Hammers can’t afford to sack Big Sam

 

Despite a very shaky start to West Ham’s pre-season tour and ongoing strife in the boardroom, Sam Allardyce will continue to be backed as first team coach because the club cannot face the financial implications of sacking him, according to a source at Upton Park.

After several months of unrest, trouble at the West Ham camp continues with latest bust-ups believed to be caused by a tug-of-war between Allardyce and the board over a number of issues including squad reorganisation and playing style.

In the wake of a shameful double-defeat in the New Zealand pre-season fixtures, speculation over Big Sam’s imminent sacking is on the rise and many believe the 59-year-old is odds-on for the exit when he returns with the side from their travels.

But, contrary to the rumours, a source close to the West Ham explains why co-owners David Gold and David Sullivan will not call time on their coach prior to the start of the new football season.

“If they were going to sack Allardyce, they would have done it yesterday or the day before, after West Ham lost those two games New Zealand,” he told Football Express News.

“I really can’t see them sacking him because they don’t want to pay him off. They’re very money-orientated Gold and Sullivan, and they don’t like paying money.

“He’s got a really good contract and they’ve got to pay him for this next season. Plus, he’s got other people he brought to West Ham with him, sports psychologists, doctors and coaches all wrapped around him, so if they sack him and pay him off, they’ve got to sack and pay off the lot of them,” he explained.

The insider is of the view that the only possibility of the board making a quick decision to break Allardyce’s lucrative contract in advance of the new season is if the side’s run of poor form continues into the two-day Schalke 04 Cup tournament, which kicks off in Germany this weekend.

“West Ham are going to compete for the Schalke Cup and there are some tough opposition sides in the competition, so that will give a bit more of an insight into how the team are going to perform this season.

“If they get stuffed in all those games and look really embarrassingly poor, the board might not be able to stand for it any longer, decide to cut their losses and kick Allardyce out. But I very much doubt it.”

When asked about the chief’s chances of taking the decision upon himself to end his turbulent relationship with the Hammers, the insider explained why it is highly unlikely:

“Allardyce is not going to walk. He’s very money-orientated too and won’t leave a very good contract until he’s pushed out the door.”

West Ham will meet their Bundesliga hosts Schalke 04 in the opening fixture of the cup tournament on Saturday and they take on Spanish La Liga side Malaga on Sunday.