first appointed, many including myself thought it may work - and we have to hold our hands up now.
But I don't think people can honestly say that Albion would be anywhere near this mess they are in now - had Mowbray been left in charge.
Mowbray, Mason, Ramsay - who would you back to turn Albion into a solid Championship outfit? The answer is obvious.
People will read this and be of the view that it is easy to say in hindsight. And it is, but I am still of the opinion that we wouldn't be sitting here, a point above the drop zone, had he been left in the dugout.
The Baggies wanted a young and up and coming manager, after all that is the modern day football fashion. We are seeing it more and more these days.
However, it has been a fashion disaster over the last year for the owners. Sometimes, the old style is a lot better and but they have failed to grasp that.