West Brom appoint Mason as manager
Mason, 33, arrives from Tottenham Hotspur, where he was Ange Postecoglou's assistant in their Europa League-winning campaign.
Spurs' youth product and former midfielder Mason twice served as the team's interim coach, in 2021 and 2023.
"We have undertaken a thoughtful and expansive search and Ryan always stood out to us among an incredibly strong group of candidates," Chairman Shilen Patel told the West Brom website.
"We are excited to have someone whose skill set means he has the aptitude to help us further establish elite standards in both preparation and player development for the first team and across all our team programmes."
West Brom, who were relegated from the Premier League in 2021, finished ninth in the second tier last season, four points below the playoff spots.
They reached the playoffs in 2023-24 but were knocked out in the semi-finals by Southampton.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Wales Online
9 minutes ago
- Wales Online
Ryan Reynolds and Tom Brady in fight for budding Liverpool ace as Wrexham eye 11th signing
Ryan Reynolds and Tom Brady in fight for budding Liverpool ace as Wrexham eye 11th signing Wrexham and Birmingham are battling it out with several other teams for Liverpool forward Lewis Koumas, who is set to leave the Premier League club before transfer deadline day Ryan Reynolds' Wrexham are facing a tough battle with Birmingham for Liverpool's Lewis Koumas (Image: PA Wire/PA Images) Wrexham and Birmingham City are gearing up for a transfer battle over Liverpool youngster Lewis Koumas. The two Championship rivals are at the forefront of a lengthy list of potential suitors for the Welsh international. The 19-year-old forward has become hot property following a successful stint in the second tier last season while on loan at Stoke City. Sheffield United have maintained a keen interest in the player throughout the year, with Norwich City, Preston North End and Hull City also monitoring the situation closely. However, it's Wrexham, owned by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney and Birmingham, where NFL icon Tom Brady holds a minority stake, that are leading the pursuit for Koumas. Both clubs are believed to be prepared to offer a permanent deal to him after he scored on his senior Liverpool debut in an FA Cup victory over Southampton in February last year. Koumas, who was on the bench for the Reds' League Cup final triumph over Chelsea in 2023/24, has made 50 senior appearances and has also earned six full Wales caps. The reigning Premier League champions view the forward as being further along in his development than a player like Bobby Clark was when he left Anfield for RB Salzburg in a £10million deal last year. With 16-year-old Rio Ngumoha having risen from the club's academy in the past nine months, first-team opportunities for Koumas were limited during pre-season to a second-half appearance at Preston and a brief cameo in the opening friendly against Athletic Bilbao. Article continues below Liverpool forward Lewis Koumas is being chased by Wrexham and Birmingham (Image: Robbie Jay Barratt - AMA/Getty Images) Koumas is anticipated to depart before the transfer deadline on September 1 and was notably absent as Liverpool's under-21s' lost at Leicester City in the Premier League 2 on Monday. If he does make the move to Wrexham, he would likely become the club's eleventh summer signing. The Red Dragons have so far brought in nine new faces after securing promotion from League One in April, including Wales trio Danny Ward, Kieffer Moore and Nathan Broadhead. Man City youngster Callum Doyle is expected to become the tenth after a deal worth up to £8m was agreed between the two clubs. With Wrexham losing their opening two Championship games against Southampton and West Brom, manager Phil Parkinson is keen to add more recruits following a busy summer. Speaking after their latest defeat to the Baggies last weekend, the former Bolton and Sunderland boss said a few areas of his squad still needed strengthening. Watch Welcome to Wrexham season 4 on Disney+ This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more from £4.99 Disney+ Get Disney+ here Product Description Welcome to Wrexham is back on Disney+ for a fourth season. Fans can watch the series with a £4.99 monthly plan, or get 12 months for the price of 10 by paying for a year upfront. "The lads we've brought in at the moment are really good and I'm pleased with the way they've settled in," he said. "We probably do need a couple more players and we're looking at that. "It's ongoing, it's obviously busy for all managers and clubs at the moment when you're preparing for games and looking to improve the squad." Parkinson was dealt a blow earlier this week following the news that summer signing Josh Windass will be out of action for up to six weeks. The attacking midfielder has impressed during Wrexham's opening games, scoring from the penalty spot in the defeat to Southampton, but came off with a hamstring injury against West Brom last Saturday. "Josh is going to be out for four to six weeks with his hamstring," said Parkinson. Obviously it's a blow because he's been great for us. Even in the first half hour against West Brom he was really good and obviously down at Southampton. Article continues below "It is really frustrating for him and for us but it's part and parcel of football and we've got to deal with it. With the international break coming up, by the time that's finished he won't be far off."
The Independent
9 minutes ago
- The Independent
Reeves' ‘mansion tax' would stall home sales and fuel exodus of super-rich, experts warn
Property experts have warned that Rachel Reeves ' plans to levy a so-called 'mansion tax' on high-value properties would stall housing sales and add to the exodus of the super-rich from the UK. Mortgage brokers and financial planners have rounded on the chancellor after reports she is considering hitting the owners of expensive properties when they sell to plug a £40bn hole in the public purse. The mooted plans would see higher-rate taxpayers pay 24 per cent of any gain in the value of their home, while basic rate taxpayers would be hit with an 18 per cent levy. Currently, capital gains tax is not paid on the sale of primary residences. Proposals being considered for the autumn budget, the private residence relief would end for properties above a certain threshold, sources told The Times. The threshold is said to still be under consideration, but a £1.5 million starting point would hit around 120,000 homeowners who are higher-rate taxpayers with capital gains tax bills of £199,973. Financial adviser Scott Gallacher, director at Rowley Turton, said a level of £1.5m would prevent most older homeowners, particularly those who bought properties in the 80s and 90s, from selling houses. He added that the plans would 'kill off the upper end of the property market' and be difficult to implement. Mr Gallacher said: 'It would be insane if it creates a cliff edge in that properties over £1.5m are subject to Capital Gains Tax on the entire gain, as properties sold at £1.49m would incur no CGT whereas £1.5m might be a six-figure bill. If it's only on gains above £1.5m, then the CGT raised would be minimal, as potentially you'd be exempting six or even seven-figure gains.' He added: 'Homeowners, especially older ones, who perhaps bought their houses in the 1970s or 1980s, would be daft to sell and incur a huge CGT liability. Instead they would be incentivised to hold on to the home until they die and pay no CGT.' Meanwhile Simon Gerrard, chairman of Martyn Gerrard Estate Agents, warned the plans would leave families who bought homes in London more than a decade ago facing 'eye-watering' tax bills. 'Meanwhile, those who are actually wealthy know how to bypass these moves and won't pay it,' he said. He told The Independent: 'After the deadline passes people will simply not sell their homes. The property market above the threshold will die until Labour are voted out and the policy is repealed under a more sensible government.' Laith Khalaf, head of investment analysis at AJ Bell, said the tax-free nature of primary residences is 'deeply embedded in the psyche of homeowners'. He warned: 'A mansion tax set at high level would naturally cause people to worry it was just the thin end of the wedge, and the next time the government needs a bit of money they could just lower the threshold. 'It would also be an impediment to mobility in the housing market, as those with properties which might fall foul of the tax would be inclined to sit on them for longer, leaving a log jam in the housing ladder below them.' And critics warned the tax change would add to the reported exodus of super-rich individuals fleeing Britain. 'I can see a lot of families in London being caught with this higher tax bill, and it may push more wealthy tax contributors to exodus the UK, which is already a problem following the Chancellor 's last budget,' said Stephen Perkins, managing director of Yellow Brick Mortgages. The Treasury was asked to comment.
The Independent
9 minutes ago
- The Independent
Newcastle United hit back at Alexander Isak's social media statement
Newcastle United have rejected striker Alexander Isak 's claim that he was promised a summer exit, stating he remains under contract. Isak accused the club of 'broken promises' and declared 'trust is lost', asserting that a transfer is now in everyone's best interest. The club issued a strong statement denying any such commitment and indicated that the conditions for a sale, including a rejected £110m bid from Liverpool, would not be met. Isak has not featured for Newcastle in pre-season or their opening league match, reportedly due to a thigh injury, and is training separately. The dispute comes as Newcastle began the season without a recognised striker, having failed to secure other transfer targets.
