Neil Clement has backed his old captain and team-mate, Derek McInnes, to become the new Baggies boss after Tony Mowbray’s departure to Celtic.
Various candidates have been linked with the vacant post at The Hawthorns but Clement believes the current St. Johnstone boss is the right man to take over at Albion.
The pair played alongside each other for three seasons during McInnes’ time as a player at Albion. In that time they reached the Play-off semi-final, gained automatic promotion to the Premier League and then suffered relegation under then boss Gary Megson.
McInnes achieved promotion to the SPL with St. Johnsone in his first season in charge after taking over from Owen Coyle with Clem certain the former skipper could take over where Mowbray left.
“He had lots of respect as captain,” Albion’s longest serving player revealed.
“One of my mates at St Johnstone, Jodie Morris, has told me what a great job he is doing up there.
“No-one at West Brom has a bad word to say about him. He is very highly thought of.
“He is a class guy and always gives 100 per cent in everything he does.
“I think he would do a tremendous job and I think someone as forward thinking as him could only take the club forwards.
“He is a diplomat and a clever guy, and he has done extremely well in his first managerial job.
“I would like to see him here. I have always got on well with him.
“I feel he would take the club on and do a really good job.
“When Gary Megson was manager he built up a really healthy relationship with him but he does that with everyone.
“He is a great ambassador for the club and he would be an inspired appointment.”