Darren Moore ready to take on a different role at West Brom

During his six games as caretaker boss, Moore took the sensible decision of refusing to get ahead of himself.

His mantra during that successful period which yielded wins over Manchester United, Tottenham and Newcastle was ‘one game at a time’.

Now the 44-year-old has been made the permanent head coach ahead of the coming season in the Championship, he knows he will have to an eye on the long term too.

But while planning for the future will start to enter his thoughts, he says it’s important that it doesn’t impact the focus on the next game.

“It’s a different role now,” he admitted. “Over the course of a season, your planning and preparation will be different – but the focus will always just be on that next game, it has to be.

“The Championship is a difficult league for all 24 teams because we all have our strengths. But we will take on all the teams with the greatest respect and with great detail.”

However, Moore has no plans to change one of his other mantras from his spell as caretaker boss.

The former defender’s ‘we not me’ message was an inclusive one that was well received by those at the club, and was epitomised by the image of him sharing his manager of the month award with more than a hundred members of staff.

“There are some excellent people at this club doing some great work,” he said. “In terms of moving forward, what has happened has happened.

“I am extremely proud to be part of a unique club and part of a team looking to move forward for this area and community.

“I suppose being the head coach I get to speak on behalf of the club and have shared that belief in me that it’s the club as a whole – all in the football club. All means all departments, everybody here.”

Moore believes Albion’s identity has been lost at some point during the past few years, and he wants to rediscover it next season.

“It wasn’t overnight how it disappeared,” he said. “I think we just drifted a a football club and probably took our eye off the ball a bit.

“It was a difficult season, we had fours manager in the one season. So it was difficult to get that continuity, everyone has their own different ideas and views.

“What helped me the most was me knowing the club. We almost got the club back to what we are known for – a really passionate football club.

“The fans love their football club and are very proud of it and I think we brought that back and that was really important.”