Former West Ham manger Sam Allardyce has told the Daily Mail he is waiting for the right opportunity to return to football management. He told Matt Barlow that ‘It could be a relatively well-structured and ambitious Premier League club, albeit one that might be in trouble when you go in. Because who will sack a good manager if you’re doing well? Not many.”

‘Or there could be an opportunity to promote a Championship club, like I did at West Ham. The West Ham journey for me was fabulous. Getting them up in the first year was an absolute joy.”

There is no denying that Sam Allardyce got West Ham promoted from the Championship at the first attempt of trying and there is no suggestion that the owners would look to him again if the Hammers get relegated this season but his words will most likely create some speculation of a second coming should the worst happen.