TAXI FOR THIS LOT

Pardew fears senior stars Barcelona ‘cab theft’ antics could end with him sacked

WEST BROM boss Alan Pardew admitted he fears for his job with the club in crisis after four senior players allegedly stole a taxi.

Pardew (right) was fuming over the behaviour of skipper Jonny Evans, veteran Gareth Barry, England midfielder Jake Livermore and No.2 keeper Boaz Myhill during a trip to Barcelona. The players last night apologised for the incident, which came in the

same week as owner Guochuan Lai (above) fired Albion’s chairman and chief executive.

Their dismissal left Pardew’s future at the Hawthorns uncertain.

Barry, Livermore, Evans and Myhill were questioned by police after claims they stole a taxi from outside a McDonald’s at around 5.30am on Thursday and drove it back to their hotel.

Albion are also investigating, and Pardew admitted his job was not safe.

Asked if it was a club in crisis, Pardew, who had his wallet and phone stolen in Spain, replied: “We’re bottom of the league so I don’t know what word you want to use but that’s where we are, we’ve got to face that and deal with it. They broke a curfew and that’s unacceptable. I feel a bit let down.

“It’s been a tough week for us, tough week for me, tough week for everybody involved in West Brom, not least our fans. When your chairman and financial director have been moved on you can’t be certain of your job, you just have to try and do your job and that’s what I’ll do.”

It is understood some players were unhappy about going on the training trip, which was Pardew’s idea, as it meant missing Valentine’s Day.

A statement from the four players said: “We would like to apologise to our teammates, the head coach, the club and especially the supporters.”