Sam Allardyce has claimed the Irons tour of New Zealand was “a trip too far.”

The Hammers manager appeared on the TalkSport Sports breakfast this morning with Alan Brazil and Andy Gray and the first question he was asked was about his last two weeks in New Zealand.

Sam suggested that the Football United tour was “a trip too far”.

The 23,000 round trip is understood to have netted the Hammers a multi-million pound deal from the organisers and sponsors.

But that will be of little benefit if the team are not prepared for the first match of the season in two and a half weeks time against Spurs.

Newcastle are thought to have received a similar sum but managed  4-0 and 1-0 wins with former Hammers manager Alan Pardew saying the trip helped build team spirit which was a problem for Newcastle last season.