Tony Pulis has been appointed as the new head coach of West Brom on a two-and-a-half-year deal, the Premier League club have announced. Pulis will begin his new role after Thursday's Premier League match at West Ham, with his first game in charge the FA Cup third-round game against Gateshead.

“Every successful club is built on unity and that is what I shall strive to help bring to Albion,” Pulis told the club’s official website. “We need everyone together from top to bottom – the supporters, all the staff, the players, everyone who has an interest in the club’s welfare. With that, we can go forward together and hopefully take this club up the Premier League.”

In what was a two-horse race between Pulis and Tim Sherwood from the moment Alan Irvine was sacked on Monday, the Albion board decided Pulis, who was named the Premier League's manager of the year after turning round Crystal Palace's fortunes last season, was the outstanding candidate. Albion felt his experience, including a record of never being relegated in 22 years of management, could not be ignored and are confident the 56-year-old will secure their Premier League status for a sixth successive season.

Any concerns Pulis had about working within Albion’s continental structure have been allayed, with the former Stoke manager assured he will have full control of the first team and the final say on transfers in and out of the club. Albion maintain that has always been the case in the past.

"We are delighted to secure a man of Tony's calibre and proven ability," said the club's technical director, Terry Burton. "He made it clear that this position excited him and that he was eager to get back into the business of winning Premier League points - and there are few who know how to do it better."