Mark Hughes will reportedly be sacked as manager if Stoke City fail to pick up a positive result against West Bromwich Albion on Saturday afternoon.
Pressure has been building on the 54-year-old, who saw his side fall to a fifth defeat in six games last weekend at the hands of fellow strugglers West Ham United.
Stoke chairman Peter Coates has publicly admitted to being "concerned" by the Potters' form, but has so far stuck with Hughes despite hovering just one point and one place above the dropzone.
According to The Guardian, however, Coates will finally pull the trigger if West Brom - two points worse off in 19th - leave the bet365 Stadium with victory.
Stoke have lost 10 of their 18 league games in 2017-18 and defeat this weekend will leave them in the bottom three for Christmas.
