Ideye’s coach gets the boot

Brown Ideye’s coach, Alan Irvine, has been sacked as West Brom manager after seven months in charge at The Hawthorns.

Irvine, who signed Ideye from Dynamo Kiev without ever seeing him in action, was appointed manager in June following the exit of Pepe Mel and was on a 12-month rolling contract.

West Brom, who are 16th in the Barclays Premier League, lost their last league game 2-0 to Stoke City which is their seventh loss in nine games.

Irvine, who won just four of his 19 league games in charge, has been placed on gardening leave which describes the practice where an employee leaving a job – having resigned or otherwise had their employment terminated – is instructed to stay away from work during the notice period, while still remaining on the payroll.

Albion travel to West Ham on New Year’s Day with assistant head coaches, Rob Kelly and Keith Downing in caretaker charge.

The club say they expect to be able to name Irvine’s successor by the weekend.

“We appointed Alan in the summer convinced that we had taken on one of the foremost coaches in the UK and nothing that has happened since then has altered our view,” Terry Burton, Albion’s technical director said.

“But sadly that simply has not translated into results and they remain the ultimate currency of Alan’s position. Securing a sixth season in the Premier League is the over-riding target and sometimes unpleasant decisions have to be taken to serve that imperative.

“Alan has impressed everyone with his manner, dedication and diligence but he knows that results have simply not been good enough.”