Monday 25 May 2015 14:11, UK
West Ham have risked their Premier League status next season by not renewing Sam Allardyce’s contract, according to Paul Merson.
Merson believes Allardyce had all the qualities needed to ensure West Ham would go to the Olympic Stadium as a Premier League outfit.
Allardyce was informed of his departure on Friday which was publicly confirmed moments after his side’s defeat to Newcastle on the final day of the season.
The style of football was a point of contention with the supporters at Upton Park but Niall Quinn alongside Merson struggled to understand what the West Ham 'way' is.
“I don’t know. What is the West Ham way? We are talking 1960s when they had a really good team," he said.
"It’s a big gamble. One thing you are assured of with Sam Allardyce is you get a top manager. They won’t get relegated if he was manager next season. They are not a shoo-in to stay up next season.”
Quinn added: “I saw them right up until Christmas when they were in fourth and they were still giving out about him.
"He doesn’t fit into the West Ham way - what are they wishing for as a football club?”
