O’NEILL LINKED WITH PULIS JOB
MICHAEL O’NEILL is the man West Brom want if they sack Tony Pulis.
The Baggies slumped to a 4-0 defeat at home to Chelsea yesterday, leaving Pulis on the brink.
Fans at The Hawthorns chanted “We want Pulis out”, as Antonio Conte’s side ran riot. The Welshman, 59, said he will accept whatever decision West Brom’s owners make.
Pulis said: “The important thing is that the decision is right for the club. That decision won’t be mine – that’s one for the owners.”
Pulis met Chinese billionaire Guochuan Lai, who had flown in to watch yesterday’s game, on Friday night to talk about his plans for the club. He also talked to chairman John Williams after the game. He said: “It was very difficult to have a proper conversation with Mr Lai and his colleagues because their English is very limited, but they are really good people. I am disappointed we have not got the result we wanted for them as much as anybody else.” If the Albion owners wield the axe, Northern Ireland chief O’neill, 48, (left) has emerged as a top target.
Scotland have been given permission to speak to O’neill, but won’t be able to compete with the wages on offer in the Premier League.
The Scottish FA had already lined up a seven-figure package, doubling his salary of £500,000. But a move to The Hawthorns could see O’neill’s wages treble to around £1.5million.