West Bromwich Albion set to appoint Alan Pardew as manager

West Bromwich Albion are reportedly set to unveil Alan Pardew as their new manager over the next 24 hours.

The 56-year-old has emerged as the front-runner to replace Tony Pulis, who was sacked last week after a dismal run of results left them just one point above the relegation zone after four consecutive defeats in the Premier League.

Pardew, who has not managed since being sacked by Crystal Palace in December last year, admitted on Sunday (26 November) that he held talks with the Baggies and could be in the stands when West Brom host Newcastle United on Tuesday night (28 November).

In the Midlands, Pardew is set to be reunited with West Brom's technical director, Nicky Hammond, whom he gave his first coaching role when he was in charge of Reading.

According to the Sun, Albion could confirm him as Pulis' replacement after the game, adding Pardew will put pen to paper on a £2m-per-year job and could pocket an extra £1m bonus should he steer the Baggies to safety.

Should Pardew be appointed this week, his first game in charge could come against one of his former clubs in the form of Crystal Palace, who travel to The Hawthorns on Saturday [2 December]. Pardew took over at Selhurst Park with the Eagles in the bottom three in January 2015, before guiding them to a top-half finish and to an FA Cup final in the following season, when Palace lost 2-1 to Manchester United.

Meanwhile, caretaker manager Gary Megson will take charge of the game against Newcastle, after overseeing a surprising 1-1 draw at Wembley against Tottenham Hotspur over the weekend. While few expected West Brom to avoid defeat in north London, the result left them just three points off the bottom of the table and meant they have not won in 11 Premier League games.

Megson, who managed West Brom between 2000 and 2004, refused to comment over Pardew's seemingly imminent arrival when questioned ahead of the visit of Newcastle.

"I've absolutely no idea," he said, according to BBC Sport. "I'm just doing this job for as long as I'm told and we'll see what happens after that. I'll sure they'll take their time and get the person they want."