West Ham manager Sam Allardyce has said today that he is not worried about his future at the club, after co-chairman David Gold stated at the weekend that no discussions would be held about any potential renewal of the manager's contract until Premier League survival had been guaranteed. Former Irons favourite Tony Cottee has in recent days criticised the owners' decision, stating that it "doesn't help" Allardyce or his number two Neil McDonald.
The Hammers are on a wretched run of away form that has seen them lose all six of their last away games and score the least amount of goals away from home in the whole of Britain; and whilst it would not be entirely fair to say the 58 year old is under pressure, the form on the road surely has to improve if the Irons are to retain their Premier League status come May. Big Sam today told the Sun that "there's no problem (with the club's owners). We'll talk once our Prem status is secure. Some owners pull the trigger early but it's not like that here."
One can only hope that is true- Allardyce only need talk to current Newcastle boss Alan Pardew to know that what West Ham owners say and what they actually think are often two very different things. Pardew, in his latter days in the Upton Park hotseat, repeatedly received assurances in 2006 over his position from the club's new Icelandic owners, only to be sacked four games into their reign and be replaced with Alan Curbishley, with then chairman Eggert Magnusson declaring that he and his colleagues had "always wanted Curbishley" to be West Ham manager. Mind your back, Sam me ol' mucker..
By Alex Shilling
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