Pardew leaves rock-bottom West Brom

Conte confident of future at Chelsea

LONDON, April 2, (RTRS): Alan Pardew became the second manager to leave bottom-of-the-table West Bromwich Albion this season when he departed on Monday after four months in charge at the English Premier League club.

West Brom, beaten 2-1 at home by Burnley on Saturday, have lost their last eight league matches, leaving them seven points adrift at the bottom of the table and 10 short of safety with six matches to play.

Pardew, appointed at the end of November with West Brom two points above the bottom three, was in charge for 21 matches in all competitions, managing three wins with only one of those in the league.

“West Bromwich Albion and Alan Pardew have agreed to mutually part company following discussions between both parties,” the club said on their website, adding that assistant head coach John Carver would also be leaving.

“The club would like to thank Alan and John for their efforts and wish them well in their future endeavours.”

First-team coach Darren Moore will take over until further notice.

Pardew, former manager of Reading, Charlton Athletic, West Ham United, Southampton, Newcastle United and Crystal Palace, replaced Tony Pulis after he was sacked.

The 56-year-old, an FA Cup runnerup with West Ham in 2006 and Crystal Palace 10 years later, was the tenth managerial casualty of the Premier League season.

West Brom, owned by Chinese investment group Yunyi Guokai (Shanghai) Sports Development Ltd, have had a turbulent season and also sacked chairman John Williams and chief executive Martin Goodman in February.

Mark Jenkins became the club’s new chief executive, taking back the role he held until 2016.

Also in February, West Brom players Jonny Evans, Gareth Barry, Jake Livermore and Boaz Myhill apologised in a club statement after being questioned by police over the theft of a taxi in Barcelona, where the team were holding a warm-weather training camp.

Pardew said they had broken a team curfew and he felt let down.

Chelsea boss Antonio Conte has no concerns over his immediate future at the club despite their hopes of qualifying for next season’s Champions League suffering a critical blow with a home loss to Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.

Spurs came from behind to win the Premier League encounter 3-1, recording their first triumph at Stamford Bridge since 1990.

The result has left last season’s champions Chelsea eight points adrift of Spurs in fifth place but Conte said he would continue to give everything as long as he remained in charge.

“No, I’m not worried. Honestly. I think that I’m giving — he players are giving — everything this season,” Conte told reporters.

“We are working very hard to try to have a good season, but I think that, in the end, we are deserving this season. It means that our value is this.

“I have my opinion but I’m very tired of always repeating the same things. I don’t want to create problems. If we are in this position, we deserve to be in this position.”

The Italian manager was reported by the British media to have been at odds with the club over the need to strengthen the squad in the transfer window

Pardew

earlier this season.

When asked whether a top-four spot was the most important factor into deciding whether a coach stays at Chelsea, Conte said: “I don’t know. You have to ask the club, not me.

“Yes (I have got the maximum from my players this season). Yes, I’m sure.

“We are working very well, very hard, and the commitment of the players is top. Despite this, you stay in this position. We must be a bit worried about this.”

Chelsea, who were knocked from Champions League by Barcelona in the round-of-16, could still end the season with some silverware as they take on Southampton in the FA Cup semifinals on April 22. Spurs face United in the other tie.

Manchester

West Ham United manager David Moyes has hailed Joao Mario for making an immediate impact at the club but is yet to take a decision on whether the club will sign the midfielder on a permanent deal at the end of the season.

Portugal international Mario, who arrived at West Ham from Inter Milan in a January loan move, scored his first goal in Saturday’s crucial 3-0 victory over Southampton in the Premier League.

“To come to the Premier League (in January) and perform is not easy,” Moyes told British media.

“What goes amiss is that he’s a real hard worker, covers the ground, gives us some other things as well.

“He brings a little bit of flair, good on the ball, a bit of natural talent. What we’ve needed from him — when (Manuel Lanzini) was injured in January - was to give us a goal, or an assist, and today he came up with the goods.”