West Ham boss Sam Allardyce believes he has injected the soul back into the club during his time as manager.
Former Bolton manager rebuilding an old English institution
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce believes he has injected the soul back into the club during his time as manager.
The Hammers were in disarray when the former Bolton chief assumed control last June following their relegation from the Premier League.
Relegation brought with it financial constraints from which he had to work within, as he set about building a team capable of instant promotion.
Despite suffering just one defeat in their last 17 games, they have drawn five games at home, which has caused their drive towards automatic promotion to falter.
Achievement
Allardyce now needs relegated Coventry to get at least a draw at second-placed Southampton, and for his team to put three or four clear goals past Hull on the final day of the season to avoid the play-offs.
As unlikely as that feat seems, Allardyce maintains the club are in a better position than when he took over from Avram Grant almost a year ago.
"We've gone through the whole season losing only eight games and that is a magnificent achievement considering the state of the club when I walked through the door," he said.
"It wasn't very nice and the doom and gloom around the place was something you could smell, taste, and feel as a manager. You have to rip the backside out of it and start again. That's what I did as quickly as I could."
Allardyce has now stamped his authority over the club and restored something he feels is just as important as a place in the top flight.
He added: "This is a happy club now. It has a soul again. It had no soul when I arrived, so we've all enjoyed the season but are all disappointed to be where we are.
"We know we were good enough to claim the first or second spot but from where we have come from, it's been a magnificent season."
