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The club’s board made a “unanimous” decision to relieve the Italian of his duties and place him on ‘gardening leave’ after their 3-0 defeat at Manchester City, which completed a run of 13 defeats in the club’s last 18 matches.

Di Matteo’s departure – with West Brom outside the relegation zone by virtue of goal difference alone – prompted rumours that Sam Allardyce or Martin O’Neill might return to management.

However, former Newcastle manager Chris Hughton was established as the bookmakers’ early favourite. Brighton manager Gus Poyet — a former team-mate of Di Matteo’s and currently fourth in the League Managers Association’s performance table — and St Johnstone manager Derek McInnes are also understood to be in the frame.

Close friends of Di Matteo said he was irritated not to have been able to make proper reinforcements last month and in a statement released through the LMA, the 40 year-old explained that he was shocked by the club’s decision.

“I was extremely surprised and disappointed to be relieved of my duties,” he said. “Winning promotion to the Premier League with West Brom last season was without doubt one of the highlights of my career and certainly my managerial career.

“Playing in this league is tough and we have had to compete against some fantastic sides, but we have shown that we can compete with the best. Apart from the first week of the season, the club has not been in the bottom three. I am disappointed that I don’t now have the chance to lead the team through this crucial period and keep them in the league.’’

Richard Bevan, chief executive of LMA, added: “Roberto represents yet another victim of the ‘hire and fire’ mentality that pervades in our game.”

Di Matteo’s dismissal was also met with surprise by supporters, not only because West Brom have not been known as a sacking club – as chairman Jeremy Peace was at pains to point out, they have had just four managers in 11 years — but because of the relative progress made by the side. Despite their 6-0 opening-day defeat at Chelsea, the team enjoyed a strong start to the season, making a brief appearance in the top four.

Di Matteo was praised for his commitment to attacking football, yet Peace said in a statement that the board had lost confidence in his ability to pull the club out of its tailspin.

“Our poor sequence of results stretches back more than three months and there has been little sign of it coming to an end,” he said. “If this run continues much longer, achieving our goal of retaining our Premier League status will become increasingly difficult. That is why we felt compelled to act now.”

Control has temporarily been handed to first-team coach Michael Appleton but the club hope to have a new head coach installed in time for a crucial home match against West Ham this weekend, and certainly before the following Sunday’s home fixture against Wolves.

Although Allardyce, O’Neill and Martin Jol have been mentioned as possible replacements, the club have stressed that any appointee would be required to fit into the club’s “existing set-up” and work under sporting and technical director Dan Ashworth.

Labels: after, defeats, disastrous, Matteo, Results, Roberto, Telegraphcouk