STEVE CLARKE WAS sacked as West Brom manager on Saturday just hours after the team’s 1-0 defeat at Cardiff.
The loss, which was their fourth in a row in the Premier League, left the Baggies two points off the relegation places.
“We have reluctantly come to the decision to relieve Steve of his duties after very careful consideration,” said West Brom technical director Richard Garlick.
“It has been well documented that we have not had the rub of the green in certain games this season but that does not cloud the generally disappointing points return during this calendar year, culminating in today’s fourth-successive defeat at Cardiff.”
The 50-year-old Clarke, a former assistant coach at Chelsea and Liverpool, took over at West Brom in June 2012.
West Brom have won only seven of their 34 Premier League games during the calendar year.
Joint-assistant head coach Keith Downing will assume control of first-team affairs until a new full-time appointment is made, the club said in a statement.
“This club’s track record proves we do not take such decisions lightly, having only enforced a change in this position three times in approximately 14 years,” added Garlick.
“But with key games coming thick and fast, we felt it was important we acted now to give the club the best possible chance of a successful outcome this season.
“Our player wage bill is the highest in the club’s history and we feel we have built a squad capable of being very competitive in the Premier League.“We now begin the search to find a new head coach who will work within our existing structure, which has been in place for the past six years.”
Clarke’s team lost their season-opener 1-0 at home to Southampton at the Hawthorns.
But under his guidance, West Brom went on to celebrate a 2-1 victory against champions Manchester United, their first win at Old Trafford in 35 years.
Clarke becomes the fourth Premier League manager to lose his job this season.
Paolo Di Canio was the first to go at Sunderland followed by Ian Holloway at Crystal Palace and Martin Jol at Fulham.
What a joke!!
Steve Clarke doesn’t deserve this; sacking just goes to show what a crowd of jerkoffs are calling the shots at these clubs. No gratitude for the good work he’s done up til now, but gets sacked as soon as the club hits a bit of turbulence. If ManU had had that attitude, Ferguson wouldn’t have had a chance to win anything there cos he would have been got rid of way before things turned on his favour.
Jerkoffs? Did you really post that word?
Just another classic example that the buck unfortunately stops with the manager in modern football… On a poor run since last season but they were riding high for long periods. The problem these days is that all the Clubs see themselves as “a top ten” but after you take out United, City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal, Spurs and Everton then you’re left with 3 places. Owners invest a lot but look for way to much in return for what they spend!
A bit soon. Bit of a track record for going thru managers tho WBA.
Idiots !!! Enjoy the Championship next season
Good manager, off to West Ham im sure
WBA in big bother now. He was the man to keep them up. Great manager for them over the last few years and when a few bad results come about, boom hes gone
Dreadful decision. No way WBA would have relegated under Clarke but now they’ve put themselves under real threat of it!
This is going to be another wolves sacking McCarthy outcome me thinks
Clowns
Another reason why I’m losing interest in football, what a joke
Wouldn’t be surprised to see Jose move swiftly for him and he ends up back at Chelsea
lol. Haven’t been following the PL closely this season so I assumed when I saw this headline that they were rooted to the bottom of the table. They aren’t even in the relegation zone. that’s actually an achievement for the manager of WBA. setting their standards too high me thinks
Tough business
A ridiculous last min pen against Chelsea has made all the difference, a win there and he’d still have he’s job