Allardyce is new West Ham manager

Last updated : 01 June 2011 By Tony Scholes

Grant has just achieved a second successive relegation from the Premier League. He was Portsmouth manager as year ago but this year his excuse was the fact that the league was stronger without Burnley and Hull.

The desperate man had to go and even the wonderful Sullivan, Gold and Brady eventually got it right even if the timing was shockingly poor just after their last away game of the season at Wigan when relegation was confirmed.

So they have turned to Allardyce who wasn't wanted by Venky's when they took over at Ewood Park. He's watched from the sidelines as they slithered closer and closer to the bottom whilst looking for a new job.

That job is West Ham and for Big Sam it will be a first time out of the Premier League since Bolton won promotion in 2001.

West Ham reported this morning: "With full backing from the board, he intends to sign several players and has pledged to instil a winning mentality from day one at the Boleyn Ground".