West Brom consider Alan Pardew, Sam Allardyce and Nigel Pearson as replacements for Tony Pulis

Nigel Pearson, Alan Pardew and Martin O'Neill have emerged as potential candidates to replace Tony Pulis as West Bromwich Albion manager, but the Baggies will not be rushed into making a decision.

The Welshman's three-year spell at The Hawthorns came to an end as he was sacked on Monday (20 November) after losing 4-0 to Chelsea over the weekend. West Brom's dismal run of results has left them just one point above the relegation zone after four consecutive defeats in the Premier League, a competition in which they are without a win since the end of August.

Pulis' assistant Gary Megson, who managed West Brom between 2000 and 2004, has been appointed as caretaker and will take charge of the Baggies' trip to Wembley Stadium to face Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday (25 November).

While West Brom chairman John Williams and the club's Chinese owner, Guochaun Lai, are reportedly prepared to take their time before appointing a replacement, they are also aware of the need of replacing Pulis as swiftly as possible given the number of crucial fixtures coming up.

Following their clash with Spurs, the Baggies host Newcastle United and Crystal Palace in the space of four days, before travelling to fellow strugglers Swansea City on 9 December.

According to the Guardian, the Pearson, Pardew and O'Neill are all thought to be in contention for the job. Pearson, who is currently employed by Belgian Second Division side OH Leuven, knows the club well after serving as assistant to Bryan Robson at The Hawthorns between 2004 and 2006, while Pardew is still looking for a job after being sacked by Palace in December last year.

The 56-year-old would certainly be welcome by West Brom's technical director, Nicky Hammond, who was given his first coaching role by Pardew, when the latter was in charge of Reading.

O'Neill, meanwhile, appears a more difficult option after he verbally agreed to remain as Republic of Ireland manager. His contract with the Football Association of Ireland was extended before the 5-1 aggregate defeat to Denmark in the World Cup play-offs, though the 65-year-old's future is still said to remain in doubt.

Meanwhile, according to the Daily Mail and the Mirror, Sam Allardyce is also being considered as a possible replacement for Pulis, after he ruled himself out of the running for the vacant Everton job last week.

The former England manager met representatives of the club in London earlier this month and was understood to be interested in the job. However, while Everton saw Allardyce as a short-term fix, the 63-year-old was thought to be keen on a much longer deal, which could have potentially included two more seasons after the current campaign.

Allardyce has worked with Williams during his spell at Blackburn Rovers and has steered a number of clubs away from trouble in his career, guiding Sunderland and Palace to safety over the last two seasons.

However, it is understood the Baggies would have to put together a lucrative offer to tempt him out of retirement.

The quartet all have Premier League experience, which the West Brom board has reportedly made a priority in their search for a new manager. The requirement appears to have ruled out Northern Ireland manager Michael O'Neill and Aberdeen's Derek McInnes, even though the pair were among the early front-runners with some bookmakers.

However, the Scottish Sun reports the latter, who spent three seasons at The Hawthorns as a player, is still considered a viable candidate by the Baggies' board.