Roberto di Matteo is the bookies' favourite to replace Steve Clarke as West Brom manager.

Clarke was sacked on Saturday night after the Baggies' 1-0 defeat to Cardiff - their fourth defeat in a row which leaves them two points above the relegation zone.

Sky Sports understands West Brom do not have a successor in mind and that an appointment is not imminent.

Joint-assistant head coach Keith Downing will assume control of first-team affairs while the club searches for a successor.

That search began on Sunday with Di Matteo, who spent almost two years in charge at The Hawthorns between 2009 and 2011, the favourite at 5-2 with Sky Bet ahead of ex-Fulham boss Martin Jol (4-1).

Former Schalke boss Ralf Rangnick is 8-1 with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer 10-1.

The man who oversaw the final straw as far as the West Brom board was concerned - Cardiff boss Malky Mackay - is down at 25-1.

Owen Coyle, recently sacked by Wigan, is down at 33-1 along with Ian Holloway, who left Crystal Palace earlier this season.

He has already coached broom so its unliley

^And Mourinho already coached Chelsea :P

Wasn't Di Matteo laid off? I believe he is still getting paid by Chelsea for his contract. If that is the case, I would much rather let my Chelsea contract run off rather than breaking it and going for a lower-paid job at West Brom. I think he's laying low until his contract with Abramovich runs off, and then plans on returning to coaching.

^That's exactly what he's doing. I doubt he'll manage again before next season.