WEST Bromwich Albion have cooled their interest in Aberdeen manager Derek McInnes.

Albion have been finalising a seven-man shortlist for a new manager as they seek to find a replacement for Pepe Mel, who left at the end of last season following only seven months in charge.

But, according to sources close to the club, McInnes, who has admirers at Albion following his time as a player at The Hawthorns, won't make the short-list as his relative lack of managerial experience has counted against him.

McInnes, who is under contract at Aberdeen until 2017, had an unsuccessful spell in charge at Bristol City before reviving his reputation at Pittodrie.