Sam: I'm here to win the league

  • by Staff Writer
  • Sunday, 31st July 2011

Sam Allardyce insists that nothing less than promotion will be an acceptable return from his first season in charge at the Boleyn.

West Ham United's 14th full-time manager was installed as successor to Avram Grant back in June since when he has managed to boost his squad with four former Bolton players - with another, Jlloyd Samuel, currently on trial.

And despite accepting that more players may yet leave, Allardyce feels that he has a squad capable of achieving that instant return to the Premier League.

"No one else can put any more expectations and pressure on than me," he told the Independent on Sunday. "I haven't come down here to spend a long time down in the Championship.

"I've come to win the club promotion and get myself where I've been for the last 10 years, and that's managing in the top league in the world.

"You're happy that that type of talent is moving a step down to try to get itself back up. Kevin [Nolan] and Matt [Taylor] have the same ambition as me: to spend as little time as possible in the Championship. But we're not taking it for granted that we're going to get promoted."

However Allardyce accepts that West Ham will be hamstrung to a degree having been forced to cut costs and squad numbers following relegation from the Premier League, whilst other title contenders - such as Leicester City - have been increasing their dramatically.

"It will be a tougher division," he mused. "It's going to be damned hard work over a marathon season of 46 games. We have to perform at a consistent level and make sure we're always in a winning frame of mind.

"The club was in despair; relegation leaves a club traumatised. You've got to get over the trauma and back to positive thinking. You win a game of football as much with your mind as with your ability."

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