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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Kieran King

West Brom sack Steve Bruce with Baggies inside the Championship relegation zone

West Bromwich Albion have sacked manager Steve Bruce following their goalless draw against Luton Town.

The Baggies have won just one Championship game all season and currently sit 22nd after a disappointing start to the campaign. Albion's only victory this season came back in August - a 5-2 success over Hull City and it was a win that brought fresh optimism around the Hawthorns.

However, they have since gone nine league matches without a win, a run which has sparked a change from the club's owners with Bruce dismissed after eight months in charge. He had taken over on February 3 from Valerian Ismael as the club's fanbase were left frustrated with their style of football.

Albion's fortunes didn't change, though, with Bruce unable to guide them to the play-offs as they languished in mid-table come the end of the season. During his time in charge of the Baggies, Bruce recorded just eight wins from his 32 games at the helm, losing a further 12 times.

A club statement read: "West Bromwich Albion have today parted company with Manager Steve Bruce.

"Backroom staff Steve Agnew, Stephen Clemence and Alex Bruce have also left The Hawthorns.

"The club would like to place on record its thanks to Steve Bruce and his coaching staff for their efforts since arriving in February.

West Brom coach Alex Bruce has left with his father, Steve Bruce (Getty Images)

"Under-21s coach Richard Beale will oversee first-team affairs on an interim basis, assisted by James Morrison and Gary Walsh.

"The process of recruiting a new Manager is now under way and an appointment will be confirmed in due course."

In his 24 years in management, Bruce has had plenty of success, winning promotion from the Championship to the Premier League four times - twice with both Birmingham City and Hull City. He has managed over 1000 games and has also taken charge of Huddersfield, Wigan and Aston Villa amongst others across his career.

Have West Brom made the right decision to part ways with Steve Bruce? Let us know in the comments below!

Steve Bruce cut a frustrated figure during his final few matches at West Brom (Getty Images)

This was all before he took over at Newcastle in 2019 and managed to keep the club in the Premier League in two successive seasons despite financial restrictions. But the Magpies' new owners decided to make a change in October 2021 with Newcastle failing to win any of their first eight league matches.

Having enjoyed four months off after his miserable time at Newcastle, Bruce decided to return with West Brom but failed to achieve success. After Albion's game against Luton on Saturday, Bruce vowed to continue but the club's board decided to make a change.

He said: "I'll never quit when I'm up against it. I've quit to get a better job, which we're all entitled to do, but I'll not walk away now. What would that look like?

"I've just seen the players give everything that they possibly could. Yes, we could've been better technically at the top end of the pitch, but they all stood up to Luton.

"We weren't great, don't get me wrong, but there was a fight and a bit of something about them to try and address what has been a difficult few weeks."

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