West
Brom have
appointed former Real Betis
manager Pepe Mel
as their new head coach on an 18-month deal.
The
Premier League club have been looking for a new manager since sacking Steve
Clarke on 14 December.
Spaniard
Mel, 50, held talks with West Brom in December but was initially ruled out
after it became clear he wanted to bring his own backroom staff.
He
will now work with Baggies assistant head coach Keith Downing and goalkeeper
coach Dean Kiely.
Downing,
caretaker manager for the past five matches, will remain in charge for
Saturday's game at Southampton, with Mel watching from the stands.
Mel,
sacked by Betis in
December after three years in charge, will take charge of the team for the
first time for the home game against Everton on 20 January.
West
Brom, who
then face Aston Villa, Liverpool and Crystal Palace, are 14th in the table,
four points above the relegation zone.
Sporting
and technical director Richard Garlick said: "I'm delighted to welcome Pepe to
the club.
