Sam Allardyce’s days at West Ham numbered as club consider move for Rafa Benitez

Bye bye Big Sam!

Sam Allardyce has told West Ham United that he will be leaving the club in the summer. The former Bolton and Newcastle manager has put up with months of speculation about his future as the club look to get a marquee manager in place ahead of their move to the Olympic Stadium in 2015-16. The likes of Jurgen Klopp and David Moyes have reportedly been sounded out by the West Ham board, but with both reluctant to commit to a move to East London it was rumoured that Allardyce would be offered a new deal to stay. However, according the The Telegraph's John Percy, Big Sam has told owners David Gold and David Sullivan that he won't be signing a new deal and will leave the club this summer. Former Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez is said to be the new frontrunner, with Slaven Bilic and Michael Laudrup also in consideration. Allardyce is being linked with a move to Fulham.