Tony Pulis sacked by West Bromwich Albion following dismal run of results

West Bromwich Albion manager Tony Pulis has been sacked following a horrible run of results, which has left the side just one point clear of relegation.

Some sections of the Baggies fanbase made their feelings clear on Saturday, calling for the Welshman to be relieved of his duties after West Brom lost 4-0 at home to Chelsea, their fourth consecutive defeat and their sixth in the last nine Premier League games.

The result left the Baggies, who are without a league win since August, just one point clear of the relegation zone. It piled yet more pressure on Pulis, who is in the middle of his worst run since 2004, when a seven-game winless streak brought his first spell at Stoke City to an end.

"These decisions are never taken lightly but always in the interests of the club," said club chairman John Williams.

"We are in a results business and over the back end of last season and this season to date, ours have been very disappointing.

"We would like to place on record our appreciation of Tony's contribution and hard work during a period of transition for the club which included a change of ownership. We wish him well in his future endeavours."

The Times reported earlier on Monday (20 November) that West Brom's hierarchy appeared to believe the atmosphere at The Hawthorn has become too poisonous, with fans disgruntled with the club's poor form and Pulis' brand of football.

Following the game on Saturday, the Welshman, who has never been relegated in his professional career and had never finished lower than 14th during his three-year spell at West Brom, admitted his future was no longer in his hands.

"I've been in the game and life long enough to understand you can't affect what someone else is going to do," Pulis said after Saturday's defeat. "If I'm losing games, obviously that puts more pressure on you, but it's up to them [the board]."

West Brom's defeat against Chelsea was watched by the club's Chinese owner Lai Guochuan, while Pulis met Williams after the game.

"John Williams came in the dressing room as he always does," the West Brom manager was quoted as saying by the Birmingham Mail.

"What me and John have spoken about is private. He's a good man.

"That's between me and him you've got no business to know that. You've got no business to know what me and chairman talked about."

Despite the team's poor run of form, Lai had remained firmly behind Pulis after backing him in the transfer window in the summer, when West Brom splashed over £40m (€45m) on players.

Pulis sounded surprisingly relaxed when asked whether he feared his spell at The Hawthorns could be coming to an end, suggesting the club's health remained the main priority.

"The big thing is it's not about me, it's not about the chairman, the owners or anything like that," he explained.

"It's about the football club and what is the right decision for the football club and for West Bromwich Albion.

"That's the important thing. This club will be here well past when you go and I go and the lot, we hope. So it's about doing the right thing for the football club."