West Brom poised to announce Pardew as new boss

Alan Pardew is poised to be announced as the new manager of struggling Premier League side West Brom.

The former Crystal Palace boss was not at The Hawthorns to see Albion throw away a 2-0 lead to draw 2-2 with Newcastle on Tuesday but it is understood that he is expected to be unveiled on Wednesday.

West Brom built on the point earned at Tottenham on Saturday but Jonny Evans’ late own goal earned the Magpies a point as they ended a four-game losing run.

Hal Robson-Kanu and Sam Field put the Baggies in control before Ciaran Clark started Newcastle’s recovery and caretaker boss Gary Megson believes the squad are making progress despite Albion extending their winless run to 12 Premier League games.

He said: “We are on a poor run but we’ve also just been down to Spurs and now drawn 2-2. It’s baby steps but they are making them. We’ve got some decent players, all honest, never is there a doubt over their workrate but sometimes we don’t have the wherewithal to see games out.

“In terms of the points we’ve lost, not what the opposition have won, they’ve come from deal-able problems.

“It’s a right kick in the wotsits. It was our own fault, we’ve scored two really good goals, passed the ball about fine, they’ve swung a corner in and scored from six yards and spanked a free-kick in which is an own goal.”

Albion are two points above the bottom three ahead of Saturday’s visit Pardew’s former employers Palace.

Megson added: “The players are off tomorrow, they’ve not been off for eight days. I’m in at 10am to see the chairman, I’m not aware of what it’s about.”