Exclusive: West Brom "need a little bit more" - they would be taking gamble on Tottenham coach | OneFootball

Lee Hendrie has given his reaction to West Brom's reported interest in Tottenham Hotspur coach Ryan Mason.

Pundit Lee Hendrie believes appointing Tottenham Hotspur coach Ryan Mason would be too much of a gamble for West Bromwich Albion.

After Carlos Corberan departed for Valencia, West Brom made the decision to bring Tony Mowbray back to the club for a second spell in January, but it did not work out for the 61-year-old at The Hawthorns, and he was sacked in April after winning just five of his 17 games in charge, drawing five and losing eight.

It initially seemed as though QPR head coach Marti Cifuentes was set to be appointed as Mowbray's replacement after the Baggies held talks with his representatives, but despite the Spaniard being placed on gardening leave at Loftus Road, it was later revealed that he was not on the club's shortlist.

However, Alexander Blessin, who is currently the head coach of Bundesliga side St Pauli, is reportedly under consideration, while Albion are also keen on Tottenham Hotspur assistant coach Ryan Mason, but any potential move for the 33-year-old has been held up by the North London side's involvement in the Europa League.

Mason has previously had two spells as interim manager of Spurs, but he is yet to hold a full-time senior managerial role, and while West Brom are "willing to wait to decide on their next manager", the delay for the ex-England international to become available could open the door for other candidates to emerge in the frame.

Lee Hendrie issues West Brom, Ryan Mason warning

Speaking exclusively to Football League World, Hendrie admitted that he believes appointing Mason would be a big risk for West Brom, and he urged the Baggies to target a more experienced manager in order to launch a promotion push next season.

"Ryan Mason remains the favourite for the West Brom job," Hendrie said.

"Would it be a gamble or risk in my eyes? I think it would be to a certain extent.

"I think it's different when you actually step into a role that's vacant, and you're filling the void for a certain spell, which is what Ryan has done at times at Tottenham.

"He will have learned a hell of a lot in the seasons he's been involved in coaching, but the problem is that West Brom will be expecting to be in the play-offs and mount a promotion push, and that's why I think they need a little bit more than a really good coach.

"I think they need someone who has got that little bit of steel and that little bit of know-how. That would be my only concern for Ryan Mason.

"It will always be a gamble to bring a manager in who hasn't really got bags of experience, but they have to make that change and break that cycle.

"If he gets it, good luck to him because it's a big job for him to step in to.

"He has experience of being in and around a big football club, but as we know, it is relentless in the Championship.

"I will say that if West Brom want to invest this summer, the expectations will be even higher.

"There is no doubt that it would be a gamble, but it might be a risk that is worth taking because, as we know, some of these new guys with new ideas can transform a football club."

Shilen Patel must be cautious over bold West Brom, Ryan Mason call

Spurs take on Manchester United in the Europa League final in Bilbao on Wednesday night before their Premier League season comes to an end on Sunday, so it will soon become clear how serious West Brom are about appointing Mason.

Mason has developed a reputation as a talented coach in recent years, and his two interim spells at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium have done him no harm at all, so he could be a gamble worth taking for a Championship club.

However, Albion owner Shilen Patel cannot afford to get this decision wrong after the failed Mowbray appointment, and it is difficult to disagree with Hendrie that it may be too soon in Mason's career for him to take a job at such a big club with promotion ambitions.