Valerien Ismael managed to transform Barnsley from relegation candidates into promotion hopefuls and that earned him at least one vote for manager of the year, according to former Derby County manager, Paul Jewell.

West Brom finished the Premier League season 19th and 13 points from safety and as they prepare for life in the Championship they will be on the hunt for a new manager with Sam Allardyce confirming he will not be remaining at the Hawthorns.

They have been linked with several managers including Chris Wilder, who parted ways with Sheffield United earlier this season, and Ismael has also been tipped for the job after impressing at Oakwell.

Ismael's impressive style of football and ability to squeeze everything out of his squad has proved what the Barnsley manager can do when given a chance, and Jewell expanded on this as he spoke exclusively to The Transfer Tavern:

"They possibly could go for him and I voted for him as my manager of the year because I think he's done an unbelievable job. Especially when you look at the resources he has had at Barnsley, the man has done a terrific job.

"There are a lot of people who only look at the Premier League but there are a lot of managers out there who have done brilliant jobs and are just desperate for a chance."

Ismael has also been touted as a potential candidate for the vacant Crystal Palace job with Roy Hodgson leaving Selhurst Park after four years and the Barnsley manager knows Palace well having spent a year with the club as a player.

It appears that Wilder could be the front runner to be appointed as the Baggies' next manager and there may be few better candidates than the former Blades manager who guided them to back-to-back promotions from League One and into the Premier League.