Contenders ready for Albion talks

The Baggies are understood to have met with possible contenders over the last 48 hours at their London offices as they try to narrow the field.

But they also have one eye on the Welsh capital, where Mackay could be sacked before the end of the weekend after controversial owner Vincent Tan flew into England yesterday on a collision course with his manager.

Mackay is highly-respected in the Hawthorns hierarchy after being recommended to chairman Jeremy Peace in the past, but the Baggies know the Scot's situation is not straightforward.

Even if he leaves the Bluebirds in the coming days as expected, the Baggies board would still need to be certain he is the right man to succeed Clarke so soon after the sacking and then convince him to return to the Premier League immediately.

So Peace and sporting and technical director Richard Garlick have set about speaking to other candidates, although the identity of those interviewed has not yet emerged.

They have already placed interest in many of the bookmakers' favourites on the back burner, with Martin Jol, Andre Villas-Boas, Roberto Di Matteo, Mauricio Pellegrino and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer not under consideration at this stage.

And aides of German coach Ralf Rangnick, who impressed in interviews in 2012 before Clarke's appointment, insist he has not been approached.

Caretaker boss Keith Downing was due to take charge for the first time this afternoon but his tenure seems increasingly likely to stretch into the Christmas period with planning already at an advanced stage for the Boxing Day trip to Tottenham and the visit to West Ham two days later.

Downing, who is being assisted by goalkeeping coach Dean Kiely, said: "There have been a few rumours about the Christmas period but I'm looking at it on a game-to-game basis.

"We're totally focused on Hull and then we'll see what happens from there.

"If we're needed to carry on over Christmas then so be it."