It's all change for West Bromwich Albion as Jeremy Peace gets tough

Caretaker duo Keith Downing and Rob Kelly look increasingly likely to follow Irvine out of The Hawthorns after taking charge for tomorrow's trip to West Ham.

Goalkeeping coach Dean Kiely's position could also be reviewed while chairman Jeremy Peace is considering an overhaul of the club's scouting department.

Albion remain on course to unveil Irvine's successor before Saturday's FA Cup third-round clash against Gateshead with Tony Pulis and Tim Sherwood still the clear front-runners. Pulis topped our E&S fans poll with a whopping 46 per cent of votes. And the successful candidate looks set to be given free rein to decide on his backroom team – meaning Downing could depart after more than five years with the club.

Kelly, who arrived with Irvine in the summer, seems almost certain to leave while Kiely could follow, although his position as specialist goalkeeping coach means a new boss could decide to keep him on.

Technical director Terry Burton and head of recruitment Mervyn Day, who both arrived at the start of the season, are expected to be safe but others in the recruitment department are set to come under scrutiny.

Albion have held talks with both Pulis and Sherwood and the pair look to be way ahead of the field in the race to succeed Irvine. However, both will demand assurances of an influence over player recruitment, with Pulis especially keen to have the final say on new faces.

Albion appear ready to compromise to land one of their two top candidates but it remains to be seen whether the presence of Burton, effectively at the head of football operations, proves a crucial stumbling block.

The wage demands of Sherwood's backroom staff proved a major issue in the summer, when he eventually lost out to Irvine.

But Les Ferdinand, who Sherwood had wanted as his No.2, has since landed a lucrative role at QPR, meaning the package for Sherwood's coaches is no longer likely to be a problem.

Chris Ramsey, currently working as a youth coach with QPR, would form part of his coaching wish-list.

Pulis traditionally works with coaches Dave Kemp and Gerry Francis and the pair would be his likely touchline lieutenants should he emerge as the preferred candidate. But transfer policy seems to be the more pressing issue in his discussions with Albion.

Kelly, Downing and Kiely will take charge at West Ham but midfielder James Morrison says the players will be trying to impress their new boss.

"You've got to impress the new head coach to get in the team," said Morrison. "We've got a big squad here; a lot of new players came in at the start of the season who are champing at the bit to play. So you've got to be on top of your game to get in the side.

"It's never easy to see a head coach go. Every week you give your all for the head coach and the bond with the players was strong.

"You could probably see in the performances that we were all trying our hardest. The club have made a decision and it's time to move on.

"We've had a meeting and you've got to quickly put it to bed because we've got a game coming up and that's the main focus. We're in a bit of trouble at the wrong end of the table so we need to put everything into that and get out of it."