Club News

Albion part company with head coach Alan Irvine

Decision taken with "regret but necessity" says the club

WEST Bromwich Albion tonight announce the departure of Alan Irvine as the club’s Head Coach.

Irvine leaves the club with immediate effect and has been placed on gardening leave.

Assistant Head Coach Rob Kelly, with the assistance of Keith Downing, will take charge of the team for the New Year’s Day game at West Ham. Albion expect to be able to name Irvine’s successor by the weekend.

Albion’s Technical Director Terry Burton said parting company with Irvine had been a matter of “regret but necessity” because of the team’s continuing poor results.

Albion have won only one and lost seven of their last nine Premier League games and enjoyed only four League victories all season. They currently lie 16th in the table, one point clear of the relegation zone.

Burton said: “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.

“The individual progress of our players such as Craig Dawson and Saido Berahino are testament to that.

“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.

“We place on record our gratitude for his efforts and hold nothing but good wishes for his future endeavours. This was a decision taken with regret but sadly driven by necessity.”