Allardyce, a former Bolton player who took over as manager from Colin Todd in October 1999 is three years into a ten year contract so anyone wanting to prize him away from Bolton would have to pay a significant amount in compensation to the club. The former Blackpool and Notts County manager has a good pedigree having led the club to three semi finals in his first season, play off winners in the next season and survival from relegation in two successive seasons as well as persuading players of the calibre of Youri Djorkaeff, Jay-Jay Okocha, Ivan Campo and Mario Jardel to join the club.
Front runners for the Hammers job look likely to be Reading manager Alan Pardew, Oldham manager Iain Dowie and former Hammers player Stuart Pearce who is now coaching at Manchester City.