Tony Pulis managed Albion’s new boss for more than two-and-a-half years and has stayed in contact.
Tony Pulis reckons his former Albion midfielder James Morrison can lead the club back to the Premier League - if things are right behind the scenes.
Pulis, 68, insists it is no surprise Morrison was able to guide the Baggies from the Championship mire because “he sees things others don’t”.
Morrison, who turned 40 on Monday, was rewarded for saving the club from relegation with a permanent two-year deal as head coach and will enter his 20th year at The Hawthorns next season.
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Morrison revealed to the Express & Star shortly into his stint as caretaker that he reached out to experienced former bosses including Pulis, Tony Mowbray and Steve Clarke for advise.
“That’s Moz all over, and he sees things others don't but he's not one of them that shouts and hollers and does this, that and the other,” Pulis told BOYLE Sports, who offer the latest football odds.
“He takes things in and he understands things, and it hasn't surprised me how well he's done.”
The Welshman added: “People have rung me up to say they’re really surprised that he's done as well as has done, but it hasn't surprised me.
“I always thought of him as someone who takes on good information. When I was there, Moz was very quiet, very unassuming but when he spoke, he spoke sense.”
Albion scraped over the line to survival in the Championship despite the late EFL two-point sanction due to a breach of profit and sustainability regulations.
Morrison, the former academy and first-team coach, was the third head coach of the campaign after the failed stints of Ryan Mason and Eric Ramsay left the Baggies facing the drop.
Pulis belives with stability off the field, and the club pushing in the right direction, Morrison can be the man to lead Albion back to former glory.
Albion expect to have a greater freedom to spend to recruit in the summer transfer window. The Championship financial governance has switched to a squad cost ratio measurement, something the club were strongly in favour of.
Pulis said: “They need to sort out what’s going on behind the scenes. They need to have that direction.
“If you give Moz a direction, give him the opportunity, then I think he could be a really, really big hit at West Bromwich Albion.”
James Morrison, right, with former team-mate Craig Gardner and Tony Pulis. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)placeholder image
James Morrison, right, with former team-mate Craig Gardner and Tony Pulis. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images) | Local Library
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Albion goalkeeper coach Boaz Myhill. Photo: Michael Regan/Getty Images | Local Library
Pulis led Albion to top-flight finishes of 13th, 14th and 10th in his three seasons at the helm. He was dismissed in November 2017 with the Baggies 17th, with relegation to follow at the end of the season.
Also part of his Hawthorns squad was another member of Morrison’s current backroom team, goalkeeper coach Boaz Myhill.
The former Wales international, 43, spent nine years as a player at the club, mostly as deputy shot-stopper.
“Mozza and Boaz are great lads, the pair of them. Moz couldn't have better people around him,” Pulis said “They're fabulous lads.
“Boaz is a great lad, one of the nicest people I've met. He was obviously second choice goalkeeper to Ben Foster there but every day turned up and worked his socks off.”
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