Preston boss Alex Neil back on West Brom's radar

Caretaker boss James Shan will be in the dugout this Saturday when, coincidentally, the Baggies host Neil’s Preston North End at The Hawthorns.

But Albion remain admirers of the 37-year-old, who has won promotion via play-offs with previous clubs Hamilton Academical and Norwich City.

Preston have slipped away from the top six after three defeats in a row and there are now serious concerns in Lancashire he could be pinched.

The Lilywhites would demand compensation for Neil, who has denied any contact from Albion and publicly insists he wants to see out the season at his current club.

Over the weekend he said: “I enjoy it here. I have no intention of leaving and we are planning for the remaining games.

“We will see what happens next season for us because we have already put plans in place for pre-season so I am not even thinking about any of that.”

However, Neil’s odds to be the next permanent manager at The Hawthorns tumbled significantly yesterday.

After a flurry of big bets, he was 1/4 with some bookmakers to be the next man in the Albion dugout.

The Baggies won their first three games under Shan, which encouraged the board to stick with the caretaker.

But back-to-back defeats against Millwall and Bristol City in the past few days which killed Albion’s slim hopes of worrying the top two has prompted a rethink.

Shan admitted the players had conceded automatic promotion was now out of reach.

“While it’s mathematically possible there’s always that ability it might happen,” he said.

“But realistically as a group, the mood in the changing room was very much that it was a step too far.

“As a playing staff, and fans, we’ve got to galvanise and be together.”

There is, however, growing fan unrest at the uncertainty over the managerial position.

Supporters are concerned the Baggies lack clear and defined leadership as they enter the business end of the season and it caused the away end to turn on the board on Tuesday night.