"I’d be cautious" - Claim made as West Brom eye ex-Man Utd man for managerial vacancy | OneFootball

West Brom fan pundit Callum has reacted to news that Rene Hake is a contender to take over at The Hawthorns.

This article is part of Football League World's 'Terrace Talk' series, which provides personal opinions from our FLW Fan Pundits regarding the latest breaking news, teams, players, managers, potential signings and more...

Former Man Utd assistant Rene Hake has emerged as a serious contender for the vacant managerial job at West Brom.

The Baggies have been on the lookout since Carlos Corberan opted to leave for Valencia on Christmas Eve, with Chris Brunt, Boaz Myhill and Damia Abella leading the side since the Spaniard’s exit.

With the team picking up some decent results, it has given the hierarchy time to search for the right candidate. And, journalist Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Hake is under consideration.

Rene Hake in frame for West Brom job

The 53-year-old Dutchman’s most recent role was alongside Erik ten Hag at Old Trafford, with Hake only joining United in the summer, and he left when the former Ajax chief was sacked in November.

However, Hake does have managerial experience of his own, having been in charge of Emmen, Twente, Cambuur, Utrecht and Go Ahead Eagles, with several of those jobs coming in the Dutch top-flight.

So, he has experience, but this would be Hake’s first taste of English football as the main man, which means it’s a risk in that sense.

Therefore, it’s a potential appointment that is likely to divide opinion, and when asked for his thoughts on Hake, fan pundit Callum admitted he was taking a ‘cautious’ approach to the rumours.

“It has been a fairly quiet managerial search in terms of the names we’ve heard Albion are talking to. There were brief links to Luke Williams, but it turned out there was no substance to that.

“In terms of Rene Hake, I can’t say I know too much about him. Looking at his record, he has had a mixed time in the Netherlands, managing sides such as Utrecht, Go Ahead Eagles, and several teams who lurked around mid-table in the Eredivisie.

“It’s hard to make an assumption over whether he will be a good fit. If he does play similar football to Erik ten Hag at Man Utd, that might put Albion fans off him a little bit. If he does get the job, the fans would have to get behind him.

“I’d be cautious at the minute about getting too excited or pessimistic before we hear the other names in the job. It’s said he is one of three candidates in the running, so I’d be looking forward to knowing who the other candidates that Albion are speaking to.

“The main feelings are mixed, and it’s difficult to make much of an assumption at the moment.”

This is an attractive job for managers out there, as Albion are in the play-off places at the moment, and promotion has to be the aim this season.

Whoever takes over will inherit a good squad by Championship standards, and they will hope to use the January window to address any glaring weaknesses.

Whether Hake is the right man is open to debate, and most would agree with the assessment above, in the sense that you would need time to assess Hake.

The club are making strides as they search for the right candidate, with Albion back in action this weekend when they take on Bournemouth in the FA Cup.