Premier League: West Brom sack manager Alan Irvine

Alan Irvine has been sacked as West Brom manager after just seven months in charge. The Scottish manager, aged 56, had been appointed boss in June after the exit of Pepe Mel and had signed a 12-month contract. WBA are currently 16th in the Premier League, just one point above the relegation zone after the 2-0 defeat at Stoke last Sunday. That was their seventh loss in nine games. Irvine won just four of his 19 league games and has been placed on gardening leave. West Brom will play at West Ham on New Year's Day with Rob Kelly in charge, assisted by fellow assistant head coach Keith Downing. The club say they will most likely name Irvine's successor by the weekend. Former Spurs manager Tim Sherwood is linked with the job, alongside former Stoke and Crystal Palace manager Tony Pulis. If Alan Pardew moves to Crystal Palace then Tony Pulis might be in contention for the Newcastle job as well. WBA 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." West Brom are currently 4/9 at Bet365 to avoid relegation from the Premier League this season.