West Brom: Alan Irvine has the credentials, says Terry Burton

Alan Irvine lasted only 13 months as manager of Sheffield Wednesday

West Bromwich Albion head coach Alan Irvine has the coaching credentials to succeed at The Hawthorns, says Baggies technical director Terry Burton.

Burton was one of the men who appointed the 55-year-old former Preston manager.

"Our priority was the candidate should be a very good coach with experience in management, but much longer experience in coaching," Burton told BBC WM.

"Ask anyone in football who knows about what makes a good club. And, in Alan Irvine, you have someone who has that."

The Baggies' appointment of Irvine as their new boss to replace the popular Pepe Mel has been criticised by Albion fans, unimpressed by his previous managerial track record with North End and Sheffield Wednesday.

But the vastly experienced Burton, appointed by Albion a month ago, believes the Scotsman should be judged by his reputation within the game as a respected coach, who successfully served for five years under David Moyes as number two at Everton.

Irvine added: "What do you think the people at Swansea would have said before Brendan Rodgers went in there after he had been sacked by Reading? 'He can't be any good.' People might talk about him a bit differently now.

"What about Arsene Wenger when he came from Japan? The Arsenal fans were aghast. Both the two French clubs he was at he had the sack from. But I think he's done OK.

"Mauricio Pochettino? Sacked by Espanyol when they were bottom of the Spanish League with a 34% win ratio. He's flavour of the month now.

"What about Tony Pulis? Sacked by Gillingham, Bournemouth, Portsmouth. He's done a pretty good job.

"Joachim Low? Would have he ever got a job in this country? He came from a coaching background to coach the national team."