West Brom: Premier League relegation looms in troubled week for club

Move on to 12 February, with Pardew in charge, and another defeat by Chelsea left Albion seven points from safety with 11 games left – and Lai was faced with the brutal truth that relegation was a probability rather than a possibility.

And in the aftermath of that result, it is understood Lai felt sacking Pulis had been a costly mistake, and not one of his making.

Chairman John Williams and chief executive Martin Goodman, who would have made the decision to part with Pulis, had engaged in positive dialogue with the club’s supporters over recent months but Lai’s relationship with the pair had never been entirely smooth.

Williams did not spend a lot of time at the club, doing much of his work remotely. There was often a difference of opinion about decisions, although the owner did not insist on always getting his own way.

However, with West Brom approaching the point of no return, Williams and Goodman have been sacked.

Mark Jenkins, right-hand man to former owner Jeremy Peace and chief executive for 10 years until he stood down in 2016, accepted Lai’s request to step in.

Quietly efficient but hardline when it comes to finances, Jenkins is nicknamed ‘Dr No’ by one insider.

Jenkins’ experience of life in the Championship at West Brom is seen as being crucial given the financial uncertainty now hanging over the club.

“I still maintain John Williams’ decision to sack Pulis came at the right time. It couldn’t have gone on much longer,” said Wilson.

“But the owners saw Pulis as an almost cast-iron guarantee of survival. I suppose if you are raking in that money, that is what you want.

“And if you look at the stark reality, it has got catastrophically worse since he left.”