Sam Allardyce to leave West Ham United after Newcastle defeat

West Ham United have sensationally revealed Sam Allardyce will not be kept as manager, just minutes after West Ham United’s 2-0 defeat to Newcastle United, which saw the Magpies survive, with Coral making former player Slaven Bilic the odds-on 8/15 favourite to take over.

Talks between executives and Allardyce had originally been planned following the final day of the season, however co-owners David Gold and David Sullivan decided to terminate his contract immediately after defeat on Tyneside.

In a joint statement, the co-owners said: “We would like to start by thanking Sam Allardyce for his valuable work since arriving at the Boleyn Ground four years ago.

“He leaves the club in a considerably better state then when he arrived and, for that, the board are truly grateful.”

Commenting on the news after the match, Sam Allardyce said: “I take great pride in what I have achieved. The team, the club is in a hugely more successful position than when I took over.

“Everything I was asked to do I’ve delivered. It’s probably the right time for us both to move on. I really enjoyed the ride.”

On balance, Allardyce hasn’t had a bad season with the Hammers, and almost rejuvenated them in the summer with a number of impressive signings combining quality and youth, including Diafra Sakho, Aaron Cresswell, Cheikhou Kouyate and Enner Valencia, as well as bringing in Enner Valencia and Carl Jenkinson on loan.

At Christmas, they were in a Champions League spot, though a string of results went against them in the latter half of the season as injuries set in.

Owners Gold and Sullivan will reportedly make significant funds available in the summer for Allardyce’s successor to invest in the right players and with the club moving to the Olympic stadium for the start of the 2016/17 campaign, it represents a great opportunity for the new boss.