 Smith was appointed manager of West Brom on a three @-@ year contract on 24 December 1997 , with Oxford receiving around £ 100 @,@ 000 in compensation . He had a mixed start to his time at the Hawthorns as Albion fell from promotion contenders to a tenth @-@ place finish in 1997 – 98 , but recorded victories over local rivals Wolves and Stoke . 
