thanks to xander once again
Write stuff: Big Sam is finally poised to put pen to paper
Nailed on: West Ham's Sam Allardyce says he will sign his new contract within days
Sam Allardyce says he will finally sort out his West Ham future next week.
Allardyce’s reign at Upton Park has been up in the air all season, with his current deal expiring this summer.
But, after guiding the Hammers to mid-table safety on their first season back in the Premier League, Big Sam will be rewarded with a three-year contract.
He said: “We will be putting pen to paper next week and I am looking forward to it.
“I never thought there would be a problem and there hasn’t been. It’s been about this get-safe scenario.”
Allardyce wants to celebrate his new deal by playing party-pooper at David Moyes’ Goodison Park farewell on Sunday.
He added: “If there’s a bit of easing off then we’ll want to take advantage of that. It’s a difficult situation but not for us because we are there to try to win some points.”
Allardyce first met Moyes in 1993 when he was a coach at Preston and the Scot was nearing the end of his playing career.
He said: “It will be an emotional affair for him, but I’m sure, knowing David as I do, that he will be able to control and calm his emotions and do his very best to get the team to win.”
Crocked: Maynor Figueroa is wanted by West Ham
Figueroa could have played last game for Wigan as West Ham eye summer swoop
West Ham remain hopeful of agreeing a free transfer deal with Wigan defender Maynor Figueroa.
The left-back will miss the FA Cup final after picking up a groin injury against Tottenham on April 27.
The 30-year-old Honduran was praised by boss Roberto Martinez when his season was cut short.
He said: ‘He is Mr Reliable, someone who has never missed any sort of time during the time he has been at Wigan. Unfortunately he is now going to miss the most important period in the season.’
New contract: Sam Allardyce is set to sign a new contract at West Ham next week
Solid season: Allardyce has led West Ham to a solid mid-table finish after promotion from the Championship
Allardyce set to sign £9m deal next week that keeps him at West Ham for three years
Sam Allardyce will put pen to paper on his new contract as West Ham manager next week.
Lawyers have been going over the finer points of the deal, which is understood to be three years in length and worth close to £3million annually, and the 58-year-old will sign his name once the parties can come together following the match at Everton on Sunday.
Allardyce always said he would commit his future to West Ham once the club were assured of Premier League football and Sunderland’s draw with Stoke on Monday night confirmed they were mathematically safe.
Allardyce said: ‘I will be signing my contract very shortly. Early next week will be the right time. We are concentrating on Everton and playing them on Sunday. By early or next midweek I will be looking to put pen to paper.
‘It’s not a relief for me, it’s just that there were processes we had to go through and put it together in the right way, which it is now.
‘I never thought there would be any problem – and there hasn’t been. There has been some issue with the legal jargon in the contract which I couldn’t understand so that has to go to both sides’ lawyers to agree and then it gets signed.
‘The size of a manager’s contract is pretty substantial in terms of responsibilities. This contract hasn’t really taken that long because it has been based on the previous one. There are some differences but not many major differences.’
Sam Allardyce is hoping to crash the David Moyes party
SAM ALLARDYCE: LET'S RUIN DAVID MOYES FAREWELL PARTY AT EVERTON
SAM ALLARDYCE plans to wreck David Moyes' farewell party tomorrow and celebrate by penning a new Hammers deal next week.
West Ham head to Goodison Park where Moyes, who will replace Sir Alex Ferguson in the Manchester United hot-seat, will want to sign off on a high in front of his own fans.
But Allardyce said: "Personally I hope they don't bother. That would be great for me if we can get three points by the fact they're not quite at full tilt, like they normally are.
"If there's a bit easing off then we'll want to take advantage of that.
"It's a difficult situation, but not for us because we're there to try to win some points."
Allardyce's future had been up in the air all season. But he has been rewarded with a new three-year deal after the 58-year-old guided West Ham to mid-table safety.
He added: "I will be signing my contract very shortly. Early next week would be the right time as we are concentrating on Everton.
"We will be putting pen to paper then and I am looking forward to it."
Football preview: Everton v West Ham
West Ham's visit to Everton maybe somewhat overshadowed by David Moyes' last home game at Goodison Park.
The TV cameras will be looking to capture the smallest flicker of emotion from the steely Scot before he waves goodbye to the Toffee fans and inches closer to Manchester United.
Hammers' boss Sam Allardyce, who is reportedly going to sign a new contract with the club this week, says he thinks Moyes is the perfect man to follow in the footsteps of Alex Ferguson as manager at Old Trafford.
"He'll face the challenge head on," he said. "It's one of the biggest jobs in club football."
West Ham's Joe Cole and Mark Noble will be hoping for starts, although James Tomkins is out.
The Hammers, now safe after Wigan's midweek defeat, are hoping for a result to boost their hopes of clinging on to a top half finish.
This week defender Winston Reid was named player of the season after an impressive campaign, while Andy Carroll picked up the chairmen's player of the year prize.
It comes as the Mirror is claiming West Ham and Liverpool are due to open talks over the big striker's future.
Everton v West Ham, Sunday, 3pm
Cottee: "Give Bonds his own stand"
West Ham United hero Tony Cottee has called for an Upton Park Stand to be named after the "legendary Billy Bonds"
Exclusive
West Ham United hero Tony Cottee has called for an Upton Park stand to be named after the "legendary Billy Bonds."
Bonds received the club's first ever lifetime achievement award at the Grosvenor House Hotel earlier this week and Cottee said: "We have a Bobby Moore and Trevor Brooking stand and I've always believed there should be one for Bill.
"He played well over 600 games and went on into his forties for us - the guy deserves nothing less although I'm thrilled his incredible contribution has been recognised by the new owners."
hear hear
Everton v West Ham United: squad sheets
David Moyes should receive a rousing and emotional send-off as he manages Everton for the final time at Goodison Park after 11 years of tireless rebuilding work. No trophies arrived on his watch but he restored pride and fierce competitiveness to a club that had lost both when he arrived in 2002. The fact Everton are now an appealing proposition to other managers is down to Moyes alone, and he will desperately want to say farewell with the victory that secures sixth place for Everton and another finish above Liverpool. Andy Carroll and Kevin Nolan will want to do something about that. Andy Hunter
Venue Goodison Park, Sunday 3pm
Tickets £31-38 (0871 663 1878)
Last season Everton 2 West Ham 2
Referee Mike Jones
This season's matches 22 Y69, R2, 3.23 cards per game
Odds Everton 8-15 West Ham 13-2 Draw 10-3
Everton v West Ham Everton v West Ham United: probable starts in bold, contenders in light. Illustration: Graphic
Everton
Subs from Mucha, Heitinga, Jelavic, Stones, Hibbert, Oviedo, Vellios, Duffy, Barkley, Naismith, Francisco, Hitzlsperger
Doubtful None
Injured Neville (knee, unknown)
Suspended None
Form guide DWLDWD
Disciplinary record Y59 R3
Leading scorer Fellaini 11
West Ham
Subs from Henderson, Spiegel, Spence, Pogatetz, Noble, Collison, Maïga, C Cole, Taylor, Chamakh, Wellington, J Cole
Doubtful None
Injured Tomkins (calf, 19 May), McCartney (knee, Aug)
Suspended None
Form guide DLWDDD
Disciplinary record Y70 R1
Leading scorers Carroll, Nolan 7
Match pointers
• Everton have not won their 37th league game of a season since 2008-09 when they beat West Ham 3-1 at Goodison Park
• West Ham have failed to keep a clean sheet in their past 10 meetings with Everton in all competitions
• Everton have been involved in more Premier League draws this season (15) than any other side
• West Ham have won only one of their past 14 away games in the top flight
• Four players have been sent off in the past six league games between these sides
Everton v West Ham United match preview
Sunday David Moyes will take charge of his final home game as Everton manager
before taking up the reins at Manchester United.
The match, which will be his 426 top flight game as Toffees boss, brings an end to his 11 year stay on Merseyside.
Although he has failed to win a trophy during his time at the club, Moyes has certainly had Everton battling at the top end of the table and with a FA Cup runners-up place in 2009, a top four finish in 2005 as well as four European campaigns, the 50-year-old has continued to keep the side punching above their financial weight.
They head into the game in sixth place and following last weekend’s goalless draw against Liverpool, can ensure that they finish above their Merseyside rivals for a second successive season with a win.
West Ham have little left to play for and can already start to enjoy planning for another season in the top flight.
With 43 points from their 36 matches, the Hammers are eight points clear of the relegation zone and a first top ten finish since 2009 is well within their grasp.
KICK-OFF: Sunday, 3pm
PAST THREE MEETINGS…
West Ham 1 (Cole) Everton 2 (Anichebe, Pienaar) Premier League, December 2012
Everton 2 (Bilyaletdinov, Fellaini) West Ham 2 (Spector, Piquionne), Premier League, January 2011
West Ham 1 (Hibbert og) Everton 1 (Coleman), Premier League, December 2010
STATS…
Everton’s 2-1 defeat to Chelsea in December is the only league match they have lost at Goodison Park this season.
The Toffees have gone 366 minutes without conceding a home league goal since Hal Robson-Kanu’s 84 minute consolation goal for Reading.
West Ham have won only twice from 16 attempts in Premier League matches at Goodison Park. A 2-1 win in 2005 and a 1-0 victory on New Year’s Day 1994 are their only two successes.
The Hammers have scored the least amount of goals away from home in the league this season with 11 from 18 games.
ODDS…
Everton to win: 1.53
West Ham to win: 7.6
Draw: 4.4
CLASSIC MOMENT/MATCH
In 1980 West Ham United became the last team outside the top flight to win the FA Cup after beating Arsenal in the final. Before reaching the final though they had to first get past Everton in the semi-finals and they did so winning the replay 2-1 in extra-time. Alan Devonshire put the Hammers ahead before Bob Latchford levelled the scores with just four minutes remaining. With the prospect of a second replay looming, Frank Lampard senior popped up with the winner in the 118 minute to book West Ham’s place in the final.
TV: Highlights on BBC1 at 10.25pm
Manchester United are considering a £30m bid for Real Madrid's French international forward Karim Benzema, 25, and could let Wayne Rooney leave for £25m.
The Sun
Turkish side Galatasaray want to sign Chelsea defender John Terry, 32, and Fulham striker Dimitar Berbatov, 32.
Daily Mirror
Arsenal have made Fiorentina forward Stevan Jovetic, 23, their top summer target and are confident of landing him for a bargain price.
Metro
Manchester City are lining up a £25m bid for Sevilla's 27-year-old winger Jesus Navas.
talkSPORT
Ajax's 24-year-old defender Toby Alderweireld has indicated his interest in a move to Liverpool but does not want to sign for Manchester City.
Inside Futbol
Loic Remy will leave Queens Park Rangers this summer, with Inter Milan and Napoli interested in the 26-year-old striker.
talkSPORT
Stoke have agreed terms with English-born Australian defender Alex Grant, 19, who came through the youth ranks at Portsmouth.
Sky Sports
Middlesbrough are pondering a summer move for Blackburn's Norwegian international winger Josh King, 21.
Lancashire Telegraph
On the eve of the FA Cup final between Manchester City and Wigan, reports from Spain claim City manager Roberto Mancini is set to be replaced by Malaga coach Manuel Pellegrini.
Daily Mirror
It will be a double Manchester United retirement on Sunday, as midfielder Paul Scholes will quit playing - for the second time - to become a coach at Old Trafford.
Daily Mirror
Cardiff City manager Malky Mackay, 41, has been approached by Everton as a potential replacement for Manchester United-bound David Moyes.
Full story: talkSPORT
Former England coach Terry Venables says Tottenham maestro Gareth Bale, 23, is the "calibre of player" new boss Moyes should sign at Manchester United.
Full story: The Sun
Another Ex-England coach, Fabio Capello, says Sir Alex Ferguson chose to retire as United boss because of "excess stress".
Daily Mail
Meanwhile, United have promised Moyes he will have the final say on whether to sell forward Wayne Rooney at the end of the season.
Metro
Newcastle have put their transfer plans on hold until their Premier League safety is assured.
Newcastle Journal
And Magpies boss Alan Pardew says he is keen to hold "clear the air" talks with owner Mike Ashley.
Newcastle Chronicle
A "psychic" llama from Sussex predicted that Brighton would win the first leg of their Championship play-off semi-final against Crystal Palace. (The game was drawn 0-0)
606 Newsletter
Wigan chairman Dave Whelan agreed to buy Manchester United for £11.5m in the 1980s - until his wife persuaded him it would be bad business.
Daily Mirror
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cheers cockers 
