Irvine sacked as West Brom boss

Irvine leaves West Brom only one point above the relegation zone.

Alan Irvine has been sacked as West Brom manager after
seven months in charge at The Hawthorns.

The 56-year-old Scot was appointed boss in June following
the exit of Pepe Mel and was on a 12-month rolling contract.
The Baggies are 16th in the Premier League table, a point
above the relegation zone following their 2-0 defeat at Stoke
on Sunday - their seventh loss in nine games.
Irvine has been placed on gardening leave.

West Brom travel to West Ham on New Year's Day with Rob
Kelly, assisted by fellow assistant head coach Keith Downing,
in caretaker charge.

The Midlands club say they expect to be able to name Irvine's
successor by the weekend.
Albion's technical director, Terry Burton, said: "We appointed
Alan in the summer convinced that we had taken on one of the
foremost coaches in the UK and nothing that has happened
since then has altered our view.

"But sadly that simply has not translated into results and they
remain the ultimate currency of Alan's position. Securing a
sixth season in the Premier League is the over-riding target
and sometimes unpleasant decisions have to be taken to
serve that imperative.

"Alan has impressed everyone with his manner, dedication and
diligence but he knows that results have simply not been
good enough."
Analysis - BBC Radio 5 live's Pat Murphy

"It's very important that chairman Jeremy Peace has a plan
B. The thought of being relegated is unthinkable to him after
seeing the club prosper in recent seasons. The threat of
relegation is uppermost in his mind.

"It remains to be seen who will replace Alan Irvine but I'm
hearing Tim Sherwood is very much in the frame. The model
of an overseas-style head coach being responsible to a
technical director will stay, which would rule out the likes of
Tony Pulis."

Irvine was subjected to chants of "you're getting sacked in the ­
morning" and loud boos from his own fans during the loss at
Stoke but said he could still mount a revival.
However, after his side's 3-1 defeat at home by Manchester
City on Boxing Day, Irvine admitted he was not sure if he
would remain in charge.

West Brom are looking for their fourth head coach in just over
a year, following the previous sackings of Steve Clarke and
Mel, with Irvine having won just four of his 19 league games in
charge.