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Sam Allardyce to learn if he will stay on as West Ham manager on Monday Sam Allardyce to learn if he will stay as West Ham manager on Monday
(about 11 hours later)
Sam Allardyce will learn on Monday if he is to continue in his role as West Ham manager, but has revealed that he has no plans to attend a meeting between his agent and the club’s owners, David Sullivan and David Gold, because he will be on holiday. Sam Allardyce will learn on Monday if he is to continue as West Ham manager but revealed he has no plans to attend a meeting between his agent and the club’s owners, David Sullivan and David Gold, because he will be on holiday. With his contract due to expire, the 60-year-old’s future has been the subject of much speculation, with Slaven Bilic, David Moyes and Rafael Benítez among those to have been touted as potential successors.
With his contract soon to expire, Allardyce’s future has been the subject of much speculation in recent months, with Slaven Bilic, David Moyes and Rafael Benítez among those to have been touted as his potential successor. “Probably the next one will be Carlo Ancelotti; he’ll be next in line,” joked Allardyce, who explained that he will be travelling to Spain to spend time with his family after West Ham’s match against Newcastle, the result of which could have a significant impact on which of Newcastle or Hull City, who are at home to Manchester United, joins QPR and Burnley in the Championship. “It will be all sorted Monday, one way or the other,” said Allardyce. “I’m not personally having a meeting but my agent will be available to speak to the owners. Because the season is finishing so late, the only opportunity I have to go away with my grandchildren is half-term. So I’ll be shooting off to Spain to see them and whatever will be will be.”
“Probably the next one will be Carlo Ancelotti, he’ll be next in line,” joked Allardyce, before explaining that he will be going on holiday after West Ham’s match against Newcastle on Sunday, the result of which could have a significant impact on which team joins QPR and Burnley in the Championship next season. Reflecting on a period since Christmas in which West Ham have dropped from the Premier League Champions League places to 11th in the table, Allardyce was happy to concede that ongoing uncertainty about his future may have affected on-field performances. “The speculation can breed some complacency in the dressing room, there’s no doubt about that,” he said. “There was speculation like this after the season we came up but this time around it’s more about all the other managers who seem to be taking my position. I’ve been comfortable with it and don’t have a problem with it. As a manager distractions are something that you put aside all the time.”
“It will be all sorted Monday, one way or the other,” said Allardyce. “I’m not personally having a meeting but my agent will be available to speak to the owners. Because the season is finishing so late, the only opportunity I have to go away with my grandchildren is half term. So I’ll be shooting off to Spain to see them and whatever will be, will be.” A former Newcastle manager who was sacked by Mike Ashley in 2008 after only eight months in charge, Allardyce could exact revenge for his dismissal by helping to send his old club down to the Championship. Should Hull, managed by his close friend Steve Bruce, beat Manchester United, then a win or draw for West Ham at St James’ Park would relegate the Magpies. Despite this Allardyce says he will not be motivated by thoughts of karmic retribution.
“I’m really just in a position where the football club has to try and win, the players have to try and win for the last game of the season,” he said. “If that helps out me old mate, then it helps out me old mate. His biggest task is beating Manchester United. Our task is to go and try to finally win another away game. It’s far too far down the road for any of that [revenge] stuff. It’s been a long time since we parted company and for me, looking back into the past is not really what I’ve ever been about. Since Newcastle I’ve had a fantastic time.”
If, as is widely predicted, Allardyce does part company with West Ham, he will leave with largely happy memories of a sojourn in east London that began four years ago. “The overall experience of London and West Ham and achieving what we wanted to achieve… that’s been a great adventure for me,” he said. “So affection? Yes. I think criticism has been the minority. When I go around and look around and see and talk to lots and lots of people, I don’t think I’ve ever had as many selfies as I’ve had working down here, or signed as many autographs. So, I’ve enjoyed the journey and, if that journey continues, then that’s great.” For now, Allardyce has a couple of more pressing expeditions to attend to: Newcastle with one gang of his nearest and dearest, before joining another poolside in Spain to await his fate.
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Whether he remains at West Ham or not, Allardyce will definitely be vacating his Canary Wharf apartment – news that has fuelled rumours that his fate is sealed. “It’s bound to bring up speculation but the apartment was sold around two months ago,” he explained. “In the contract there was a two-month notice period which meant that, in actual fact I should have been out on the 15th, but they extended it for me until the end of the season. The apartment has been bought and I had to move out one way or the other. I can only say what the truth is, if you want to ring up [estate agents] Morgan Randall and ask if the apartment has been sold, give them a ring.”
Reflecting on a season in which West Ham have dropped from the Champions League places to 11th in the table, Allardyce was happy to concede that ongoing uncertainty about his future may have affected on-field performances. “The speculation can breed some complacency in the dressing room, there’s no doubt about that,” he said. “There was speculation like this after the season when we came up, but this time around it’s more about all the other managers who seem to be taking my position. I’ve been comfortable with it and don’t have a problem with it. As a manager distractions are something that you put aside all the time. I’m hopeful Newcastle won’t be my final game, but we’ll wait and see.”
A former Newcastle manager who was sacked by Mike Ashley in 2008 after just eight months in charge, Allardyce could exact revenge for his dismissal by helping to send his old club down to the Championship. Should Hull City, managed by his close friend Steve Bruce, beat Manchester United, a win or draw for West Ham would result in Newcastle’s relegation. Allardyce, however, says he will not be travelling to Newcastle motivated by thoughts of karmic retribution.
“It’s not about Newcastle for me,” he said. “Some have suggested I’m all up for winning to send them down, but I’m up for winning for West Ham because that’s where I work and that’s what I want to try and achieve, to finish with a win away from home and the 50 points we’ve tried to get from the start of the season. It’s far too far down the road for any of that [revenge] stuff. It’s been a long time since we parted company and for me looking back into the past is not really what I’ve ever been about. Since Newcastle I’ve had a fantastic time.”
Allardyce also revealed that Newcastle will travel to Newcastle without James Collins, who has been sidelined with a calf injury that looks likely to keep the centre-back out of Wales’s upcoming Euro 2016 qualifier against Belgium on 12 June. His fellow defender James Tomkins will return to the Hammers squad after recovering from a dislocated shoulder that has kept him out of action since March.