West Bromwich Albion sporting director Andrew Nestor says Ryan Mason was the club's first choice to be their new head coach after the sacking of Tony Mowbray.
Mowbray was relieved of his duties in April following Albion's home loss to Derby County with the club appointing former player James Morrison as interim boss for the final two games of the campaign.
After a disappointing run of five defeats from their final eight matches, Albion finished the season ninth in the Championship, four points off the play-off positions.
They have now turned to rookie boss Mason, 34, embarking on his first permanent head coach role after two brief spells as caretaker at Tottenham in 2021 and 2023.