Alan Irvine accepts the West Brom sack could be looming after his side slumped to a seventh defeat in nine matches at Stoke on Sunday.
The loss meant Albion finish 2014 in 16th place in the Barclays Premier League table, a point above the relegation zone.
Baggies supporters at the Britannia Stadium hurled abuse at Irvine after the final whistle as he made his way towards the tunnel, and the Scot stressed in his post-match press conference that his future is out of his hands.
Asked if he still felt he would be in his job by the new year, Irvine said: ''I hope so, but I'm not in control of that, so I don't know.
''I believe I am (capable of turning things around) and I think the players believe we all are as well.
''But obviously, it is other people who will make decisions as far as that is concerned.
''I want to carry on. I want to still do this job and I want to see it turning around, and that is not going to change.''
Regarding the criticism he received from the stands, Irvine said: ''I can understand that people are frustrated - I'm frustrated, and so are the players.
''I can understand fans expressing that frustration. That is the nature of the job.
''If anyone is to take it, I am the person that is standing there. I stand out there and I don't hide - I'm there to be shot at. And, obviously, ultimately I make the final decisions, so, certainly, I'm prepared to take the criticism.''
He added: ''I don't know if they (the fans) would have necessarily wanted me to acknowledge them (as he walked past them at the end).
''What do you do in those circumstances? I just walked down the tunnel.
''I am bitterly disappointed as well - it means an awful lot to me, and I know it means an awful lot to them.''
West Brom had been putting in a creditable away performance - without converting it into goals - when Mame Biram Diouf broke the deadlock in the 51st minute with a shot that took a slight deflection off Joleon Lescott.
Gareth McAuley came close to equalising as he prodded the ball against the post just after the hour mark, and moments later, Diouf made it 2-0, Marko Arnautovic's shot ricocheting off the Senegal forward fortunately to deceive Ben Foster.
Albion appointed Irvine in the summer as the successor to Spanish coach Pepe Mel. Under the Scot they have won four, drawn five and lost 10 of their 19 league matches this season.
Source: PA
