Pardew pardon

ALAN PARDEW continues to walk a tightrope at struggling West Brom.

Pardew insisted he would give the club’s owners the chance to sack him or back him after the Baggies’ 4-1 defeat to Leicester on Saturday.

The matter has now been discussed informally with chief executive Mark Jenkins and Pardew, 56, is still in charge for now.

He remains in limbo after managing just one win in his 17 Premier League games in charge.

But with a break clause in his contract in the summer and no standout candidates to replace him, the club may decide to see things out until the end of the season.

Pardew said after the weekend defeat that he would be talking to “the people upstairs”.

But with club owner Guochuan Lai in China and Albion’s relegation as good as sealed, there is a feeling that changing things now could prove counter-productive.

Even if he does see out the season, Pardew is unlikely to stay beyond that despite signing a two-and-a-half-year deal in November.

Rock-bottom Albion have won only three league games this season.

Former Stoke full-back Graham Potter is in the frame after masterminding a fairytale rise at Swedish minnows Ostersunds.