West Brom club president and sporting director Andrew Nestor to depart following failed appointments

But a series of failed head coach appointments and disastrous transfer dealings have led to an imminent parting of the ways at Albion.

Albion are working on appointing a technical director for the first time in and it is understood that move is at an advanced stage. It will be the first in that role for five years since Luke Dowling's exit.

Nestor was not in place for new boss Eric Ramsay's unveiling at The Hawthorns a little under three weeks ago. Patel spoke to the press on that occasion and showed his faith in the new head coach.

Owner Patel selected Nestor - with the pair having worked together previously with Patel's minor stake at Bologna in Italy - to lead on the Baggies' sporting matters upon the American's takeover two years ago this month.

Several disastrous decisions at sporting level - including three head coach appointments in 12 months - have played a significant part in Albion finding themselves mired in a relegation battle to League One.

Nestor, who was previously a general manager among other roles at Tampa Bay Rowdies in the United States, oversaw the processes that failed to bring Swiss coach Raphael Wicky to The Hawthorns.

He was also in charge for the Tony Mowbray debacle which saw the much-loved former boss return to the club 15 years later to be given fewer than 20 games at the helm.

The sporting director, prior to becoming 'club president' in a new title, then led the lengthy search for a new head coach last summer with Ryan Mason and Ramsay on his shortlist.

The club appointed Mason, who spent six failed months at the helm before being relieved of his duties and Albion turning to Ramsay, his second candidate last summer.

Nestor, working above director of football operations Ian Pearce, also took the lead on player recruit with a series of terrible calls topped by the £3.4million acquisition of Tammer Bany last January.

Albion had to sell star players for financial reasons and PSR regulations but the squad was left short in areas and unbalanced and the head coach and player search has resulted in a desperate fight against the drop to the third tier.

The Baggies have continued to struggle under Ramsay having taken just a single point from four games, including heavy drubbings against relegation rivals Norwich and Portsmouth.