Monday 2 April 2018 14:34, UK
Alan Pardew has left rock-bottom West Brom with just six games of the season left so who could the Baggies turn to next?
Pardew only replaced Tony Pulis at the end of November but failed to inspire a turnaround during his short spell, and departs following an eighth successive defeat that leaves the club 10 points from safety.
Sky Sports News understand that Darren Moore, promoted to first-team coach by Pardew, is likely to take charge of the first team for the rest of the season, with a full-time manager appointed in the summer.
But who could Pardew's permanent successor be? We take a look at the frontrunners, according to Sky Bet.
Leicester City assistant manager Michael Appleton has emerged as the early favourite for the job. The 42-year-old had a brief spell in temporary charge of the Baggies back in 2011, drawing 3-3 against West Ham in his only game, throwing away a 3-0 lead at half-time.
Appleton had a tough run at Portsmouth following his departure from West Brom, posting just 13 wins in 51 games as the club battled to keep afloat during financial crisis.
His spell at Blackpool lasted just 12 matches and he departed for Blackburn, guiding them to a victory over Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in an FA Cup fifth-round clash, only to leave 67 days later with the club 18th in the Championship.
Appleton's managerial career picked up during a lengthy spell at Oxford United, where he secured promotion and Football League Trophy success during his three years at the club. He would also take them to Wembley again, this time as EFL Trophy runners-up, while also narrowly missing out on a spot in the League One play-offs the season after.
Following Craig Shakespeare's departure from the Foxes in October, Appleton took caretaker charge and won games against Swansea City and Leeds United before the arrival of Claude Puel.
A veteran when it comes to managing in the Championship, Mick McCarthy will look for a new adventure in the summer after the announcement he will be departing Ipswich Town.
The 59-year-old has been in charge of Ipswich since November 2012, guiding them to clear safety in the same season.
In his first full term, McCarthy saw them finish in ninth in the table which led to him signing a new four-year deal in June 2014. A seventh-place finish followed in 2016 but they have been unable to replicate similar form in recent seasons and the Tractor Boys will look for a new man at the end of the season.
Given the early impact he had at Ipswich, Wolves and Millwall, McCarthy could be an attractive prospect for the owners if they seek an immediate return to the top flight. He'd be the experienced option out of the frontrunners for the vacancy, and is someone who knows the Championship very well.
Chris Wilder's stock continues to rise after a remarkable spell at his boyhood club, Sheffield United. Wilder led the Blades to the League One title - amassing 100 points along the way - in his first season in charge and momentum took them to the top of the Championship in November.
They remain in play-off contention, despite a dip in form, and Wilder - who also guided Northampton to promotion before arriving at Bramall Lane - has gained plaudits for an attacking 3-5-2 set-up in which several lower league recruits have shone.
It would appear a tough ask to prise the Sheffielder away but there are ownership issues at Bramall Lane that Wilder will no doubt be keen to see resolved as he seeks to keep the club he loves progressing.
Dean Smith might have previously gone under the radar but the Brentford boss has caught the eye after guiding the Bees to ninth and tenth finishes in the Championship, overcoming the sales of a string of key players and overseeing a tidy, attacking style.
Prior to Brentford, Smith enjoyed a fine spell at Walsall following a successful caretaker period after Chris Hutchings' departure in January 2011.
Taking over with the club seven points adrift, the Saddlers would survive in League One before beginning to move up the table as the seasons progressed.
Under his guidance, they made their first ever appearance at Wembley when they made the final of the 2015 Football League Trophy, before leaving the club in 4th to take up the vacancy in West London.
Regularly linked when managerial vacancies in the top two divisions arise, Marco Silva has been out of a job since departing Watford in January.
The Portuguese has an impressive CV, winning the second division and cup during spells in Portugal whilst also winning the league in Greece with Olympiacos.
He was unable to keep Hull City in the Premier League after his appointment in January 2017, but did win his opening four home games in charge, also posting a victory away at Manchester United.
He world link up with Watford in the summer, losing just one of his first five games. With his interest in the vacant Everton job, the Hornets sacked Silva with the club citing the "unwarranted approach by a Premier League rival" causing "significant deterioration in both focus and results to the point where the long-term future of Watford FC has been jeopardised".
In similar fashion to Sunderland, West Brom are a team that will need re-building and could see a number of departures this summer. Whether it's a job to suit Silva remains to be seen.
Former Leicester boss Nigel Pearson, like Silva, is an 8/1 shot but Graham Potter is an interesting candidate at 12/1 and, as well as working wonders with Swedish minnows Ostersunds, happens to have played for West Brom between 1977 and 2000. Potter would be a brave and left-field choice but the 42-year-old's record in Sweden stands up against some of the very best in the business.
Another ex-Leicester boss, Craig Shakespeare, is 16/1 for the job, while Martin O'Neill and Steve McClaren are both rated 20/1 chances. Gary Megson, who oversaw draws against Tottenham and Newcastle when he stepped in on a temporary basis prior to Pardew's appointment, is only 22/1, with Moore deemed a 25/1 shot to land the job full-time.
*Sky Bet odds correct at 1400 on Monday, April 2 but subject to fluctuation.
