Former Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder favourite to take over as West Brom manager after Sam Allardyce announces imminent departure

Sam Allardyce revealed last night that he is to step down as West Brom boss following their final game against Leeds United on Sunday.
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And former Sheffield United boss Chris Wilder is the favourite to take over at the Hawthorns.

SkyBet make Wilder 1/3 to replace Allardyce and make a return to football, three months after leaving his boyhood club in a sour end to his stunning near five-year spell overall.

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Wilder has kept a low profile since that departure from Bramall Lane and has been linked with a number of clubs, but West Brom on the face of it would certanly fit the bill in terms of the type of club he would fit in at.

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Sheffield United transfer news

Also on the bookies list are Derek McInnes, a former WBA player, who is currently without a club after leaving Aberdeen in March.

McInnes is second favourite at 8/1 with SkyBet, while Barnsley boss Valérien Ismaël is next up on 12/1, followed by ex-Norwich and Preston manager Alex Neil at 16/1.

Allardyce admitted he made the decision to quit West Brom because he sees himself as a short-term manager.

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The boss had held talks with the Baggies following their relegation from the Premier League and will leave after Sunday’s finale at Leeds.

Allardyce replaced Slaven Bilic in December but had a break clause in his contract which could be activated if Albion, who are second bottom, went down.

Allardyce said: “I was given assurances over the budget but irrespective of that it’s about me and me being a short-term manager, that’s my pigeon hole, it has been for six or seven years now.

“When you are a put in that pigeon hole, you might as well stay there. That’s where I see myself, a saviour, a troubleshooter – whatever you want to call it.

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“I felt I was going to accomplish it here, we got very close, even if the points don’t show it.

“It was a long, hard decision, a lot of discussion and a lot of thinking deeply about what’s best for me and the club.

“There was no blame pointed at anyone. I was flattered they wanted me to stay on and at this moment I’m stepping down after Leeds disappointed I haven’t done more for the team.”