West Brom are eyeing Brentford boss Dean Smith.

The Sun says after the dismissal Alan Pardew, the Baggies have targeted Leicester No2 and ex-Albion midfielder Michael Appleton and Brentford boss Smith - after accepting relegation is all but inevitable.

Pardew was told of his dismissal in a phone call yesterday morning.

The plan had been to wait until the end of the season to avoid more upheaval in a nightmare season.

But the fans' reaction to Saturday's lacklustre defeat by Burnley - their ninth in a row - persuaded Baggies bosses to act sooner.