Darren Moore confirmed as West Brom’s permanent manager

Darren Moore has been announced as the new head coach of West Bromwich Albion on a full-time basis.

Despite a poor campaign in the Premier League that led to relegation, Moore’s six-match tenure in a caretaker capacity towards the end of the year yielded eleven points, including wins over Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur.

The fan favourite is also understood to be a hit among the current playing squad.

In the last few weeks the battle appeared to have been between Moore and Brentford manager Dean Smith for the vacancy that had been freed up by the departing Alan Pardew.

Moore, the odds-on favourite in that time, has won that race, despite having no previous experience – in a coaching capacity – of the Championship.

He’s been handed what the club describe as a ‘improved and extended’ contract.

The affable former centre-half made more than 100 appearances for the Baggies between 2001 and 2006 and in that time was promoted from England’s second tier on two occasions under Gary Megson.

He was also part of the Derby County side that defeated Albion in the play-off final in 2007.

A decision on the managerial front was expected to be made this week after chief executive Mark Jenkins and technical consultant Giuliano Terraneo flew to China at the beginning of the week to hold talks with owner Guochuan Lai about the appointment.

It’s expected to be a particularly hectic period for the club in the summer transfer window, with a number of recruits and departures predicted, but with Moore now in place that can begin.

Jenkins said: “We are delighted to confirm Darren as our new Head Coach and we look forward to his continuing the excellent work we saw when he stepped into the role in an interim capacity in the first week of April.

“He embodies the spirit of the Club and the spirit of what we are striving to achieve in this new chapter ahead.

“We conducted a thorough process of recruitment but Darren’s powerful impact on the pitch and across all areas of the Club established him as the outstanding candidate.