Express & Star poll reveals fans want Tony Pulis to replace Alan Irvine as West Bromwich Albion boss
West Bromwich Albion fans have named Tony Pulis as the man they want to take over at The Hawthorns with almost half backing him in an Express & Star poll.
Former Stoke City and Crystal Palace manager Pulis and ex-Tottenham Hotspur chief Tim Sherwood remain the clear front-runners to succeed Alan Irvine, who was sacked on Monday.
And almost half of the more than 2,000 fans who voted at the Express & Star website named Pulis as their preferred choice.
He polled 46 per cent of the votes with Sherwood second on 20 per cent.
Denmark legend Michael Laudrup, the former Swansea manager, took six per cent of the votes along with former Albion midfielder Martin Jol, also an ex-Spurs manager.
Ex-Baggies captain Derek McInnes, currently in charge of Aberdeen in the Scottish Premier League, was the only other name to poll more than five per cent.
Albion have spoken to both Pulis and Sherwood and Hawthorns officials still hope to name Irvine's successor in time for Saturdays FA Cup game against non-league Gateshead.
Rob Kelly and Keith Downing, Irvine's former assistants, will take charge in the Premier League at West Ham tomorrow.
Kelly said: "The players had a lot of respect for Alan. He's a terrific person, a terrific man, and an excellent coach.
"But they're professional people so we will get on with our jobs, which is exactly what Alan would want us to do."
