Is West Ham’s Fair Play Europa qualification a blessing or curse?

West Ham United (25/1 with Coral to win the 2015/16 Capital One Cup) just can’t stop grabbing the headlines lately. It certainly looks set to be a busy off-season for the Hammers as, in addition to scouring CVs for a new coach, the London club have now qualified for next term’s Europa League, after finishing in pole position in the Premier League Fair Play rankings.

Their players will now have to return from their summer holidays ahead of schedule to navigate their way through the first qualifying round, in a potentially far flung corner of the continent.

This means co-owners David Gold and David Sullivan will have to move quickly to secure a new manager as well as extra recruits, to prepare and bolster a squad that will now have to compete across four competitions.

Departed coach Sam Allardyce will surely have a wry smile on his face upon hearing the news, with West Ham’s fall from the Europa League spots perhaps one of the contributing factors behind his departure.

Fans and pundits may also find it amusing that Big Sam’s lasting legacy in east London is to qualify the club for Europe through Fair Play, with the coach famed for his direct tactics and favouring of a physical approach, with players such as tough targetman Andy Carroll and midfield bruiser Kevin Nolan seemingly adored by Allardyce.

For the Hammers hierarchy, however, who appeared desperate to return European competition to Upton Park before the side’s switch to the Olympic Stadium, this is a surprise reward for their endeavours, albeit one that has arrived ahead of schedule. Yet, the Hammers faithful must be left mulling over whether this turn of events is a blessing or a curse.