Doubts over Robbo's appointment after a 3-year exile from managing a Premiership clubs stems from the last of his seven seasons with Middlesbrough when Terry Venables was brought in as an assistant.
The Guardian:
"I must admit I was disappointed over the last two years not to be offered a job like this," said Robson, who has signed a 12-month rolling contract with West Brom. The only blip on my CV at Middlesbrough was the last year, which was a hard year, and maybe the decision to bring Terry Venables in didn't do me any favours. I think that last year has been held against me. That's the only way I can explain why I haven't had an opportunity to step back into a club with the type of potential that this football club has."
"I think people sometimes just dismiss the record I had at Middlesbrough," he added. "People forget Middlesbrough were 14th in the First Division, were moving into a new stadium and didn't have a training ground. In the seven years I was there, I got them two promotions and to three cup finals. Relegation is a blot on your CV but that year we got to two cup finals."
John Homer, chairman of the Albion supporters' club, seems happy enough as he echoes his heroe's comments:
"He'll be welcomed back. It's like the return of the prodigal son. Above all, we think it's a good appointment. He did well at Middlesbrough. Steve McClaren insists the state of the club now is due to Steve Gibson and Bryan Robson. It's unfortunate people remember how his time at Middlesbrough ended. That often happens when a manager has been at a club for a while."
"You've got to remember he took them to three cup finals - we haven't been to one since 1968. So if he gets us to just one we'd be delighted. Incidentally, Alan Ashman signed him for Albion and he was manager of our FA Cup-winning side in 1968. Hopefully, that's a good omen."