Tony Pulis is a dead man walking at West Brom, with the Premier League strugglers poised to wield the axe.
Doomed Pulis challenged the club's top brass to back him or sack him after Saturday's 4-0 home loss to Chelsea.
Albion’s Chinese owners, who flew in for the game, are spending the weekend discussing their options with UK-based chairman John Williams.
A change to relieve head coach Pulis of his duties is expected soon, with the 59-year-old unlikely to still be in charge next Saturday when the Baggies visit Tottenham.
The £2million-a-year Welshman can expect a similar pay-off to leave The Hawthorns.
Likely contenders to replace him include recently-sacked Everton manager Ronald Koeman, Aberdeen boss and ex-Albion player Derek McInnes, Northern Ireland's Michael O’Neill and the clubless Alan Pardew.
Williams went to speak to Pulis after Albion’s 11th game without a win against Chelsea.
The hosts were 3-0 down at the break and might have lost by more had the champions not subbed Eden Hazard, N’Golo Kante and Cesc Fabregas with around 20 minutes still to go.
Post-match, Pulis refused to discuss the nature of his conversation with Williams before returning to his Bournemouth home for the rest of the weekend.
But he admitted the club may sack him after another disappointing display where many fans either stayed away or called for his head.
Pulis said: “The big thing is this is not about me, it’s not about the chairman, the owners or anything else. It’s about the football club and what is the right decision for the football club, that’s the important thing.
“I’ve been in the game long enough to know if you get bad runs that’s what happens. But they have to make a decision.
“I know as much as anyone you have to get results. That’s what it’s about. It’s [making sure] the decision that is made is the right decision for the football club.
“That’s not going to be my decision, it’s obviously the owners'.”
Pulis’ assistant Gary Megson, who previously managed the club from 2000-2004, could step in as caretaker if the process to replace Pulis drags. Alternatively, Albion’s highly-regarded U23 James Shan could be promoted to the role.