Mason will be leader that West Brom need - Nestor

Andrew Nestor (right) said Ryan Mason's (centre) experience, character and vision were key factors that led to his appointment as head coach

New West Bromwich Albion head coach Ryan Mason will be "the leader we need", said the club's sporting director Andrew Nestor.

Mason, 33, is settling into his first full-time management role at The Hawthorns after signing a three-year contract.

The former Tottenham midfielder spent seven years on the coaching staff at Spurs and Nestor said that experience, Mason's character and vision for the future of the Baggies were key factors in making him "the right person for the job".

"We went through a thorough and considerate approach," Nestor said.

"We wanted to ensure that we gave enough time to really evaluate a short, targeted list of candidates.

"As a club, we're constantly evaluating talent, just like we would players. Last year we had developed a short targeted list of potential head coaches in case we would need to make a change, and Ryan has been on that list since the start."

Mason the 'forward-thinking leader'

The sudden departure of the popular Carlos Corberan to Valencia at Christmas had Albion scrambling for a replacement at a crucial time of last season.

The move to bring former boss Tony Mowbray back did not work, leaving James Morrison to oversee the last two games of the campaign with the club's Championship play-off hopes over.

Nestor said changes in "timing and availability" brought Mason seriously into the frame.

"He has developed a lot of respect in the football industry and that's a reason he was on the list to begin with," Nestor told WBA TV.

"We feel like, given his experiences, his character and the discussions we've had around our vision for our club, he's the right person for the job."

Mason, who won his only England cap in a friendly against Italy in 2015, had two spells in interim charge at Spurs and worked under Jose Mourinho, Antonio Conte and, most recently, Ange Postecoglou as the club won their first trophy for 17 years in the Europa League.

He also brings the experience of his playing career with him, despite that being cut short following a serious head injury suffered in a game against Chelsea in 2018.

"He's had an incredible football journey," Nestor said.

"As a player, he worked his way through the football pyramid, he established himself as a Premier League player and played for his country.

"While he was in the Premier League he played under top managers such as Mauricio Pochettino, who Ryan has told me has really influenced how he sees his coaching philosophy and playing style today.

"As a coach, he's worked at different levels. He's worked in an elite academy, he's worked on individual player development for young players as well as world-class senior players.

"He's really seemed to have taken all those learnings and developed it into his own style.

"It's a clear, forward-thinking coaching philosophy that we feel fits very well.

"We feel all that experience will enable him to be the leader that we need."

'He has seen the mentality top players and managers have'

Mason has said he is ready to take on a head coach role and the move to Albion "feels a good fit".

That sense of synergy is echoed by Nestor, who highlighted alignment in "broader sporting department functions" such as analytics, data-led recruitment and developing young players as further reasons why Mason was the right pick.

"I would say the other factor, which perhaps is the most important in the end, is character," Nestor said.

"Ryan has developed a very good reputation as a player and a coach. He's shown very strong and steady character. He's been under the spotlight, he's been working at a place where there's always external pressures and he's risen above that.

"He really has developed his own style and own ideas about how he wants to take Albion forward.

"We feel like there's really good alignment there. I also think there's an advantage where he's seen best in class. He's seen the type of mentality that top managers and top players have.

"I believe he has that mentality, and my hope is that he can instil that mentality within our squad and organisation."