Danny Wright

Wed 17 March 2021 7:10, UK

Every week we’ll be asking West Brom fans on our Facebook account for questions that will be answered by editor Danny Wright. You can join in by following the West Brom News Facebook account and watching out for weekly mailbag posts.

Sam Allardyce has struggled to win over a lot of supporters since taking charge at West Brom earlier this season.

Slaven Bilic was always going to be a tough act to follow in terms of popularity but since Big Sam was able to make additions to the squad he inherited in January, there has been a notable improvement in results and performances.

However, a failure to win any of the last three matches, including a goalless draw with Newcastle and a 1-0 defeat to Crystal Palace, has left the Baggies looking more doomed than ever with just nine matches left to play.

West Brom are 10 points from safety as it stands with a horrific goal difference with it seeming as though Allardyce’s well-publicised record of never being relegated from the Premier League will become a thing of the past.

That has led to Allardyce’s position being questioned in our latest mailbag, with one fan asking West Brom News editor Danny Wright why the manager is yet to be sacked.

Here’s his response:

Sacking managers costs money and with the way West Brom operate, money isn’t thrown down the drain at the drop of a dime. With Allardyce having the reputation he has for keeping teams in the Premier League, it’s very likely he’s on good money at The Hawthorns so getting rid of him right now won’t come cheap. According to Football Insider, there is a break clause in Big Sam’s deal at The Hawthorns that can be activated at the end of this season once relegation is confirmed, I expect this will be what sees his tenure at The Hawthorns end. Relegation has been all but assured for weeks, even months, now but it’s very unlikely anything will happen in regards to the manager’s future until it’s mathematically confirmed.

Allardyce has overseen an improvement, in my opinion. Yes, he had a tough few weeks at the start of his reign when teams were turning up at The Hawthorns and absolutely rolling the Albion over – but that wasn’t something that eluded Bilic’s reign in charge either. Funds were tight in January but Allardyce still managed to sign players who improved the team. Okay Yokuslu has been a wonderful signing, showing that we might have only been a solid defensive midfielder away from mounting a serious survival bid if one was signed in the summer. Again, that came down to Bilic, who was hell-bent on re-signing Filip Krovinovic on loan when he was never, ever going to be an effective player in the Premier League.

For those who want Allardyce gone, you’ll get your wish once that big red ‘R’ is slapped alongside West Bromwich Albion in the Premier League table. Sacking him now and replacing him with someone else is ultimately pointless and wasteful.

In other West Brom news, an agent has confirmed the Albion have made a new free signing after a transfer fee was waived.

Be sure to follow West Brom News on Facebook and Twitter for 24/7 updates on the Baggies and more exclusive interviews with Kevin Phillips.