Big money signings unlikely this summer, says Big Sam

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce has told Hammers fans excited by the club's expected move to the Olympic Stadium in 2016 not to expect too much, too soon. The Irons have been linked with big money moves for stars such as Wilfried Bony and Andy Carroll but financial restrictions may well scupper the club's summer spending in the short term, according to Allardyce.

The 59 year old is elated about the Stratford move and wants to make the club the best they can possibly be, as he told London24.

"There is a big motivation to get West Ham the biggest it's ever been- I want to build the team as quick as I can to get into that stadium and build an exceptionally good Premier League side. When you've moved into a fantastic venue the size of the Olympic Stadium, it demands you do that."

However, Allardyce is not in cloud-cuckoo land. The Irons chief is taking a pragmatic stance when it comes to splashing the cash ahead of the move to the Olympic Stadium and is wary of the new financial restrictions imposed upon the Premier League.

"The days of huge money thrown at transfers look like they might be restricted- we have to be aware that we cannot be as free-spending as we would like to be. When we turn round to an agent and a player and say 'we would like to pay that but can't under the new regime,' they will go somewhere else."

"The fans will probably take a while to understand that; the agents and the players certainly will. Hopefully everybody will be in the same position and bring a bit more financial stability to the game."

If only, Big Sam, if only. Whilst the manager's pragmatism has to be admired, the reality is that the "financial fair play" rules punish clubs like West Ham, who are up and coming and ambitious, and focus on making life easier for the richest clubs in the land- and until there is a level playing field for every club in the country, the English game will continue to lack financial stability...

By Alex Shilling, News Editor

@alexshilling