06 . 01 . 2014 - 2 : 12 PM | News | Source : PA Sports | Page 1 Hammers chiefs back Allardyce © Getty ImagesWest Ham manager Sam Allardyce has been given the support of the club ' s co - chairmen David Sullivan and David Gold in an open letter published on the Hammers ' official website . The duo also confirmed in the letter that they are close to completing their first signing of the January transfer window . Allardyce is the only manager of a side currently in the bottom five of the Barclays Premier League who was in charge at the start of the season and , following this weekend ' s 5 - 0 FA Cup thrashing at the hands of Nottingham Forest , there has been speculation the 59 - year - old may be the next boss out of work .