Alan Pardew hanging by a thread at West Brom but will be given one more game to save his job

The head coach's position is under heavy scrutiny from the Baggies board, who have already started drawing up a list of potential replacements in case they decide to act after the upcoming game with Watford.

However, the lack of credible alternatives is giving them pause for thought, as is the potential risk of creating further upheaval by sacking the head coach for the second time this season.

Because of that, returning chief executive Mark Jenkins and Chinese owner Guochuan Lai agreed over the weekend to stick with Pardew for now, but his position will be reviewed again should Albion lose to Watford.

The board are deeply concerned by the side's form and rock-bottom league position, as well as the off-field controversy the squad brought back from Pardew's trip to Spain.

But with the team still seven points from safety and looking increasingly doomed, the board are thinking beyond the short-term survival fight and are also taking Albion's long-term future into consideration

Pardew was serenaded with 'you're getting sacked in the morning' by furious fans at The Hawthorns on Saturday following their 2-1 defeat to Huddersfield.

His short three-month reign at The Hawthorns has lurched from one disaster to the next in recent weeks.

As well as four of his senior professionals allegedly stealing a taxi in Spain, Albion have been woeful on the field and have lost huge six-pointers in the league at home to Southampton and Huddersfield.

Defeat in Saturday's must-win game has left them cut adrift with just 10 games remaining, and Jenkins has now put Pardew's position under scrutiny.

Although the head coach was handed a two-and-a-half year contract in November, it's believed there is an end-of-season break clause included in the deal.

Pardew admitted there was no point defending the performance, but when he was asked if he expected to remain in his post, he said: "Well, I hope so but obviously that decision is not with me."

When the calls for his head were put to him, he responded: "I think it’s frustration. This team has won three games in 37 game which says everything.

“This was our opportunity to try and get us rolling. Of course we've let that slip.

"Unfortunately we can't wind the clock back and as much as I can say this or make excuses about that, we've lost a game against Huddersfield.

"We've got to go to the next game, stick our chest out, show a bit of pride and try and win a game of football.

"There's no point me defending myself or defending my players. We've got to stand up."

Albion have now won just one league game out of the last 26, and just four in the last 12 months.

Pardew was brought in to save them in November but results have only worsened.

The head coach himself now has just seven wins out of his last 50 in the Premier League - a run which stretches back to his time with Crystal Palace.