West Bromwich Albion have taken drastic action, parting ways with head coach Ryan Mason after a string of poor performances left the club languishing in the lower half of the Championship table.
The Final Straw at the King Power
The decision, confirmed by the club in an official statement on Tuesday, 6 January 2026, came less than 24 hours after a heartbreaking stoppage-time defeat. Abdul Fatawu's 94th-minute volley for Leicester City sealed a 2-1 victory over West Brom, marking a new low in their season.
This loss was not an isolated incident. It represented West Brom's tenth consecutive away defeat and their sixth loss in just eight matches. The dismal run has seen the Baggies slump to 18th position in the league standings, now just seven points clear of the relegation zone and a daunting ten points away from the playoff places.
Coaching Staff Cleared Out
The club's statement confirmed a clean sweep of the first-team coaching staff. Assistant head coach Nigel Gibbs and first-team coach/head of performance Sam Pooley have also left The Hawthorns alongside Mason.
Speaking after the Leicester match, Mason pointed to a frustrating disconnect between performance and results. "We weren't killers when we had our opportunities," he lamented. "Last seven or eight games, obviously we're on a disastrous run but in terms of the performances... we've come out on top in every single game. But we haven't been able to transfer that to results."
Missed Chances Prove Costly
The game at the King Power Stadium perfectly illustrated Mason's point. After Jordan Ayew's early opener for Leicester, Karlan Grant equalised for West Brom before half-time. The visitors dominated large parts of the second half, with Isaac Price hitting the post and Leicester goalkeeper Jakub Stolarczyk making several key saves.
Stolarczyk acknowledged his busy evening, telling Sky Sports, "Probably more busy than I wanted to be but today was one of those games that we had to just grind out the result and wait for our opportunities." That opportunity arrived dramatically through Fatawu in the dying moments.
What's Next for the Baggies?
West Brom's immediate focus shifts to the FA Cup, where they are scheduled to face Swansea City on Sunday. Their next Championship fixture is a tough encounter against second-placed Middlesbrough at The Hawthorns on 16 January.
The club has not yet announced who will take interim charge of the team following Mason's dismissal. The search for a permanent successor is expected to begin immediately as the board seeks to salvage their season and avoid a perilous battle against relegation.
