West Ham: Allardyce is fighting an unwinnable battle

Sam Allardyce is low on allies in West Ham's boardroom and crowd

Despite being a pro-Big Sam West Ham fan, Michael Lintorn can't see the manager lasting much longer...

West Ham don't handle breakups well, with their list of sticky separations running almost as long as Taylor Swift's.

Alan Curbishley was forced to quit after two starters were sold behind his back, successfully suing for constructive dismissal. Gianfranco Zola was publicly criticised by the owners for months, then axed despite securing survival, while Avram Grant was required to maintain his dignity during a bungled attempt to hire Martin O'Neill in his place on a Premier League matchday.

They seem determined to ensure that the divorce with Sam Allardyce is their messiest yet, with this summer set to serve as a prototype for generations of difficult-to-please chairmen to come on how to undermine your manager.

The Premier League veteran is the 2.546/4 favourite to be the next tactician to go. However, there is as much chance of it occurring via a resignation - and perhaps another constructive dismissal case - than by a firing, as his superiors appear eager to get rid, but unwilling to pay an estimated 4 million in compensation to make it happen.

Most expected Allardyce to be sacked at the end of last term, with a growing number of supporters vocalising their discontent even though he ultimately evaded the danger of second-season syndrome by a seven-point margin.

The former Bolton boss held on, allegedly because David Gold and Karren Brady didn't share David Sullivan's desire to dismiss, but - in the first phase of power-stifling - was told that the style of play must change and a top-ten finish was a necessity, while he surrendered final say on transfers.

Since then, several players who don't look an ideal fit for the Allardyce mould have been acquired, like Mauro Zarate, while Sullivan has publicised an internal conflict over Ravel Morrison's future, revealing that the board want him to stay, yet fear that the coach won't pick him.

Pre-season has been a disaster, with draws at Stevenage and Ipswich being followed by defeats to Wellington and Sydney on their New Zealand tour.

Friendly results clearly shouldn't carry much weight, but the combination of the final two games being televised, the perception Allardyce isn't involving the newcomers enough and his claim that the insistence on more attacking play is to blame for the losses have dealt them undue significance.

Adding to the carnage is the way the anti-Allardyce fanbase online, encouraged by Sullivan's unsubtle hints at discord with the manager, have cranked up the antagonism level, even launching a campaign to fund his payoff.

It all points at an inevitable conclusion, with the 2.546/4 on West Ham being the first club to renovate their dugout in 2014/15 increasing in appeal by the hour.

Recommended Bet: Back Sam Allardyce to be the next manager to go @ 2.546/4