Dean Smith is currently at the helm at Midlands powerhouse Aston Villa, having been appointed following the sacking of Steve Bruce and he has had an immediate impact, with the Villans up to ninth in the table.

It could have been so very different though after it was reported in the Birmingham Mail that Smith, then manager at Brentford, was interviewed for the Baggies job following the sacking of Alan Pardew back in May.

In the end it was caretaker boss Darren Moore who got the nod by the owners, though after this reveal, should they have opted for Smith?

We discuss.....

George Harbey

I think after what Moore did last year for them, it would have been very harsh not to have appointed him on a permanent basis to be honest.

He was chucked in at the deep end but nearly steered Albion away from what looked like certain relegation.

If there were different circumstances then Smith would be my man all day, however.

Jacob Potter

I can’t understand for the life of me, why they didn’t appoint Smith.

Even though Darren Moore is doing a good job at West Brom, there’s no denying that Dean Smith is showing why he was a man in demand as he has brought Villa back from the death and fired them up the table.

West Brom could live to rue not appointing him by the end of the season as Smith’s side look unbeatable in recent weeks.

Louie Chandler

Not for me.

Yes, Smith is a brilliant manager, but Moore more than earned the job after his audition at the end of last season.

The Baggies needed someone like Moore to galvanise the club more than they needed Smith.