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Alan Irvine: 'West Bromwich Albion players and fans doubted my appointment'

West Bromwich Albion boss Alan Irvine admits that the club's players and fans would have raised eyebrows at his appointment as manager.

West Bromwich Albion boss Alan Irvine has admitted that both the club's fans and players would have doubted his appointment as manager.

The Scot, who replaced Pepe Mel at The Hawthorns, has hailed his team's recent turnaround in form but also accepted that they might not have taken to him straight away.

"The players have been brilliant, from the very start they have been brilliant," he is quoted as saying by BT Sport. "It wouldn't have just been the fans thinking 'is this the right appointment?'

"I'm quite sure the players would have wondered about that. But from the first day they have been extremely welcoming and unbelievably responsible.

"The fortunate thing from my point of view is they are all pulling in the same direction. Part of my job is to keep them pulling in the same direction."

The Baggies have won three of their last four games in all competitions.

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Phil Archbold
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