Pulis is sacked ‘in phone call’
THIS season’s managerial mayhem c o nt i nued a pace after Tony Pulis was r uthlessly sacked over the telephone by West Bromwich Albion yesterday.
News of his departure sent the rumour-mill into overdrive, with both Scotland and Rangers frontrunners Michael O’Neill and Derek McInnes quickly linked to the post.
Reports last night claimed West Brom would ask for permission to speak to the Aberdeen manager, although it is thought the club hierarchy want a boss who has English Premier League experience.
The Baggies are currently 17th, one point above the drop zone, and in need of an immediate boost.
Sam Allardyce has featured highly in discussions over Pulis’s successor. He worked with West Brom chairman John Williams at Blackburn but it would take a good offer for him to reprise a rescue role he carried out successfully at Sunderland and Crystal Palace in the past two seasons.
The 63-year- old held talks with Everton recently but withdrew from the running when a contract offer failed to materialise.
Nigel Pearson’s name has also been mentioned. The 54- year- old is currently i n charge of Belgian second-tier side OH Leuven but his last Premier league involvement saw Leicester pull of a great escape by winning seven of their final nine games in 2015.
Pearson was a coach under Bryan Robson when West Brom achieved their own miraculous survival in 2005 and bringing him in with former assistant Craig Shakespeare would be an appealing option.
Alan Pardew, meanwhile, would come with a ringing endorsement f r om West Brom’s technical director Nick Hammond, who worked with t he f ormer Palace manager at Reading.
Gary Megson has been placed in temporary charge and will address the media today. A new manager could be in place for Saturday’s trip to Wembley to face Spurs. West Brom acted after the 4-0 loss to Chelsea made it two wins from 21 Premier League games for Pulis.
Owner Guochuan Lai was in attendance to witness the febrile atmosphere, with fans repeatedly calling for Pulis to go, and came to the decision after holding discussions with Williams on Sunday.
Williams called Pulis, who drove down to Bournemouth after the Chelsea defeat, yesterday morning and club sources stress the offer of a meeting was made.
But Pulis wanted to know his fate immediately. Williams said: ‘These decisions are never taken lightly but always in the interests of the club.
‘We are in a results business and over the back end of last season and this season to date, ours have been very disappointing. We would like t o place on r ecord our appreciation of Tony’s contribution and hard work during a period of transition for the club which included a change of ownership.’
The 59-year-old, who signed a deal to 2019 last summer, departs with a pay-off worth £2.5million and has already emerged as a contender for the Swansea job with Paul Clement in jeopardy.
On Friday, Pulis joked he was ‘too young’ for the vacant Wales manager’s position.
Pulis, who was appointed on New Year’s Day 2015 and guided the club away from relegation fears to 13th, 14th, and 10th in successive campaigns, said: ‘Our final league position over the last three seasons has represented the accomplishment of our targets as a club — sustaining our status in the Premier League and delivering stability, throughout the club’s transition of ownership.
‘Expectations have risen, and although we are disappointed with some of our results, one thing I would never question is this group’s work ethic and application. I would like to thank them for their efforts and wish them the very best in the future.’
West Brom now want a manager who can find the team’s potential, but first and foremost guide the club to safety.
As well as All ardyce, Pearson, and Pardew, Ronald Koeman has top-flight knowhow and would represent an ambitious move.