Allardyce told to turn West Ham into Premier League entertainers
WEST Ham’s board have ordered manager Sam Allardyce to change his style of football and deliver a top-half finish in next season’s Premier League table.
Despite having all-but secured their top flight status by the end of March, the Hammers fans made plain their contempt for Allardyce as they suffered five defeats from their final six matches and finished 13th, seven points clear of relegation.
Supporters booed the team off despite a 2-1 home win against Hull, fed up of watching what they perceive to be negative football and Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho branded West Ham’s approach during their 0-0 draw in January as “football from the 19th century”.
Allardyce has been assured his job is safe, but left under no illusion there is a need for change and will be joined in the Upton Park dugout next season by an attacking coach.
Co-chairmen David Sullivan and David Gold said in a joint statement: “Although not everybody understands the ‘West Ham way’ we do and we respect it as we have been supporters all our lives.
“We have mapped out a way forward with him [Allardyce] that will ensure our much-deserving fans have more to cheer about next season.”
Allardyce was asked to make a detailed presentation in a meeting with the board in order to convince them of his vision for the future.
And the 59-year-old said: “I look forward to taking the club forward and improving the squad for next season to try and achieve the plans we have set out in our very productive meeting.”