West Brom sack manager Valerien Ismael after four defeats in last five games and slipping up in bid for promotion
WEST BROM have sacked manager Valerien Ismael after four defeats in their last five games.
The Baggies have slipped to fifth place in the Championship and are now only occupying a play-off place by virtue of goal difference.
A club statement read: “West Bromwich Albion Football Club can confirm Valérien Ismaël has today left his position as head coach.
“Assistant head coach Adam Murray has also departed The Hawthorns.
“The club would like to place on record its thanks to Valérien and Adam for their efforts and wishes them well in the future.
“The process of recruiting a new head coach is now under way and an appointment will be announced in due course.”
Albion have been relegated from the Premier League on two occasions in the last four years.
They have become known as a yo-yo club between the first and second tiers of English football.
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Last season under Slaven Bilic and Sam Allardyce, West Brom finished 19th in the top flight.
They are now looking for an immediate return to the Prem at the first time of asking.
But recent league defeats to Millwall, Preston and QPR have left them eight points adrift of automatic promotion.
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And they have also already been knocked out of the FA Cup as they spurned a third round lead over Brighton, eventually losing 2-1 after extra-time.
England international Sam Johnstone was recently dropped by Ismael following a row between the pair.
And according to The Telegraph, there have also been reports of bust-ups between Ismael and other players – namely Jordan Hugill and Robert Snodgrass.
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