RYAN Mason says Tottenham winning the Europa League was the ‘perfect time’ to leave North London and become West Brom’s new manager.
Mason was appointed Albion boss last month at the age of 34.
It is his first venture into full-time management after two interim spells at Spurs.
But Mason – whose playing career was cut short by a serious head injury – says he has no regrets about leaving Tottenham and making a fresh start at The Hawthorns.
He admitted that his contract was up at Spurs and, with the sacking of Ange Postecoglou, he was not sure there would have been a place for him under new manager Thomas Frank.
Mason says the Albion job came along at just the right time – after being on the club’s radar for some time.
And he admitted the Europa League victory against Manchester United in Bilbao was the ideal way to bow out.
Mason said: ”Bilbao was a confirmation, I’d been at Spurs as a player when we’d lost a cup final and it hurt.
“I’d managed in a cup final and lost and it hurt.
“So to close that chapter with what we achieved was great, it felt good to end the season that way.
“I knew after that, that my time had come to an end, to have the opportunity to work with Ange – I’d only signed a two year contract and it was an incredible two years.
“For him to give me that opportunity meant we could live and grow as a team – I was so grateful.
“Over time, people will start appreciating what he achieved for that club – he was the figurehead of that.
“But as soon as we achieved the Bilabo win, it confirmed it was the right time.
“The season finished three days later, I spoke to the chairman and Andrew Nestor at Albion – and there never has been any doubt, once I had dialogue, it felt right.
“No second thoughts, no doubt.”
Mason admitted that his road to management has been a long time in the planning.
He added: “I feel like I’ve had that intention from four years ago, when I had that first exposure in terms of managing in the Premier League.
“Then the timing didn’t feel right, I needed more time on the grass, I needed to grow more.
“I had the experience again two years ago, different circumstances, but still challenging. I think it was after then I felt ready to do it on my own, but also it needed to feel right.
“It needed to be the right club. The timing needed to be right and it didn’t necessarily feel like that.
“I had an opportunity under Ange to stay there and continue to work, we had a really good conversation and at the time that felt right. Two years down the line, in the position I’m in now and at the end of the season, it didn’t feel right to continue.
“The possibility might not have even been there. Obviously they’ve changed managers, the structure and the set up has changed.
“For me, it just felt like the perfect ending to a great chapter of my life, a club that I care about and now I’m inside a new club that I already deeply care about and I’m sure as time goes on that feeling and those emotions will grow and hopefully I can build a connection with everyone at the club and we can go on a journey together.
“My last game was as a 25-year-old, I’ve been coaching since I was 26 so it is a seven, eight-year apprenticeship which in normal circumstances is quite a long time – I’ve probably done hundreds of games with Tottenham in the Premier League and in European football, which is great – but the timing is the most important thing. If I didn’t feel the timing was right and I didn’t feel absolutely ready and sure, then I would have waited. That’s not the case, I feel ready and most importantly I feel this football club is right. It is something that excites me.”
