West Brom hero Chris Brunt still weighing up his options over management ambitions

A Baggies legend, Brunt experienced all the high and lows football has to offer in his 13 years as a player at The Hawthorns.

He left last summer to join Bristol City but is now coaching Albion’s under-23s after calling time on his spell at Ashton Gate early due to picking up a season-ending calf injury.

With Brunt now working in a coaching capacity, fans have wondered if Albion’s record Premier League appearance could one day become boss.

But the 36-year-old is eager to develop as a coach before deciding whether to go into management.

“I’m not too sure to be totally honest,” Brunt said when asked if he wants to be a manager one day.

“It has worked out well that I have been able to come in and help out until the end of the season.

“With what happened at Bristol City I was able to do a little bit of rehab as well.

“I have got some coaching qualifications and I’m going to work towards more.

“I’ve been involved in football a long time.

“But I think sometimes a break away from the game can do you good.

“I’ve got a young family, my two boys are aged 12 and nine.

“I want to have some time with them and football schedules are brutal.

“But possibly when they are older and don’t want to see me anymore then maybe I’ll have a think about it then.”

Brunt is following a similar path to fellow Baggies legend – and close pal – James Morrison who began his coaching career with the under-23s last season.

Morrison is now working with the first-team as part of Sam Allardyce’s backroom staff.

And Brunt admits coaching is very different to playing.

“It’s been good so far, I’m enjoying it but it has been different,” the former Northern Ireland international said.

“You get to see the other side of things.

“As a player you turn up, do your bits and pieces, you train and you go home.

“Obviously, now I have to put a lot more thought into what goes into the day.

“There are meetings, especially with the academy, there are so many different age groups and you’ve got to have your eye on each one.

“That is something I am obviously not used to doing, I’m learning something new every day to be fair – just little things like planning training sessions and getting stuff set-up.

“As a player, you walk out onto the training pitch and take all that stuff for granted.

“Now I’m seeing the other side, it’s a bit different.”

Meanwhile, Kamil Grosicki’s agent says his client is not yet ready to return to Poland.

The winger seems certain to leave Albion on a free transfer this summer when his contract expires.

Grosicki has been linked with a return to Legia Warsaw.

But agent Daniel Kaniewski says it’s too early for the 31-year-old to be thinking about that.

“It’s too early for Kamil to return to Poland,” he said.

“He is a player who plays at a high level and the Polish league is not in his head yet.

“Kamil will play abroad and think about further development.”