Sam Allardyce appointed as West Ham manager

London: Sam Allardyce has been appointed as the new manager of Championship side West Ham United. Goal.com exclusive revealed the decision to bring in Allardyce on Saturday and after intense media speculation over the last few days, the club confirmed the decision on Wednesday morning.

The club issued a statement on their official website this morning reading:

"With full backing from the Board, he intends to sign several players to achieve that ambition and has pledged to instil 'a winning mentality' from day one at the Boleyn Ground."

Allardyce is currently on a holiday in Spain but he outlined his excitement at starting the job.

"It is an honour to be the new manager of West Ham United," Allardyce said.

"It is a fantastic club with a great tradition and loyal supporters who deserve to be in the Premier League.

"I can't wait to begin pre-season training as I am determined to get this club back where it belongs."

The former Bolton and Newcastle boss also said there was no job out there "that excites me like the prospect of managing West Ham".

"I wouldn't have taken this job if I didn't think we could bounce straight back into the Premier League.

"More than that, I wouldn't have contemplated the job if I didn't think there was the opportunity to build something substantial at West Ham."

"There is a core of very talented young players at the club who've come up through the youth system, have West Ham in their blood and who I know I can build a successful team around.

"That's what I'm looking forward to, managing a club that wins more games than it loses and competing at the top of the table.

"We need to create a winning mentality and give the fans a team they can be proud to watch."

Some fans have questioned the appointment of the often direct playing manager, and Allardyce gave a response to those fans.

"I know there will be West Ham fans asking whether I'm going to abandon the style of play that's been the club's heritage over the years," Allardyce added.

"All I'll say is it will be a tale of home and away.

"At Upton Park we'll attempt to play the kind of passing game the fans want. We will aim to continue in the same way on our travels but we'll also be tough, hard to beat and utterly resilient."

After a playing career at clubs such as Bolton, Millwall and Preston, the 56-year old began his management career in Ireland with Limerick before taking a break and moving to Blackpool in 1994.

He then won promotion with Notts County in 1998 before being snapped up by Bolton Wanderers in 1999.

He stayed at Bolton until 2007 in which time he won the League Cup before taking up the vacant post at Newcastle United.

However, his time in the north east as deemed unsuccessful and on 9 January 2008, he parted company with Newcastle by mutual consent.

His next job was at Blackburn where he turned Ewood Park into a bit of a fortress but was controversially sacked by the club in December 2010 following a defeat to his former club, Bolton.