Mixed views as Pepe Mel departs West Brom - video

Some agreee it was the right decision and others defended the former player, arguing he was not given enough time at the club.

Ricky Smith, 30, from Francis Road in Smethwick said: "He didn't get the time.

"He needed a few more months and then who knows? The club really needs to spend some money next season, we struggled to stay up."

Paul Thompson, 43, of All Saints Way in West Bromwich has been a fan of the team for 15 years.

He said: "I have had a season ticket for the past four years and I am disappointed with the news.

"He should have been given another season. We have held on by the skin of our teeth and I just hope next year they give us something worth celebrating."

Steve Flood, owner of Woodman Corner pub in West Bromwich believes it was the right decision.

He said: "I have been a fan for more than 30 years and it was right for him to go.

"He didn't do much for the club, but in fairness they brought him in at the wrong time, at the end of the transfer market.

"But ultimately I blame the chairman; we need an owner who is prepared to spend some money."

Alex Clements, 22, from Rowley Regis is a lifelong fan. He said: "It is a good decision.

"We almost got relegated; it is time to spend some money.

"I would like to see SirAlex Ferguson manage the team – get him out of retirement, we need him!"

Ann Bibb-Sale, 48, of Gorse Farm Road, Great Barr, said: " I am happy he is gone. He seemed a nice man but we need someone more experienced in English football and I don't think we would manage to stay up next season with him so it is the best decision."

Todd Tagarira, 42, from Fordhouses in Wolverhampton said: "I don't think it was a good idea, he didn't get the funds he needed and not enough time.

"I don't think hiring and firing so quickly is the way forward, the team needs to build consistency.

"They won't spend the money on top-class players but expect the team to compete against the likes of Wayne Rooney."

Fans online have been pondering who might succeed Mel.

"Ok, let's get a few things clear," posted BuxtonBaggie. "David Moyes will not be coming to Albion. Great though that might be, it is fantasy land.

"Brian McDermott has hardly excelled at Leeds. Jeremy Peace will appoint again someone who is deemed to be forward thinking, fits with the project and has experience at this level.

"It will be a left field appointment. A coach who is willing to inherit Downing and Kiely and Burton."

Ian.rafferty.165 would find a McDermott appointment "hugely disappointing", posting: "I think that he is a stand up guy and has always impressed in interviews when he was Reading boss.

"But unfortunately hasn't achieved anything/enough to suggest that he is the right man to take WBA forward.

"The likes of Chris Hughton, Malky Mackay have both done well in previous seasons, but both spent considerably more than West Brom this season and both lost their jobs with both clubs getting relegated.

"For me, I would be very interested in perusing one of the leading candidates of the last job search. Thomas Schaaf. We need to think outside the box."