West Brom confirm Sam Allardyce as new manager

Former England boss Allardyce replaces Slaven Bilic who was removed from his post earlier on Wednesday

Sam Allardyce has been appointed West Brom manager (PA)

West Bromwich Albion have confirmed Sam Allardyce as their new manager.

Former England boss Allardyce replaces Slaven Bilic who was removed from his post earlier on Wednesday.

Allardyce, 66, had been out of work since he was dismissed by Everton following a six-month stint at Goodison Park in 2018, and the manager who has built his reputation on digging out the points to avoid relegation has been tasked with keeping 19th-place West Brom in the top flight.

Albion will be Allardyce’s eighth Premier League club following spells with the likes of Bolton Wanderers, Blackburn Rovers and Crystal Palace.

Bilic guided the Baggies to automatic promotion from the Championship last season, but they have struggled on their return to the Premier League with only one win from their opening 13 games. 

They picked up a hard-fought point at Manchester City on Tuesday night, but it was not enough to save Bilic from the sack.

Albion sporting and technical director, Luke Dowling, said: “In Sam we have a man who has a proven Premier League pedigree with a track record of improving every club he has managed.

“We believe and, more importantly, Sam believes we have a group of players that have the quality needed to give the club its best chance of Premier League survival.”

Allardyce’s first match in charge will be a Midlands derby with Aston Villa on Sunday.