West Bromwich Albion have parted ways with head coach Eric Ramsay after just 44 turbulent days at The Hawthorns, marking the shortest permanent managerial tenure in the club’s long history. The decision, announced late on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, follows a dismal run of results that has left the Baggies teetering just one point above the Championship relegation zone, with fans and club executives alike desperate for a change in fortunes.
Ramsay, 34, arrived in January 2026 on a two-and-a-half-year contract, stepping in after the departure of Ryan Mason. Hailed as one of Britain’s brightest young coaches, he joined West Brom from Major League Soccer’s Minnesota United, where he had earned plaudits for leading the club to consecutive Conference play-off semi-finals and a fourth-place finish in the Western Conference. His impressive résumé also included stints as a first-team coach at Manchester United under Erik ten Hag and as an assistant with the Wales men’s national team. Yet, despite high expectations and a reputation for tactical innovation, Ramsay’s time in the West Midlands quickly unraveled.
When Ramsay took over, West Brom sat 18th in the Championship, seven points clear of the relegation places. But the club’s fortunes only worsened under his stewardship. The Baggies failed to win a single match in his nine-game spell—eight in the league and one in the FA Cup—drawing four and losing four in the Championship, and suffering elimination from the cup at the hands of Norwich City. The nadir came in just his second match, when West Brom endured a 5-0 thrashing at home to Norwich, the heaviest home defeat outside the top flight in club history.
“We’re not talking about this performance in isolation—we are adding this to multiple draws, not enough wins and not enough getting over the line so it has the feeling of a step backwards,” Ramsay admitted candidly after his final match, a 1-1 draw with Charlton Athletic at The Hawthorns. “I know what this situation needs at the moment—it needs wins, it doesn’t need draws. The number of chances were enough to win the game but it wasn’t good enough. We are lacking a real spark and quality in front of goal.” (Sky Sports)
Despite his earnest efforts and the occasional competitive display, Ramsay’s tactical changes—most notably his attempt to switch to a back three formation mid-season—failed to yield the desired results. The system change led to an opening 3-2 defeat at Middlesbrough, followed by the infamous Norwich loss. Although the team managed to steady the ship with a series of goalless draws against Stoke and Birmingham, and a late point at Derby, the damage was done. The Baggies also lost to fellow strugglers Portsmouth and were knocked out of the FA Cup by Norwich, compounding the sense of crisis.
Ramsay’s reign ended with West Brom sitting 21st in the Championship, just a single point above the relegation zone and with 12 crucial games left to secure their second-tier status. The club’s statement was brisk but polite: “West Bromwich Albion have parted company with men’s first team head coach Eric Ramsay. Assistant head coach Dennis Lawrence has also departed The Hawthorns. First-team coach James Morrison will oversee first-team affairs on an interim basis.”
Assistant head coach Dennis Lawrence also exited alongside Ramsay, as the club moved swiftly to install James Morrison—former West Brom midfielder and current first-team coach—as interim head coach. Morrison, who is no stranger to stepping into the breach, begins his third spell in temporary charge in less than a year. According to BBC Radio WM’s Steve Hermon, “James Morrison begins a third spell in interim charge in the space of less than 11 months. The former midfielder is unbeaten in the three games he’s overseen and said, in his own words after the Swansea City FA Cup victory just hours before Ramsay’s arrival six weeks ago, West Brom is ‘in his DNA’.”
The abrupt end to Ramsay’s tenure has sparked debate among supporters and pundits alike. Many have questioned the club hierarchy’s decision to appoint another young, relatively inexperienced head coach in such a precarious situation. “Simply put, they replaced a project with a project at the wrong time,” observed Sky Sports’ EFL Editor Simeon Gholam. “Having parted company with Ryan Mason, a 34-year-old in his first senior role in management, the club then opted for a man a few months younger in Eric Ramsay.”
Ramsay himself was forthright about his limitations in his final interview, telling BBC Radio West Midlands: “The question around my job and the future is never one I can ever answer or attempt to answer. I can only do what I can do over the course of a day and put my head on the pillow at night feeling I’ve turned over every stone. I’m not saying I’m blameless—I can only feel I’ve controlled what I can control.”
The Baggies’ winless streak now stretches to ten games in all competitions, dating back to December 29. The only time West Brom led in a match under Ramsay was when George Campbell opened the scoring against Charlton, only for Lyndon Dykes to equalize in the second half. The frustration among fans was palpable, with boos ringing out at The Hawthorns following the Charlton draw. Ramsay and Lawrence were subsequently summoned to a boardroom meeting with owner and chairman Shilen Patel, where their fate was sealed.
With the club seeking its fourth permanent head coach in just 14 months, the pressure is mounting on Patel and the West Brom board to make a decisive appointment. The upcoming fixtures offer little respite: a trip to Oxford United on February 28, followed by tough matches against Sheffield United, Southampton, Hull, and Bristol City—all crucial in the battle for survival.
Ramsay’s brief spell at the helm will be remembered for its unwanted records: the shortest permanent reign in club history, a 0% win rate, and a descent into the relegation dogfight. Yet, as the search begins for a new leader, West Brom’s fate this season will hinge on the ability of Morrison—or whoever is appointed next—to ignite a spark that has been sorely missing.
For now, the Baggies faithful can only hope that the club’s next move brings stability and the results needed to ensure Championship football remains at The Hawthorns beyond this season. The pressure is on, and the countdown to the next chapter has already begun.