Struggling English Premier football side West Bromwich Albion have announced via their website that head coach Alan Irvine has been sacked.
Alan Irvine Photo: Photosport
The club made the move following a run of seven losses in their past nine games, a series of results that has caused them to slide to 16th place, just above the relegation zone.
Albion technical director Terry Burton says 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.
Irvine was a surprise choice when he was hired as West Brom manager in June this year after the 56-year-old Scot had spent the previous three seasons as youth team coach at Everton.
Alan Pardew with Alan Irvine on Remembrance Day Photo: Photosport
Bookmakers have installed former Tottenham Hotspur manager Tim Sherwood as favourite to succeed Irvine, though media reports in England have the Baggies set to appoint the former Stoke and Crystal Palace boss Tony Pulis. Pulis has never been relegated in his professional managerial career.
Meanwhile Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew is on the verge of taking over at Crystal Palace after being given permission to talk to his former club.
Newcaslte United manager Alan Pardew. Photo: RNZ / Ian Telfer
Newcastle confirmed that Palace had made a formal approach to speak to Pardew about their managerial vacancy and they had agreed after sufficient compensation was offered.
The agreement smoothes the way for Pardew's managerial 'transfer' to the London club where he was once a favourite as a player.
If a deal is struck, it would mean Pardew leaving a club currently lying 10th in the table for one struggling for survival in the relegation zone in 18th place, having sacked their manager Neil Warnock on Saturday.
Yet after a turbulent time at St James' Park, where he faced various campaigns calling for his dismissal, the 53-year-old would be warmly received back at Palace, the club he helped steer to an FA Cup final in 1990.