West Brom Sack Alan Irvine

West Brom have sacked head coach Alan Irvine following a torrid run of seven defeats in nine Premier League games, which leaves the struggling Midlands club hovering one point above the dreaded drop zone. The Scot, who was only appointed in the summer, has subsequently become the second managerial casualty of the Premier League Sack Race in the space of just three days.

In recent months Irvine had come increasingly under-fire at Albion, with his side scraping only two wins from their last 13 league matches, while they were also dumped out of the Capital One Cup by Championship outfit Bournemouth. On Sunday the Baggies slumped to a third successive defeat - a 2-0 loss at Stoke - but, while Irvine was expected to be given one final chance to save his skin on New Year's Day, chairman Jeremy Pearce has ultimately decided to pull the trigger after just six months.

Attention will instantly turn to Irvine's successor at the Hawthorns, with Tim Sherwood the early favourite in the Next West Brom Manager Market. The former Tottenham boss was previously interviewed for the position back in June, but opted not to become Pepe Mel's successor, however having failed to venture back into the managerial arena since leaving White Hart Lane the 45-year-old may now be tempted to take a stab at the job. Meanwhile Tony Pulis is right in the mix, while the likes of Victor Pereira, Chris Hughton and Keith Downing also feature.