Albion can today confirm Jimmy Shan will remain in charge of the first team until the end of the season.
Shan will continue his role of caretaker Head Coach until the close of the 2018/19 campaign in recognition of his efforts which have brought an average of two points per game in his six matches in charge.
Shan will add to his coaching team later this week as Albion gear up for a promotion push which now sees the team well placed to challenge through the Sky Bet Championship Play-Offs.
“Jimmy has fully earned this opportunity to take us through to the end of the campaign,” said Technical Director Luke Dowling.
“He has earned the support and confidence of the players who have bought into the structural and organisational changes Jimmy has introduced. He has the backing of everyone to push on now and take us forward with momentum.
“Of course he recognises, as do we, that there is space for some more experience to join the coaching group and we expect to be able to clarify this element over the coming days.
“But Jimmy has impressed everyone with the way he has tackled the challenge. He is confident in his abilities, just as we have confidence in him, and he has convinced us all that our best prospects for promotion lie with him overseeing the first team.”
Shan opened his interim regime with three successive wins before setbacks against Millwall and Bristol City. Saturday saw Jimmy record his fourth victory with the 4-1 defeat of Preston which established a nine-point cushion to seventh place.
The Baggies netted 10 goals in their three Hawthorns wins under Shan following a sequence of one home victory in four months.
Jimmy said: “I’m happy that we can now move forward with clear planning and direction for the remainder of the season. It won’t change the work ethic and application of the players and the staff but it enables us to crack on with a clear target in our sights.
“From a personal point of view there is huge, huge pride to be given the responsibility. For me it is a chance to see the journey through that began at the end of last season.
“I’ve heard it said that with two or three extra games we may have stayed up last season. My aim is to make sure we get those extra games at the end of this season and complete our road back to the Premier League.”
