West Bromwich Albion have continued the clearout of their hierarchy by sacking technical director Nick Hammond, who oversaw the appointment of Alan Pardew as the club's coach in November.
Bottom of the table on 20 points and with only three victories in the Premier League this season, the club could be relegated as soon as Sunday, when they visit Manchester United.
In addition to Pardew, who was sacked earlier this month, West Brom also parted company with chief executive Martin Goodman and chairman John Williams this season.
Giuliano Terraneo, most recently the technical director at Fenerbahce, was appointed as a technical consultant on an initial six-month deal, the club announced.
Terraneo's role will see him involved in a "complete review of the recruitment department" at West Brom, according to the club's chief executive.
Chief executive Mark Jenkins, Goodman's successor, said on the club website: "Giuliano joins us in what we all acknowledge will be a very important close season.
"He will assist in the recruitment of a new head coach and the re-structure of the squad. In the event of our losing Premier League status, it will be a squad we will want to compete strongly for promotion back to the top tier.
"Giuliano will assist in the recruitment long-term of a new sporting and technical director and he will also be involved in the complete review of the recruitment department."
Terraneo, a former goalkeeper, has worked in similar roles in Italy at Monza, Lazio and Inter Milan, and has also been sporting director at Turkish club Fenerbahce.
He said: "I am pleased to be able to accept the opportunity to help the club and its owners in the work ahead. West Bromwich Albion is a club with its own personality and it is important that everyone we recruit wants to work to that."
Jenkins, who returned to West Brom to replace Goodman, said last month that he was surprised by some of the management decisions that had been made and that "there is no more money for wages."
Hammond was appointed to the position in 2016 and turned to Pardew, whom he worked with at Reading earlier in his career, to replace Tony Pulis.
"West Bromwich Albion are a great football club which I was honoured to be a part of [with] great people [and] great supporters," Hammond said in a statement on the club's website. "I wish them every success going forward as I move on to future projects."