Former Real Betis manager Pepe Mel confirmed as new boss of EPL side West Bromwich Albion Will Pepe Mel be a success in the EPL with WBA? BARCLAYS Premier league side West Bromwich Albion have appointed former Real Betis boss Pepe Mel as their new manager. The 50-year-old Spaniard replaced Steve Clarke, sacked last month after a 1-0 defeat by Cardiff City left Albion two points off the relegation places. But, under caretaker manager Keith Downing, the Baggies are currently four points above the bottom three. Mel himself was sacked by Betis last month, with a 4-0 defeat by local rivals Sevilla sealing his fate as the club failed to make good on last season's seventh-placed La Liga finish which took them into the Europa League. Mel was appointed by Albion on a relatively short 18-month contract but the Midlands side's sporting and technical director, Richard Garlick, told the club's website: "I'm delighted to welcome Pepe to the club. His appointment concludes an extensive recruitment process during which we have cast the net far and wide to identify the most suitable candidate to take the club forward. Pepe was a strong contender from the outset due to his impressive achievements and has emerged as our number one candidate. He is a forward-thinking coach whose teams are renowned for playing an attractive and positive style of football. Downing will remain charge for this weekend's match away to Southampton, with Mel watching from the stands before taking charge of his first match as Baggies boss in the home game against Everton at the Hawthorns the following weekend.