• Premier League

Fans' hostility puts Allardyce future in doubt

ESPN staff
April 28, 2014
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce is aware of the fans' hostility towards him © PA Photos
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Pressure is mounting on Sam Allardyce after West Ham co-chairman David Sullivan refused to give his manager a vote of confidence.

His team lost 1-0 to West Brom on Saturday, extending their run of consecutive defeats to four and prompting a vociferous reaction from travelling supporters.

Cole likely to leave West Ham

  • Joe Cole is resigned to leaving West Ham at the end of the season after falling down the pecking order at Upton Park.
  • Cole has started just six games this season under manager Sam Allardyce and has featured in 19 overall.
  • "If I could stay and play then that would be ideal," Cole said. "But it doesn't look like I'm the manager's first choice."
  • The attacker began his career with the club in 1998 before he made a return in January 2013 following a free transfer from Liverpool. The 32-year-old's contract expires this summer.

Allardyce is set to meet with the club owners at the end of the season to discuss his transfer budget but his future at the club may also be on the schedule after Sullivan refused to comment on another show of hostility from fans.

"I am not saying anything now," Sullivan said. "We'll discuss it at the end of the season as we always do."

Allardyce has one year remaining on his contract at Upton Park and is keen to bolster his squad this summer. The club are 14th, five points clear of the relegation zone with two games to play.

With their top flight status all but confirmed for another season, Allardyce is confident he will be backed financially this summer but admitted he had been at fault for his side's recent poor form.

"I don't see any problem in terms of what we've been talking about but you never know, do you? We've had preliminary discussions [about the transfer budget] but all of those have been put on hold for the last four games," Allardyce said.

"I can hear the chanting, I know about that and I've had it before. Everyone's miserable because we haven't won. Criticism comes on me because I'm responsible to make the team win."

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