Bundesliga manager explains why he rejected West Brom before Ryan Mason arrived

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After a long spell cutting his tactical teeth at Premier League giants Tottenham Hotspur, Ryan Mason is taking the plunge into senior management for the very first time with Championship hopefuls West Brom.

If the return of Tony Mowbray to the Hawthorns in January was supposed to represent the Baggies entrusting their promotion hopes with a proven second-tier operator – one who had brought top-flight football to West Bromwich in the past – then his departure after only 18 games, five wins and three months showed that past glories are no guarantee of future success.

Ryan Mason, the man who replaces Mowbray, arrives at West Brom at a very different place in his coaching career.

The former England international is 27 years his predecessor’s junior. Mason’s record in charge of a senior team, meanwhile, accounts for just 13 matches during two interim spells at Tottenham Hotspur.

Paul Simonis, then, falls somewhere between Mason and Mowbray, on both the age and the experience spectrum.

VFL Wolfsburg manager Paul Simonis explains West Brom decision

Before West Brom put their faith in Ryan Mason a month ago, the Baggies held discussions with 40-year-old Dutchman Paul Simonis.

Reports from the Netherlands even claimed that Simonis, then at the helm of Go Ahead Eagles, had jetted in for discussions with the Albion hierarchy.

Now, as Mason lands one of the most high-pressure, high-profile gigs outside of England’s top flight, Simonis’ new role will see him come under plenty of scrutiny too.

After inspiring Go Ahead Eagles to Dutch Cup glory last season – their first major honour in nearly 100 years – his new challenge is to provide a kick up the backside for an underachieving VFL Wolfsburg side who slumped to a mid-table finish in the Bundesliga under Ralph Hasenhuttl.

Speaking to Voetbal International, Simonis shed some light on why he feels the Wolfsburg job suits him better than the West Brom one. The gruelling Championship fixture schedule is not for the faint-hearted, after all.

“There were some nice and educational conversations [with West Brom],” says Simonis.

“I thought about what the league means. There are 19 midweek games! So, that means you’re mainly travelling. Hotel in, hotel out. I have a two-year-old daughter and my girlfriend is from the other side of the world.

“I want to give them the love and attention they deserve, so I thought carefully about the English clubs.”

Southampton target Oliver Antman could follow Simonis out the door

This, then, appears to be a decision made for personal rather than sporting reasons, even if the Wolfsburg job offers Simonis the chance to jump-start a club with considerable potential. One which stormed to the Bundesliga title as recently as 2009.

“There was quite a bit of interest,” Simonis adds. “At first, that didn’t faze me, until Wolfsburg came along. That immediately seemed like a great opportunity and challenge.

“When they got on the line, I immediately let Go Ahead know that I wanted to talk.”

Simonis’ star performer last term in the Eredivisie was arguably Oliver Antman. The flying Finn rivalled Lamine Yamal and Mo Salah as one of the most prolific assist-craetors in Europe, for a while.

EFL Analysis understands that Sheffield United, Leicester and Southampton are interested in bringing Antman to England while his old boss starts again in Germany.