Better late than never.
Chris Hughton came within a whisker of being Albion's manager in the summer.
Chairman Tony Bloom plumped for the luckless Sami Hyypia instead.
It turned out to be the wrong call but Bloom, after inspired choices in top-six providers Gus Poyet and Oscar Garcia, has got it right again this time.
Hughton has bags of experience and success in the Championship and English football.
That is exactly what Albion need after so much managerial, playing staff and backroom staff upheaval, especially with the opening of the January transfer window just 48 hours away.
Paul Barber, Albion's chief executive and Bloom's righthand man, knows Hughton well from their time together at Tottenham.
He made reference during yesterday's press conference unveiling of the new manager to his "great network of contacts".
Barber said: "I've been with him for a couple of hours and his phone has not stopped ringing during that time."
Hughton's knowledge of the English game and players will serve Albion well in trying to assemble a squad over the course of the next two transfer windows which will help get them back to where they were under Poyet and Oscar.
Nathan Jones, retained by Hughton as part of the coaching team, has not done his reputation any harm either with the fans or the club's hierarchy after his passionate, two-match and four-point caretaker stint.
The new year has the feel of a new start for Albion.
Original article
Chris Hughton came within a whisker of being Albion's manager in the summer.
Chairman Tony Bloom plumped for the luckless Sami Hyypia instead.
It turned out to be the wrong call but Bloom, after inspired choices in top-six providers Gus Poyet and Oscar Garcia, has got it right again this time.
Hughton has bags of experience and success in the Championship and English football.
That is exactly what Albion need after so much managerial, playing staff and backroom staff upheaval, especially with the opening of the January transfer window just 48 hours away.
Paul Barber, Albion's chief executive and Bloom's righthand man, knows Hughton well from their time together at Tottenham.
He made reference during yesterday's press conference unveiling of the new manager to his "great network of contacts".
Barber said: "I've been with him for a couple of hours and his phone has not stopped ringing during that time."
Hughton's knowledge of the English game and players will serve Albion well in trying to assemble a squad over the course of the next two transfer windows which will help get them back to where they were under Poyet and Oscar.
Nathan Jones, retained by Hughton as part of the coaching team, has not done his reputation any harm either with the fans or the club's hierarchy after his passionate, two-match and four-point caretaker stint.
The new year has the feel of a new start for Albion.
Original article