Claretandhugh is currently receiving reports that manager Sam Allardyce has been locked in day-long talks with the club’s co owners during which he has given assurances he can keep the club in the Premier League.

We would stress that these reports are still unconfirmed and should be treated as such until we receive official word from our own trusted insiders.

But it seems  that David Sullivan and David Gold are likely to accept the manager’s assurances  despite having great reservations about the club’s top level future.

Both were deeply despondent after yesterday’s Craven Cottage debacle when Kevin Nolan was dismissed and the ten man Hammers slipped to a 2-1 defeat.

Urgent talks between the manager and his bosses were scheduled for today and one report we received was that the manager had given them a categorical 100 per cent assurance the Hammers would remain a top level club next season!