James Morrison has landed the role of under 23 assistant manager after a successful spell working with the academy.
The former midfielder, who played almost 350 matches for Albion before retiring earlier this season, was invited back to try his hand in the youth set-up at the club’s Walsall training ground upon his decision to call time on his career.
Having grown into the role, the ex Scotland international has accepted the offer of becoming the assistant manager of Albion’s U23s, who have been performing impressively and churning out positive results under the watchful eye of Deon Burton after Michael Appleton’s untimely departure earlier in the season.
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Morrison will also continue to work alongside fellow teammate Boaz Myhill in the set-up.
“Yes, I got the bug for it,” he admitted. “I really got settled into it and I’m delighted with this opportunity.
“I’ve been speaking with Luke and Richard for some time and I was just waiting for that moment when it ‘clicked.’ Luke spoke very impressively about his plans for the club, on the football and coaching side of things and it gave me a real buzz.”
Academy manager Richard Stevens, who himself only arrived at the club earlier in the season from Coventry City, has plans to restructure the under 23s, for whom many is the final stage on which to prove their first-team credentials.
Stevens is pleased to have come to an agreement with Morrison which will allow him to pass on his own experiences.
“We’re looking to re-shape the Under 23s programme a little bit which we hope will give the players a better chance to develop within the game,” he explained.
“James will now play a big part in that and I’m delighted he has taken up this opportunity. He grew into it, started to love it and then you could see this massive desire to help with the 18s and 23s.
“He’s been outstanding and it’s brilliant to have a player of his significance to the whole club able to now impart that experience and leadership.”
Sporting director Luke Dowling concedes that he had reservations about Morrison’s desire to pursue a career in coaching initially - he’s equally heartened that Morrison has decided it is for him and has identified the advantages of having such a figure within the Albion ranks.
“I watched Mozza begin tentatively, not really sure if it was what he wanted, and then really start to get into it,” Dowling added. “It was ideal for him and the club that we had this trial period in which he could test his appetite for coaching, but you can tell he’s fired up for it now.
“I would say that since the turn of the year, you could see this was what he wanted to do and most important of all, he is good for the young players.”
