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WORLD FOOTBALL

    Sam Allardyce Sacked by West Ham United: Latest Details, Comments and Reaction

    Rob Blanchette@@_Rob_BX.com LogoFeatured ColumnistMay 24, 2015

    West Ham United's Sam Allardyce takes to the touchline before the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and West Ham United at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester, England, Sunday April 19, 2015. (AP Photo/Jon Super)
    Jon Super/Associated Press

    Sam Allardyce will be leaving West Ham this summer after the club confirmed they will not be offering him a new deal. 

    Big Sam's time in east London ended on Sunday afternoon as his side crashed 2-0 against former club Newcastle United. 

    Eurosport confirmed the breaking news:

    Eurosport UK @Eurosport_UK

    BREAKING: West Ham confirm Sam Allardyce will not be offered a new contract. Didn't waste much time.

    Alastair Grant/Associated Press

    The Press Association's Rob Harris quoted Allardyce after the Newcastle match, with the boss confirming his departure:

    Rob Harris @RobHarris

    Allardyce on 5Live: "It's the right time to go .. that's us parting company after 4 great seasons."

    The move comes as no surprise despite the Hammers finishing in mid-table respectability. 

    Rob Shepherd of the Daily Mail reported Allardyce was fully aware of the club's intentions to relinquish their relationship with the gregarious coach, claiming the manager refused owner David Sullivan's wishes for him to move upstairs to a director of football position. 

    West Ham were sensational in the first half of the season, flirting with the Champions League positions as other major teams struggled.

    But the second half of the season has been uninspiring, with the Hammers looking out of sorts and static. 

    Alastair Grant/Associated Press
    Sam Allardyce Sacked by West Ham United: Latest Details, Comments and Reaction
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    Shepherd says Allardyce's decision to refuse Sullivan permanently damaged their relationship, and former West Ham player Slaven Bilic is the bookies' favourite to take the reigns.

    Allardyce finishes his tenure with just two wins in his last 15 EPL games, per Squawka.com, but he will surely be in demand for a new position next season.

    West Ham have decided it is time for change, but it is a dangerous game to play when you are safe in the Premier League. The Hammers have aspirations to be a bigger club, but they only have to look at Charlton Athletic, who also parted terms with their coach when in mid-table in the EPL. Charlton sank like a stone through the divisions—and West Ham will be hoping they do not follow suit.