Terry Burton on way to West Bromwich Albion

Former Wimbledon boss Terry Burton will join Albion next week as Roy Hodgson's new first-team coach.

The 59-year-old's appointment was confirmed by Hodgson last night and he is due to link up with the Baggies after today's Premier League trip to QPR.

Burton, who was assistant to former Wolves boss Dave Jones at Cardiff until last summer, will effectively replace former Baggies No.2 Michael Appleton, who left The Hawthorns last month to become Portsmouth manager.

Hodgson said: "I am very pleased to announce that Terry will join us. He has been away this week in Barcelona which is something that was agreed a long time in advance.

"But we reached an agreement with him last week and he will fill the vacancy that we have. Keith Downing will step up and Terry will come in as a coach. But we don't have that type of hierarchy at the club.

"It doesn't really matter what number in the organisation people are, we all pull together and work together and Terry will help Keith, Dean Kiely (goalkeeping coach) and myself to run the football side of things."

Appleton's departure created a vacancy for an assistant head coach which will be filled by former Wolves midfielder Downing, who was previously first-team coach.