Valerien Ismael sacked by West Brom after less than a year in charge

West Bromwich Albion have sacked manager Valerien Ismael less than 12 months into his four-year deal with the club.

Ismael's dismissal comes off the back of three defeats in the last four Championship games, leaving Albion in fifth place and well adrift of the automatic promotion spots.

The 48-year-old had taken over at The Hawthorns in the summer after impressing in charge of Barnsley, but has been dismissed after less than one season.

West Brom were among the favourites for promotion after being relegated from the Premier League last season, and invested in their squad in a bid to bounce straight back to the top flight, with Daryl Dike among their January signings.

However, with 17 games remaining and an eight-point gap to the top two, Ismael has been relieved of his duties.

Were West Brom right to sack Ismael? Have your say in the comments section

"West Bromwich Albion Football Club can confirm Valérien Ismaël has today left his position as head coach," a statement from the club reads.

"Assistant head coach Adam Murray has also departed The Hawthorns.

"The club would like to place on record its thanks to Valérien and Adam for their efforts and wishes them well in the future.

"The process of recruiting a new head coach is now under way and an appointment will be announced in due course."

Ismael took over at West Brom after Sam Allardyce left the club in the light of their relegation from the Premier League.

The former Barnsley boss had led his previous team to a top-six finish last season, losing to Swansea City in the play-off semi-finals, and brought midfielder Alex Mowatt with him from Oakwell as one of a number of summer signings.

Former Barnsley loanee Daryl Dike was reunited with Ismael in January, while Andy Carroll also joined the club after a spell with Reading.

West Brom went 10 games unbeaten at the start of the season, but their form tailed off and three of Ismael's final four games in charge ended in defeat.

Ismael's final game ended in a 2-0 loss against Millwall, and he spoke candidly about the setback after the match.

"We've lost two games and it's been a difficult week. We've been conceding too many goals and it wasn't what we were expecting so today's result was a really difficult one to take today," he said.

"When the game was at 0-0, we needed to stay strong and be more clinical with our chances. We should have forced the opponent in their half more to force the mistakes, but at the minute it's turning on us for the other side.

"But this is football and we have to find a way to fight back in our next game. This is what you need to show against the setbacks we face and the performance will have to be delivered to give us a chance of winning in the next game."