In the week’s least surprising news, Tony Pulis has been sacked by West Brom. His exit has been in the pipeline for a while, not least because the Baggies are 17th in the table, haven’t won since August and are widely agreed to be appalling to watch.

Pulis leaves the club with a 29.75% win ratio from 121 games in all competitions, few of which will be remembered fondly at the Hawthorns – though he might counter that 13th, 14th and 10th represent decent league finishes for a club of West Brom’s stature.

Either way he’ll probably be back in a job come March, this as the latest Premier League relegation candidates scrabble desperately to stay up for another season.

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In the meantime, West Brom also need to find a new manager. Here are some of the men who could be in the frame.

Sam Allardyce

Though not exactly the master of aesthetically beautiful football, Sam Allardyce would represent a sensible form of continuity for West Brom.

With a similar focus on defensive organisation but a slightly more palatable style compared to Pulis, Big Sam would safeguard against relegation while only mildly alienating everyone in the stands.

Alan Pardew

With a track record of guiding bottom-half clubs to cup finals, Alan Pardew would be an enterprising appointment for the Baggies.

Unfortunately, Pardew also comes with the baggage of hubristic dancing and extremely awkward attempts at humour. He’s a wildcard – a maverick, even – but his tenure would at least be excruciating fun.

Ronald Koeman

Probably the most progressive potential appointment on this list, Ronald Koeman might take some serious convincing to move to the West Midlands.

Once vaguely linked with the Barcelona job after his successes at Southampton, West Brom would need to prove their ambition to the former Nou Camp stalwart. Though his spell at Everton didn’t go to plan, he did an excellent job at St Mary’s and could be the man to placate West Brom fans.

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Martin O’Neill

Though still Republic of Ireland coach for the moment, Martin O’Neill might be tempted back into club management for one last hurrah in the Premier League.

His last domestic job with Sunderland ended in bitter disappointment, and at 65 he’ll not have too many more opportunities to manage in the top flight. Whether or not he ‘s up for an arduous slog to safety this season, only he can decide.

… Tony Pulis again, in March

Stranger things have happened in football, though admittedly not many.

Should West Brom find themselves in serious relegation trouble late in the season, there would be nobody better to turn to then… well, the man they’ve just sacked.