Paul Barber says the process of finding a new Albion manager or head coach is under way – amid “a huge amount of interest” in the job.

Speaking this morning he said the club, while working hard to appoint a successor to Graham Potter, are not in a huge rush to make a final decision.

He praised the work of Andrew Crofts and his interim coaching team, who have stepped up to take charge of the first-team squad.

Albion do not have a Premier League game until October 1.

Barber – the club’s deputy chairman and chief executive - said: “We are working through our list.

“We’re not in a huge rush. One of the fortunate positions we find ourselves in is the break. That gives us a little bit more time after six or seven games of the season.

“So that in itself is a small advantage, but it’s not something that means we will take our foot off the gas.

“It means we will work hard on the processes we follow.”

He added: “We don’t get into details of how the process works but it’s under way and we’re working on it this morning and through the day.”

Barber expected unprecedented interest in the vacancy and has not been disappointed.

He said: “There has certainly been a huge amount of interest and I’m not surprised.

“Partly because over the last three years, probably since we joined the Premier League actually, the club’s profile has changed significantly.

“I think it’s the style of football we have been playing has meant we have won a lot of admirers over the last few years.

“As a consequence of that we have attracted a lot of interest already that perhaps we wouldn’t have done maybe three years ago, let alone five or ten.

“That is credit to Graham but also credit to the way the club has developed over the last decade and the chairman’s influence and vision for the club that has put us in this position now where we will have a lot of choice.”