Following their 2-0 defeat at the Britannia Stadium to Stoke City, their seventh loss in nine games, West Bromwich Albion boss Alan Irvine has been sacked by the midlands club. Early replacements being toted are former Spurs boss Tim Sherwood. It appears the sackings are coming thick and fast now after Crystal Palace began with Warnock yesterday, but this one is particularly harmful to Irvine's reputation. Known as an excellent coach and talent director, Irvine was keen to reverse poor spells in charge of former Preston North End and Sheffield Wednesday. Those hopes did not come to fruition, and the club now lie sixteenth, only a point above the drop.