West Ham United poised to appoint Sam Allardyce as new manager on £1.25m-a-year contract

EPL: Sam Allardyce, Blackburn Rovers – Aston Villa (PA)

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EXCLUSIVE
By Wayne Veysey

Sam Allardyce will be appointed as the new West Ham United manager early next week, Goal.com can reveal.

Allardyce has agreed to a £1.25 million-a-year deal after holding talks with the club over the last few days.

Sources say the deal is “done” and that the only detail still to be tied up is the exact length of the contract.

It is understood that Allardyce will be officially announced as Avram Grant’s successor on either Monday or Tuesday of next week.

The former Blackburn Rovers, Bolton Wanderers and Newcastle United boss had previously been reluctant to manage in the Championship but has told friends he is happy to drop down a level to manage a club of West Ham’s prestige.

Allardyce has negotiated a seven-figure bonus should he take the Hammers back up to the Premier League at the first attempt.

The London club sacked Grant immediately after their relegation and have now opted for experience with their choice of Allardyce, who many felt was unfortunate to be axed as Blackburn boss this season with the club sitting comfortably in mid-table.

He was replaced by Steve Kean, a member of his coaching staff, but, following a six-month break recharging his batteries, will return to management after beating a number of interested candidates to secure the job.

Demoralised | Allardyce is tasked with rejuvenating relegated West Ham

Former Newcastle boss Chris Hughton and Cardiff City’s Dave Jones were touted to land the role after Steve McLaren and Martin O’Neill both ruled themselves out of the running.

A key task for Allardyce will be re-building a squad which is expected to lose a number of key players in the summer, with the likes of Scott Parker, Demba Ba and Carlton Cole linked with Upton Park exits.

The pressure is on to secure an instant promotion back to the Premier League, with the club due to move into the Olympic stadium at the start of the 2014/15 season.