Billy Davies, Harry Redknapp or Slaven Bilic could replace Sam Allardyce if West Ham sack their manager

Davies is believed to be on the club's radar after he guided Nottingham Forest to a 5-0 FA Cup win over the Hammers last Sunday

Billy Davies (L), Harry Redknapp (C) and Slaven Bilic (R) have all been linked with the West Ham job should Sam Allardyce be sacked (GETTY IMAGES)

West Ham have been linked with the appointment of Billy Davies as their new manager should they make the decision to cut ties with Sam Allardyce, despite co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold issuing a public letter backing their man last week.

Davies guided his Nottingham Forest side to a brilliant 5-0 FA Cup thrashing of West Ham last Sunday after Allardyce chose to give a number of young players a run-out, with Manchester City then hitting the Hammers for six in the League Cup semi-final first leg on Wednesday.

Should he suffer defeat on Saturday when his side travel to relegation rivals Cardiff City, Allardyce will likely find himself out of a job as they could very well find themselves bottom of the table come the full-time whistle.

Should the worst happen, Davies has been earmarked as one of the potential candidates to take over at Upton Park, along with a host of names that includes former Croatia manager and Hammers star Slaven Bilic and Queens Park Rangers’ Harry Redknapp.

Davies was considered for the job when Avram Grant was sacked in 2011, but the West Ham owners decided that Allardyce was the man to take the club forward – which is exactly what he did as they won the play-off final to return to the Premier League.

A mid-table finish followed as Allardyce guided the club to a tenth place finish last season, but injuries had crippled his squad with record signing Andy Carroll yet to make an appearance since completing his £15m move in the summer.

Interestingly, Bilic moved to Upton Park during his playing career after Redknapp signed him from Kahlsruher SC in 1996, though the two could go up against each other should the West Ham job become available.

Bilic only took over at Besiktas at the beginning of the season, although he has long been linked with a move to the Premier League and a return to east London wouldn’t be out of the question.

Meanwhile Redknapp, who held the reins at the club between 1994 and 2001, is currently overseeing QPR’s attempt to return to the top flight at the first attempt, following their relegation from the Premier League last season.

Davies has had previous spells with Preston North End and Derby County, who he guided to the Premier League only to leave by mutual consent four months into the season.

He is currently 11 months into his second stint with Forest having returned to the club in February last year, but he signed a new four-year contract in October and with the club sitting fifth in the Championship, seven points off automatic promotion, he may well reject any approach to try and steer the Nottingham outfit to the Premier League.