Allardyce gets West Ham job

Sam Allardyce was on Wednesday confirmed as the new manager of West Ham, the former Blackburn boss taking over from Avram Grant who was sacked after the London side's demotion to the Championship.

West Ham owners David Sullivan and David Gold have turned to the 56-year-old Allardyce to guide them back to the lucrative Premier League at the first attempt.

"It's a fantastic club with a great tradition and loyal supporters," said Allardyce.

"I am determined to get this club back up."

Grant was axed minutes after West Ham's relegation was sealed by a 3-2 defeat at Wigan a week before the end of the season.

This is Allardyce's first job since he was surprisingly sacked as manager of top-flight Blackburn Rovers in December, and it is the first time in 10 years he has taken over a club outside the top flight.

Allardyce began as a manager with spells at Blackpool and Notts County before making his reputation at Bolton Wanderers after taking them into the Premier League via the playoffs in 2001 and establishing them in the top tier of English football.

He then moved to Newcastle in 2007.

But the owners who appointed him sold up soon afterwards and he was sacked by Mike Ashley just six months into his time with the north-east side.

It was a similar story at Blackburn, where he took charge in December 2008 only to be dismissed not long after the club was sold to Venky's, an India-based poultry business.