James Shan feels comfortable in West Brom hot-seat

Shan is set to stay in temporary charge of the Baggies on a game-by-game basis, and will see out the season provided form does not nosedive.

He will likely add coaches to his team before the play-offs, but after three wins in a row, is happy to continue with his current staff for the time being.

Shan has risen through the ranks of Albion’s academy, and while he acknowledges the step up to senior level, the former under-23s boss insists being in charge is something he’s comfortable with.

“It’s been no different to my first team coaching role,” said Shan.

“The bigger responsibility now is making key decisions and being held accountable for those.

“I’ve got lots of experience on working with many of these players over the past nine months and many experiences, albeit at academy level, leading teams.

“It’s one I’ve felt quite comfortable and natural with. But the lads have been excellent, their response to tweaking game plans has been second to none.”

The board have been impressed with Shan in his first three weeks at the helm, and following three wins in a row, the mood at the training ground is positive.

They are planning to let him continue as caretaker for the time being, but are unlikely to cement his place to the end of the season in case something needs to change.

Despite working under such an odd and fluid situation, Shan is more than happy.

“From the very first get-go it was concentrate on the Swansea game and the Brentford game,” he said. “Then it turned into the Birmingham City game.

“That’s my mentality, I’m employed as a first team coach, currently in the caretaker role.

“I’ll keep doing the best I can until told otherwise in preparing the team and trying to get three points on match days.”

Yesterday, the odds on Sam Allardyce being Albion’s next permanent boss tumbled dramatically. But the Express & Star understands he is not being considered for the job at the moment.