Former West Ham United forward Tony Cottee has admitted that he was 'surprised' to learn of Alan Pardew's departure from West Bromwich Albion at this stage of the campaign.

The Baggies announced on Monday that Pardew had left the club by mutual consent.

The strugglers are currently rock bottom of the Premier League table - 10 points from the safety of 17th position with just six matches of the 2017-18 campaign left to play.

Pardew only managed to win one of his 18 league games in charge of the club, but Cottee has questioned the timing of the change of head coach.

"I think the timing is surprising. I think if you look at the stats of one win in 18 then the results haven't been good enough for Pardew, there is no doubt about that," Cottee told Sky Sports News.

"It is just the timing with there being six games left? Is it really going to make that much of a difference?

"What are the board thinking? Why are they changing the manager now? If they were to win the last six games they may have a chance of staying up but you can't see it happening. They have some tough fixtures."

Leicester City assistant manager Michael Appleton is emerging as the favourite to be named West Brom's new head coach.