Sources: West Brom and Stoke keen on appointing Old Trafford cult hero as their new manager

TBR Football can exclusively confirm that Championship duo Stoke City and West Bromwich Albion are both keen on appointing a Manchester United cult hero as their new manager.

Said manager is currently a free agent after being sacked by his previous club in November, and was described by a fellow manager prior to his departure as “the best manager in this league”.

Stoke and West Brom are at opposite ends of the Championship table, with the former hovering three points above the relegation zone and the latter two points off the play-offs.

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Stoke and West Brom keen on Mark Robins as Liverpool’s John Heitinga interested in both vacancies

TBR Football correspondent Graeme Bailey understands that Mark Robins is ready to return to management with Stoke City and West Bromwich Albion both keen on him.

Stoke and West Brom are both in the market for new top men. Stoke axed Narcis Pelach after just three months in charge, whilst Albion lost Carlos Corberan as he opted to join Valencia.

Robins departed Coventry City in November and has been linked with a host of jobs already.

He was on Southampton and Leicester’s shortlists to be their new manager, but now he could soon be back in work.

We understand that both Stoke and West Brom have an interest in landing the former Manchester United striker.

TBR Football can also reveal that current Liverpool first-team coach John Heitinga has an interest in both roles.

What could Robins bring to Stoke and West Brom?

Robins was the longest-serving manager in the Championship when Coventry opted to sack him in November this year after a slow start to the season.

The 55-year-old took Coventry to the Championship playoff final in 2023 and steered the Sky Blues to the FA Cup semi-finals earlier this year.

Robins had two spells at Coventry, the first coming between September 2012 and February 2013, leaving the club to join Huddersfield Town.

The Manchester United cult hero managed the Terriers until August 2014, after which he managed Scunthorpe United between October 2014 and January 2016.

Robins then re-joined Coventry in March 2017, winning the EFL Trophy and sealing promotion to League One in his first season back at the club.

In the 2019–20 season, Robins took Coventry to the Championship after winning the League One title, with just three defeats all season.

Luton Town boss Rob Edwards told Luton Today in October: “Mark, over the period of time that he’s been there, he’s done an incredible job at that football club.

“I think he’s the best manager in this league and if there’s anyone capable of turning around his sticky situation and start at the moment it’s him.

“He doesn’t need me to tell him that, he knows exactly what to do.”