Alan Irvine insists he won't walk away after West Bromwich Albion's 2-0 defeat to Stoke City.

Away supporters at the Britannia Stadium hurled flak at Irvine after the final whistle as he made his way towards the tunnel.

Asked if he still felt he would be in his job by the new year, Irvine said: "I hope so, but I'm not in control of that, so I don't know.

"I believe I am (capable of turning things around) and I think the players believe we all are as well.

"But obviously, it is other people who will make decisions as far as that is concerned.

"I want to carry on. I want to still do this job and I want to see it turning around, and that is not going to change."

Regarding the criticism he received from the stands, Irvine said: "I can understand that people are frustrated - I'm frustrated, and so are the players.

"I can understand fans expressing that frustration. That is the nature of the job.

"If anyone is to take it, I am the person that is standing there. I stand out there and I don't hide - I'm there to be shot it. And, obviously, ultimately I make the final decisions, so, certainly, I'm prepared to take the criticism."

He added: "I don't know if they (the fans) would have necessarily wanted me to acknowledge them (as he walked past them at the end).

"What do you do in those circumstances? I just walked down the tunnel.

"I am bitterly disappointed as well - it means an awful lot to me, and I know it means an awful lot to them."