Exclusive: Sky Sports pundit left "very surprised" at West Brom, Marti Cifuentes update | OneFootball

Lee Hendrie reacts to the news that QPR boss Marti Cifuentes isn't on West Brom's shortlist to replace Tony Mowbray.

Lee Hendrie has been left surprised at the news that Queens Park Rangers manager Marti Cifuentes isn't on West Bromwich Albion's shortlist to replace Tony Mowbray.

The Spanish boss' future at Loftus Road has been up in the air as of late, with reports coming that he could quit his job with the R's as he was in the running for the Norwich City and West Brom vacancy.

It was understood that the 42-year-old fell out with the club's board. This saw him placed on gardening leave by the London club last Tuesday, leaving Kevin Betsy and Xavi Calm to take charge of the club's final match of the season against Sunderland.

This move was essentially to ensure the club guarantees some sort of compensation if the popular manager moves elsewhere. Had they sacked him, QPR would've had to pay up the rest of his contract, whilst allowing him to be free to find another job.

Another twist in the tale then came, as it was revealed by BBC Radio WM that West Brom didn't even have Cifuentes on their shortlist to become their new head coach.

Lee Hendrie left surprised that Marti Cifuentes isn't under consideration by West Brom

Following the latest revelation of this saga between Cifuentes, QPR, and West Brom, Football League World spoke exclusively to Aston Villa star turned Sky Sports pundit Lee Hendrie, who weighed in on the situation.

The 47-year-old told FLW: "Very surprised actually, because I spoke about this recently. He’s [Cifuentes] an up-and-coming coach - I’m really surprised at that.

“It does make me think about where West Bromwich Albion are actually at, at the moment, and what’s their thought process of who could come in and work the football club and make it a better place.

“Quite clearly, they are a big football club, but they need some incentive to take them forward.

“The reason why I felt that he would be one of them head coaches to come in and take West Brom forward is that he works with a lot of younger players, and he’s got that identity of doing so - that’s where I feel they’ve just lacked in having younger players and giving them a bit more belief.

“But [I’m] very surprised that he isn’t one of them that’s a target to take them forward.”

As soon as the 42-year-old was placed on gardening leave by his current employers last week, many were left under the assumption that it was only a matter of time before the QPR boss was seen holding up a West Brom shirt.

However, the latest revelation in this unfolding saga from BBC Radio WM has come as a shock, as the Baggies have reportedly "not offered the job to anyone" and are "continuing with their recruitment process."

Cifuentes was a popular man at Loftus Road, after dragging the R's away from a relegation battle twice in his two years at the club. However, the London club have struggled for consistency under the Spaniard.

It seems the former Hammarby head coach has managed his final game in charge of the Superhoops. But this latest update is certainly a shocking one, as the plot thickens as to where the QPR boss will end up next season.