Tony Pulis is to be appointed as the West Bromwich Albion head coach on a two-and-a-half-year contract and will meet the players he hopes to lead to Premier League safety before Thursday’s game at West Ham. He will be announced as Alan Irvine’s successor at The Hawthorns on Friday, 24 hours before he takes charge of his first game – an FA Cup third-round tie at home against non-league Gateshead.

In what was a two-horse race between Pulis and Tim Sherwood from the moment Irvine was sacked on Monday, the Albion board decided Pulis, who was named the Premier League’s manager of the year after turning round Crystal Palace’s fortunes last season, was the outstanding candidate. Albion felt his experience, including a record of never being relegated in 22 years of management, could not be ignored and are confident the 56-year-old will secure their Premier League status for a sixth successive season.

Any concerns Pulis had about working within Albion’s continental structure have been allayed, with the former Stoke manager assured he will have full control of the first team and the final say on transfers in and out of the club. Albion maintain that has always been the case in the past.

There is, however, set to be a shake-up among the backroom staff. Pulis will bring in Dave Kemp, his trusted assistant, to work alongside him, and it is anticipated Rob Kelly and Keith Downing, the joint assistant head coaches, will leave. It remains to be seen whether Dean Kiely, Albion’s goalkeeping coach, will have a role under the new regime.

Terry Burton, Albion’s technical director, and Mervyn Day, the head of recruitment, are staying. Burton will work closely with Pulis when it comes to identifying players, with West Brom keen to strengthen in the wide positions and up front in the January transfer window, when funds will be made available.

After meeting the West Brom players in London Pulis and Kemp will watch from the stands at Upton Park, with Kelly and Downing taking charge of a team low on confidence and sliding towards the wrong end of the table. Albion have lost seven of their past nine league matches and sit 16th, one point above third-bottom Crystal Palace.

Pulis inherited a much more difficult situation at Palace, who were anchored to the foot of the table with four points when he was appointed as Ian Holloway’s successor in November 2013. Palace went on to finish 11th only for Pulis to quit on the eve of this season. He becomes West Brom’s fourth head coach in little more than 12 months.