Sam Allardyce facing West Ham United sack before the Premier League season - reports

Under-pressure Allardyce is on a collision course with the Hammers board

Samuel Stevens
Tuesday 29 July 2014 09:58 BST
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Sam Allardyce responds to West ham fans booing at the final whistle of their 2-1 victory over Hull
Sam Allardyce responds to West ham fans booing at the final whistle of their 2-1 victory over Hull

West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce's position at Upton Park is reportedly under increasing jeopardy and the former Bolton Wanderers boss could even be dismissed before the start of the upcoming Premier League campaign.

The Hammers' hierarchy have publicly criticised their manager for his transfer policy in recent weeks, labelling the £15m signing of Andy Carroll a 'mistake' while openly disagreeing with him on Ravel Morrison's future at the club.

The Daily Mail report that Allardyce is on borrowed time at Upton Park, with an agreement already in place which would give the 59-year-old just ten games to prove himself, but the recent quarrels appear to have accelerated matters.

The United squad are in New Zealand this summer and slipped to their second defeat of the pre-season tour, a 3-1 reverse to Australian side Sydney FC, last night.

Allardyce's men were also beaten 2-1 by Wellington Phoenix on Wednesday.

David Sullivan, the co-owner, raised eyebrows last week by using an interview with talkSPORT to openly criticise his manager's decision to sell Morrison - stating that the board had other ideas.

"Sam has said Ravel is not part of his plans but we do - as a board - see him as part of our plans," he said.

"I think he said in a press conference, if I read it correctly, he's not part of his plans for this season. I think he said that in New Zealand but we don't agree with that. We would like to sit down and give him a longer contract.

"We do like him. We do see him as part of the long-term future of the club but we have to agree it with the manager because there's no point signing a player he's not going to play."

The Hammers boss has endured a tough time of late, with a section of supporters calling for his dismissal since last winter, but comfortably secured the club's Premier League status.

The signing of Enner Valencia, one of the star performers of the World Cup in Brazil, had started a process which Allardyce hopes will eventually appease his critics.

Another contentious issue is the club's reliance on Carroll's services up front after the former England international was dealt with yet another injury blow during the week.

The former Newcastle United striker still has five years to run on his contract in East London after joining the Hammers for a considerable sum last summer following a successful loan spell.

His latest injury, an ankle problem, means that he won't be adding to his fifteen West Ham starts until Christmas.

While the reports could prove to be hearsay, they won't help Allardyce's cause.

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