Alan Irvine Sacked by West Brom, Tony Pulis Reportedly Set to Take Vacant Role

West Brom's search for a new manager is expected to be a short one following the axing of Alan Irvine, with Tony Pulis expected to beat Tim Sherwood to the post.

Continue for updates.

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Pulis on the Brink

Wednesday, Dec. 31

It appears Pulis has beaten Sherwood to the West Brom post, according to Matt Lawton of the Daily Mail:

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Tony Pulis will be announced as West Bromwich Albion’s new manager on New Year's Day having agreed a two-and-a-half year deal to take over from Alan Irvine after rejecting the chance to take over at Newcastle.

Former Stoke boss Pulis, who quit Crystal Palace on the eve of the season, is clear to work again from January 1 under his severance deal with the south London club.

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Pulis and Sherwood Hold Talks

Tuesday, Dec. 30

Sky Sports News provides a development that will surely delight West Brom fans, although BBC Sport reports there is more than one name in the running:

Peter Lamsley of the Guardian provides more information on Pulis' demands:

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Tony Pulis would be willing to work alongside a director of football at West Bromwich Albion as long as guarantees of complete control of the club were included in his contract.

[...]

It is thought Pulis would want assurances on the final say for all transfers, an area of responsibility that became blurred at Crystal Palace after he inspired their escape from relegation last May and led to his departure 48 hours before the start of this season.

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Irvine Sacked by West Brom

Monday, Dec. 29

The manager carousal continues to turn in the English Premier League, as West Brom have sacked manager Alan Irvine.    

The Telegraph on Twitter had the report on Monday:

John Percy of The Telegraph reported that both Tim Sherwood and former Crystal Palace manager Tony Pulis have reportedly been considered as potential replacements. Sherwood was in the running for the gig this summer but reportedly wasn't happy with the terms he was offered then and turned down the position, per BBC Sport.

West Brom thus signed Irvine, the former academy manager at Everton, to be the manager in June, hoping he could steer the club to a better finish than their 17th-place finish in 2014 that left them a mere three points clear of relegation.  

That hasn't been the case, however, as the club is in 16th place and just one point above the relegation zone after seven losses in their last nine games. Andy Glockner of The Cauldron believes that Irvine's appointment was doomed from the start:

Whoever is brought in to replace Irvine will have a tall task turning around a West Brom side that has really struggled in the past two seasons and, as Glockner and others have suggested, has a squad lacking in talent.

Attempting to fight off relegation appears as though it will be the theme of the club's season once again.