Dressing-room rows that cost Pardew his job
WeSt Bromwich Albion parted with Alan Pardew on realising he had completely lost his players after a series of dressing-room rows.
With the club 10 points adrift of safety, the board acted following a disastrous display against Burnley that led to an eighth successive Premier league loss.
it is claimed players never warmed to Pardew’s assertive personality, questioned his tactics, and reacted badly to his treatment of young players, which
Sportsmail can reveal included a stinging rebuke for 19-year- old midfielder Sam Field after defeat at Manchester city.
Meanwhile, Pardew was not impressed by a squad who have now won only three times in 41 Premier league games and regularly found excuses rather than answers. Pardew, 56, leaves having gained only eight points — and one win — from 18 matches.
Pardew had an end- of- season break clause in his contract and it is understood a financial settlement has been reached to see a termination now.
West Brom will take their time and plan to speak to candidates before making an appointment in good time for pre-season. ostersunds manager graham Potter, leicester assistant Michael Appleton and Aberdeen boss Derek Mcinnes are credible options.
Assistant John carver — who had a verbal altercation with a fan during Saturday’s game — has also left, with first-team coach and former player Darren Moore placed in temporary charge for the remaining six games.
the infamous Barcelona trip in mid-February will go down as the motif for this season. nobody could have predicted four senior players allegedly stealing a taxi during a 5am visit to McDonald’s, and gareth Barry, Jonny evans, Jake livermore and Boaz Myhill badly let down the club.
Pardew had been battling major dressing-room dissent since chris Brunt and claudio yacob criticised tactics in heated scenes after a 2-1 defeat by Huddersfield on February 24. the club looked at replacing him around this time, but decided no suitable candidates were available.
Senior players failed to buy into Pardew’s methods, particularly upset at his stern approach to youngsters, which included a stinging rebuke of Field in front of the team at Manchester city. Field had been ill that week.
Pardew also took an aggressive approach with 20-year-old oliver Burke and tried to get the Under 18s moved away from the training ground due to space.
But Pardew was alarmed at a lack of togetherness. Some players left the training ground after sessions with unseemly haste. the departure of popular assistant head coach Ben garner, who led certain pre- match meetings, should not be underestimated.
Pardew was certainly denied chance to inject the team with new faces of his choosing. last summer’s spending meant Daniel Sturridge on loan was West Brom’s only January signing and that was a move led by chairman John Williams and chief executive Martin goodman. in hindsight, it has proved a disaster, costing the club £50,000 for each of Sturridge’s 78 minutes on the field.
grzegorz Krychowiak has been another £110,000-per-week miss. He has not featured since allegedly swearing at Pardew when being substituted against leicester on March 10.
it was in the week of the Barcelona trip that Williams and goodman paid with their jobs for the decision to sack tony Pulis in november, who owner guochuan lai now believes might have kept the club up.
certainly Pardew’s record is excruciating. At his best he is a progressive coach and compelling communicator but proved a poor fit at the Hawthorns.