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FINAL BIL
Sam Allardyce named West Brom manager after Slaven Bilic was sacked by Premier League strugglers
SAM ALLARDYCE has taken over as West Brom manager from sacked Slaven Bilic.
The former England boss was appointed on an 18-month deal hours after the Midlands club axed former manager Bilic.
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Bilic was sacked by West Brom - despite his side earning a heroic point at Manchester City last night.
A club statement read: "West Bromwich Albion have today parted company with head coach Slaven Bilic.
"Assistant coaches, Dean Racunica and Danilo Butorovic, and first team coach Julian Dicks have also left the club with immediate effect.
"The Baggies are currently 19th in the Premier League table with seven points from 13 fixtures.
"Albion would like to thank Slaven and his coaching staff for their efforts in achieving promotion last season and wishes them all well in the future."
Bilic became the first Premier League managerial casualty of the season.
And the club confirmed on Twitter that Allardyce has put pen to paper on a deal to take over.
West Brom, who remain 19th in the table after the 1-1 draw at the Etihad, gave Bilic the news on Wednesday, informing him that despite winning promotion from the Championship last season, the club’s hierarchy feel a change is needed.
Bilic was asked about his future after Tuesday's game and replied: "I’m very calm, I love my job, I enjoy it and I’m working hard for myself and my staff for the club.
"Everything else out of my control. I’m just doing my best.
"I’m not bothered what’s happening behind the scenes, I don’t care."
Bilic, who had been in charge of West Brom for 18 months, had a contract with the Midlands outfit until the end of the season.
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Allardyce has been out of work since he left Everton in May 2018.
The ex-England manager has a history with the Baggies after he was hired as a player-coach by Brian Talbot in February 1989.
The pair were sacked in January 1991 after West Brom suffered a shock 4-2 FA Cup third round defeat to non-league Woking.
With Bilic gone, Baggies keeper Sam Johnstone produced a man-of-the-match display to earn a spirited point at the Etihad.
Johnstone made three superb saves to deny Kevin de Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan and Raheem Sterling late on - and then stated his team-mates were fighting for their under-fire manager.
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Johnstone added: "The manager is great. We all fight for him, each other and the club. The boys love him so we knew getting promoted it would be tough.
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"We’re not hiding away from that and giving it our best shot.
"We’re buzzing from this performance and if we keep playing like that then hopefully more results should go our way."
Simon Jordan backs new West Brom manager Sam Allardyce to keep them in the Premier League
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