Darren Moore 'taking nothing for granted' ahead of next week's meeting with West Brom board

The caretaker boss has revived the Baggies during a five-game unbeaten streak and is planning to sit down and meet the board in the days immediately after Sunday’s season-closer at Crystal Palace.

It’s understood Moore is up against Brentford boss Dean Smith for the job, and the club are hoping to make an official announcement next week.

“Next week, once I have spoken to the chairman and the board of directors I’ll be in a clearer position,” said Moore. “We’re just focusing on the game rather than getting distracted with that.”

When the 44-year-old was asked whether he would take the job if it was offered, he reiterated: “Let’s just get through the game, I don’t want too many distractions.

“I’ll hear what they’ve got to say, I’ve got to hear what they’re saying first. I’m honouring these six games and taking nothing for granted.”

When Moore was asked if he believed he was a contender for the role he said: “You'll have to speak to the owners and chairman on that.

“I will speak to them (next week). Whether that's as one of the contenders we'll wait and see.

"That has been said in the media, I'm grateful for that, but they will make it clear or not when I speak to them.”

Moore has continually played a straight bat to questions over the permanent job during his six weeks at the helm, but he does believe it’s important the club sort out who is head coach early in the summer.

“I think so because now we know where we are as a club (following relegation), it’s clear for everybody,” he said. “We don’t need to wait too long.

“If it had gone on until the final game of the season then I could understand, but we know where we are. Things need to be organised.”

An Albion cult hero as a player, Moore returned to the club in 2012 as a youth team coach and barring a brief spell as first-team coach at Blackburn Rovers, has risen through the ranks at the Baggies.

However, he only started working with Albion’s first team last November and has little experience in the transfer market.

When he was asked if he was ready for management, he said: “I’m not sure you can ever say you’re ready. I’ve been thrust into it.

“The outside world, you guys in the media, have looked upon it and made your own decisions on whether I’ve done a good job or not.

“I’ve just gone about it by working every single day and trying to make the right decisions with a group of people here for the goodness of the club.

“Over the last four or five weeks, those decisions we’ve come together to make have benefitted the club.

“That’s how I’ve gone about it, going off my experiences as a player, as a coach and from working with other managers and just brought it all together.

“I’ve made decisions with the players and staff and so far they’ve been good decisions.”

But the caretaker boss, who completed all of his coaching badges as a player, confirmed that he had thoroughly enjoyed his time in charge of Albion.

“Immensely, in terms of the games, the challenges and the way we’ve tackled them as a group,” he said. “It’s a very proud moment for me to be in this position.

“The position needed filling and I’ve stepped in, with the help of staff members, players, and supporters.

“With them all behind me, it’s shown what a club is together and we’re all pointing in the same direction what can be achieved.

“I’m immensely proud and I thank everybody, but without going over the top. We’ve still got a game on Sunday.”