West Brom claim big interest in sporting and technical director vacancy

Steve Clark's new-look West Brom have been in fine form this season (Getty Images)

West Brom claim to have received a great deal of interest in their vacant sporting and technical director's role, including several approaches from abroad.

Dan Ashworth, who is to leave the position to become the Football Association's director of elite development, is working with the club to choose the right successor to work alongside Baggies manager Steve Clarke.

Ashworth says West Brom are making good progress in their search for the right candidate, but that they are in no rush to fill the role at the Hawthorns.

"There is no time pressure on this. We don't need to make any knee-jerk decisions," Ashworth told http://www.wba.co.uk.

"A lot of people have applied for the role. We've had approaches from abroad, especially as the role is more common in Europe, but we don't have a timeframe on a shortlist. We are very much going through the process.

"We've done this a couple of times before when we have been looking for a new head coach.

"We're still sifting through applications, talking to people and preparing a shortlist to ultimately make sure we get the right person."

One of the key factors in any appointment would be the chosen candidate's ability to fit seamlessly into the existing set-up at the club and work well with the current board and management.

"Ultimately, it will be a board decision," Ashworth added. "My job is to sift through the candidates and hopefully come up with some ideas in conjunction with Mark Jenkins [chief executive] and Richard Garlick [legal director/secretary] for the chairman to have final sign-off on.

"I think we'll be looking for a certain personality. For example, I'm not sure that an abrasive, confrontational person would work at this football club.

"Of course, it would also be foolish of us also to appoint someone that, say, Steve Clarke has history with. These are the kind of things we'll have to bear in mind."

PA