He probably thought he was out of the woods. But suddenly Roy Hodgson is back in a dark, dark place. And only a brave man, or an inveterate optimist, would suggest he will still be Liverpool manager in August. While Hodgson appeared the ideal, safe pair of hands, choice to replace Rafa Benitez in the summer, lauded by players and board members alike, it has not turned out that way. Watching Hodgson bizarrely rubbing his face during Saturday's miserable defeat by a Newcastle side who should have been sitting ducks after their own internal shenanigans was an object lesson in the effect of pressure.
That miserable away record of just five points out of 27 - relegation form, if he himself is being honest, and certainly not good enough to even think about earning a Europa League place next season, let alone getting back among the big boys of the Champions League - is just the beginning of Hodgson's problems. It does not help that, unlike Benitez, there is no residual pool of loyalty for him to call on. Where many Liverpool fans responded to those articles question the Spaniard and his longevity as though they were attacks on their own families - despite the fact that, as widely predicted, the axe did fall at the end of the season, thereby justifying all the arguments that it was inevitably heading that way - they are the self-same people propelling the demise of the new incumbent. Criticising Hodgson seems like the new blood sport of choice on Merseyside, the antis growing in number with every passing week, the pros declining at an even more rapid rate. Hodgson has not helped himself with mainly second rate acquisitions. While Raul Meireles has performed more than adequately, Joe Cole has yet to fire in the manner of which he is unquestionably capable, Paul Konchesky has looked exactly what you would expect from a player who has done the rounds of Spurs, Charlton, West Ham and Fulham without ever looking the real deal and Christian Poulsen has made Lucas appear like a global superstar. The negative tactical approach, especially away from Anfield - as if Hodgson has not realised he is no longer at Fulham, where resources and expectations were so much lesser - has not helped, either. Liverpool fans, with reason, believe they are a big club and should approach games in the manner of a big club, proactive and not reactive. Playing, seemingly, for a draw is not in their collective mind-set. If Hodgson was hoping for two home games to take the heat off, Utrecht tonight and then the visit of Hodgson's old club on Saturday, he was swiftly disabused of that notion by the phone-in performances of Principal Owner John W Henry and his business partner and new club chairman Tom Werner. Branding performances over the past year - including the first half of this season - as "unacceptable" was more than a warning shot across Hodgson's bows. It seemed, in fact, more like the opening salvo of a battle which can only have one outcome. Having sat six feet away from the two Americans, across the oak table of a Bloomsbury hotel last month, my impressions were simple. Henry and Werner will do whatever they can to make Liverpool great and and they will give their manager total support. But Hodgson is not their manager. He is the one they inherited. And he will be the one they get rid of when they decide the time is right, to enable them to install the man of their choice, the man who will accept working alongside Damian Comolli. And while Hodgson praised the Americans for the "patience", the only question now, it seems, is when that time is deemed to have come. Should Fulham - who have not won away, remember, since Bobby Zamora's backside earned them three points at Portsmouth on the opening day of last season - triumph on Saturday then that time might be even closer than Henry and Werner originally anticipated. No wonder Hodgson was more than slightly prickly as he held court yesterday, trying to avoid questions that went beyond the remit of a dead rubber in the Europa League. "Once again I come here to do a European press conference, playing Utrecht when we are top of the table, and I find myself answering questions about owners and whether I am safe - it is a sad situation," said Hodgson. "I came here to do a European press conference, which I am forced to do for UEFA, when really and truly I am doing a phone-in with you. That is the nature of the game, it seems to be the major preoccupation of the mass media because they want to see change." He might have got away with that at Motspur Park but not at Melwood. Not when he is manager of Liverpool. And if Hodgson cannot see that, cannot see the wider picture, then he is not the man or the manager I believe him to be. And probably, sadly, not the manager of Liverpool for too much longer
Alan Shearer is interested in taking over at his old club Blackburn - but only if he gets assurances from Venky's. Shearer has told friends that he is ready to return to management after his unsuccessful spell at Newcastle. And he has not been put off by his brief tenure at St James' Park which ended with relegation in May 2009. The former striker is still highly thought of at Blackburn and was the board's first choice to succeed Mark Hughes in the summer of 2008. However Shearer ruled himself out of the running to concentrate on his media work with the BBC and also had one eye on Newcastle then. He has since scratched that itch at Newcastle and knows there is no chance of him returning while Mike Ashley remains in charge. Blackburn is a more realistic destination and Shearer remains keen on the club after shooting them to the title in 1995. He fits owners Venky's profile for their new boss and he is young, English, ambitious and a big name. However Shearer would want assurances about the running of the club if he were offered the job. He saw how Sam Allardyce was sacked because he was at odds with Venky's over their transfer policy. Shearer would not want any such interference if he took over and would want the final say over signings and team selection. He would also want to meet the Rao brothers to see if he could form a working relationship with them. Although some fans have never forgiven him for leaving to join Newcastle in 1996, most would welcome his return. Many supporters disliked Allardyce's direct style and Shearer believes in getting the ball down and passing it. Indian poultry giants Venky's say they are in no hurry to appoint Allardyce's successor. They have told caretaker Steve Kean he will be given a chance to stake his claim for the job. Cynics will say it suits Venky's to leave Kean in control during the transfer window to give them a free hand over signings. Kean may also be favoured because his agents are the SEM Group, who are acting as consultants to Venky's with Kentaro. It is a wonderful opportunity for Kean, who was brought in as first-team coach by Allardyce in August 2009. Kean is on a three-month 'trial' at Blackburn to prove he can be a better boss than Allardyce. The highly-rated Scot will be in charge after a glowing reference from Indian chairwoman Anuradha Desai. Kean has been pushed into the post and the Venky's spokesman confirmed he had their backing - but also revealed they would be looking around at alternatives in the meantime. Mrs Desai said: "We strongly believe the present person is very capable and a hard-working person. "What is important is being positive and I think this man is very positive. He will lead the team quite well for some time. "Maybe we should give him three months. It is a good enough time for us to look at him and around for a new manager. We are not far away from relegation, that is looking over the edge. "I think we have a beautiful team, but it needs motivation. I'm not saying Sam wasn't. I think that this man is more positive. That is important. "I can vouch for Steve Kean. My brothers have had conversations with him, I have spoken to him on the phone and I will come over to meet him soon. "He will stand up to the expectations of the fans, most of the guys like him for his sincerity and hard work. We need a positive man heading our club." Kean was formerly Chris Coleman's No2 at Coventry and Real Sociedad, and is well respected by his peers. The fall-out from Allardyce's shock sacking on Monday continue, but chairman John Williams and secretary Tom Finn are staying to bring some stability to the club.
Dirk Kuyt believes Liverpool have a great chance of winning the Europa League for the first time in their history this season. The Dutchman savoured his appearance as substitute tonight against Utrecht, the team with whom he began his professional career. Although Kuyt saw less than 20 minutes of action, he welcomed the warm reception from supporters of his old team - and looked ahead to a potential glory run in Europe with his current side. Unbeaten Liverpool finished top of Group K after two wins and four draws, and Kuyt told Channel Five he hopes this will be a season when the Reds can bring silverware to Anfield. He said: "We have a couple of targets and obviously we like to win trophies. "I think we have a very good chance to win this trophy. "It's good to be top of the group, and we'll wait and see who our next opponent is." While Liverpool await that news from Friday's draw, Utrecht's European campaign is over. Kuyt, though, was delighted to hear the travelling contingent from Holland cheering him as he appeared off the bench in the 73rd minute. "That's great," he said. "The supporters from Utrecht were unbelievable, just like the Liverpool supporters. "After seven years, to play against them and get a crowd like this it's unbelievable and showed a lot of respect, and I'm very thankful for that." Kuyt stressed he understood manager Roy Hodgson to start the match with him on the bench tonight. "We play a lot of important games this month so he has to make his choices," Kuyt remarked. "Obviously (the Premier League match against Fulham on) Saturday is another very important game for us so he decided to rest me."
David Moyes is tracking struggling Monaco striker Dieumerci Mbokani. The Toffees boss sent scouts to watch the Congolese striker during the 2-0 defeat by Saint-Etienne at the weekend. Monaco paid £6million for Mbokani this summer but he has been out of form. Frustratingly for the Everton scout, he was only used as a second-half sub.
Sir Matt Busby's son knows exactly how his father would respond to Sir Alex Ferguson overtaking him as Manchester Uniteds longest-serving boss. If he were here now my dad would hold a gun to Alexs head and make him sign a new contract for another five years, said Sandy Busby. He would be so proud of what Alex has achieved for United and I know he couldnt think of a better man to succeed him as the clubs longest-serving manager. Fergie will reach that remarkable landmark on Sunday when United play Chelsea, passing Sir Matts longevity in the clubs record books almost a quarter of a century since arriving at Old Trafford. When he takes his place in the Stamford Bridge dugout, Fergie will have been in charge for 24 years, one month and 14 days, one more than Busbys total over two stints from October 1945 to January 1969 and December 1970 to June 1971. The parallels between the two greatest managers in Uniteds rich history are compelling. Both Scots, both from tough, working-class backgrounds, both sharing the same footballing philosophy and vision of how the game should be played. Sir Matts policy of giving young players a chance spawned the iconic Busby Babes, an ethos Fergie has adhered to during his own reign, nurturing and trusting the likes of Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, David Beckham and the new generation of United youngsters. When Sir Matt took over at United in 1945, the club was in turmoil. Financially crippled, Old Trafford had been reduced to a bombsite during the Second World War and they were forced to play their games at Maine Road, home of local rivals City. And when Fergie arrived in 1986, United were mired in mediocrity and self-recrimination. Yet, like Sir Matt, who led United from the despair of the Munich air disaster to European Cup glory in 1968, Ferguson restored the clubs standing on the world stage. Ive always said that my dad was the foundation of United and Alex was the resurrection, said Sandy, whose family still retain a strong association with United. Alex was very fond of my father. When my dad still had an office at Old Trafford, Alex used to stick his head around the door and say How are you auld yin, which was a sign of respect in Scotland. He used to come to him for advice in his early days at United and, after meeting Alex, my dad said Hes the one. Weve finally got the right man for this club. How right he was. There are so many similarities between the two of them, not least in their tough upbringings, which made both of them the strong-minded individuals that enabled them to be so successful. My dad had played for Manchester City, where he noticed there was no real encouragement for young players. You had to almost be the finished article before you got into the first-team. He vowed then that if he ever became a manager, he would invest heavily in young players, which is the philopsophy that spawned the Busby Babes and one Alex has continued at United. People say they had a different way of losing their temper. But my dad could cut a player or person down with his tongue. And when he did that, you knew you were in trouble. Its also said that Alex used to shout and throw things around, which he probably did in his early days, but hes cooled down the older hes got. But they both shared that fierce will to win. When Alex came down to United in 1986, I was running the souvenir shop at Old Trafford, now called the megastore, which shows you just how much the club has grown since. I remember Alex bought virtually every book there was on United, to learn as much as he could about the club and its history. That showed the depth of his commitment and determination to succeed. When Sir Matt retired, United entered a period of decline from which they were saved only by the arrival of Fergie, who ushered in an unpredented era of success which currently stands at 11 titles, two European Cups, five FA Cups and four League Cups. Celebration of Fergusons remarkable milestone in surpassing Sir Matts tenure is tempered at United by the gnawing reality of the need to replace the clubs most successful boss when he eventually steps down. And while it is impossible to see a repeat of their 1974 relegation following Sir Matts depature, Sandy admitted Uniteds biggest challenge is finding a successor who can maintain Fergies historic legacy. United, in this day and age, cant afford to have the same situation that happened after my dad left, going 26 years without winning the league, said Sandy. My dad retired at 60 because he felt he could no longer achieve what he had done in the past. I think it was the effect of Munich finally taking its toll on him. But 60 is no age to retire now for a manager. Look at Alex. Hes coming up to 69 and hes still going strong, still the best man for the job. It was hard for the managers who followed my dad and it will be nigh on impossible for the man who succeeds Alex. How do you follow an act like that? My dad never interfered with the United managers who came after him because, as he said, no-one ever tried to interfere with the way he did things. Im sure Alex will be the same and leave a great squad for his successor. My dad saw United as his club and, as such, he always wanted what was best for it. The club, he always said, was the most important thing.
Blackburn's new owner Anuradha Desai has slammed Sam Allardyce over his transfer deals. The Indian-based businesswoman wrote off most of Big Sam's buys as sub-standard, which is bound to cause a stir in the Rovers dressing room. Mrs Desai, head of poultry giant Venky's, said: "My father once told me that out of 10 decisions you must get at least seven right – you can get two or three wrong, we're not gods. "But to get nine or or 10 wrong is not good and things have been going wrong with transfers – that's a fact." The criticism will sting Allardyce – who was sacked by the club on Monday – and also his last big-money buy Nikola Kalinic, plus other major signings like Michel Salgado, Pascal Chimbonda, Gael Givet, El Hadji Diouf, Benjani and on-loan Mame Biram Diouf. Mrs Desai has denied that Venky's agents Kentaro will have the final say in future transfers, but did admit they were involved in the consultation process. She added: "Kentaro introduced us to the club in August and continue to advise us. "But we are talking to a lot of people and we certainly don't have an exclusive deal with them. "All our transfers don't have to go through them. "Steve Kean [the Rovers caretaker] is the hands-on guy, he knows the players best and he'll have the final decision on who we bring in." Meanwhile, Venky's have hired an independent company to review how Rovers are run. They have been speaking to all the department heads at the club to work out their roles. There will be changes off and on the pitch under the new regime and Venky's do not want to repeat the same mistakes that Mrs Desai claims they have made before.
Nedum Onuoha fears Manchester City could block Sunderland's bid to land him In January. The defender is on loan from the Blues and Black Cats boss Steve Bruce wants to land him on a permanent deal. The 24-year-old is keen to continue resurrecting his career in the north-east but is concerned City bosses may not sanction a switch. He said: "I would be happy to come here if City want to sell me. But it is down to them at the end of the day. "The bottom line is that I'm contracted to them. Whatever they want to do with me is what I have to deal with – and who knows what they want?"
Real Madrid are poised to test Arsenal's resolve to keep Gael Clichy by offering France striker Karim Benzema in a swap deal for the full-back. Benzema, a £30million signing from Lyons in 2009, has fallen out with Jose Mourinho at the Bernabeu this season, making just three La Liga starts with the Portuguese preferring Argentina's Gonzalo Higuain as his main striker. That lack of game-time has seen the striker, who netted against England at Wembley last month, scoring just one in the league, although he claimed a Champions League hat-trick against Auxerre a week ago when Higuain was missing through injury. While the 23-year-old has not agitated for a move, Real President Florentino Perez is ready to cut his losses if he can help Mourinho improve his squad and with Spurs insisting Gareth Bale is out of reach Clichy has emerged as the next target for the Madrid giants. Mourinho is seeking an alternative to current left back, Brazilian Marcelo, and suggested Clichy might be the answer during the summer, only for the putative move to stall. But Mourinho's hand has been strengthened by his start to life in Madrid, with the only defeat that infamous 5-0 mauling in Barcelona at the end of last month, and is now pressing for transfer action during the winter window. The French defender has had a less than stellar season for Arsene Wenger's side, with many fans calling for him to be dropped in favour of England new-boy Kieran Gibbs. Juventus are also interested in luring Benzema to Italy but the prospect of working with fellow countryman Wenger, and joining the likes of Samir Nasri, Alex Song, Bacary Sagna and Abou Diaby in the Arsenal dressing room, could appeal more to the striker. Wenger, who knows Benzema and his game inside out, will remember the manner of his transformation of Thierry Henry's career and the success of other French players including Patrick Vieira and Sylvain Wiltord. Arsenal are thought to value Clichy in the £20million bracket but if Real are doing the chasing would be able to force the deal through on their terms if Wenger feels the left-back - who joined the Gunners from Cannes for a nominal fee as an 18-year-old in 2003 - is expendable.
Former Chelsea defender Frank Leboeuf last night claimed Carlo Ancelotti's Blues are over the hill - and that radical surgery is needed at Stamford Bridge. Ancelotti's side, now down in fourth after a shocking run of five games without a win, host Manchester United on Sunday knowing a victory is essential to prove their "bad moment" is finally finished. The Italian insisted after Sunday's draw at Spurs that his team had emerged from their dark place and would beat the Old Trafford outfit this weekend, when they are set to be boosted by the return to the starting side of Frank Lampard. But French defender Leboeuf, a member of the Chelsea side that thrashed United 5-0 under Luca Vialli in 1999, accused Ancelotti of allowing his squad to get too old. Leboeuf said: "I don't agree that the game at Tottenham was the turning point for their season. "It is hard for me to criticise my former club and I love them but I really feel they are at the end of the cycle. "When I saw them flying at the top at the start of the season, I wondered if I knew anything about football any more but now we are seeing the truth and reality of that club and those players." Leboeuf added: "They need to do something at the end of the season where they will need to sell and buy players. "Of course, they didn't have a bad game against Spurs but one or two years ago that match would have been won by Chelsea. "I really feel Chelsea is not Chelsea any more. I am sad about that. We need a new Chelsea for next season. "Of course, I hope I will be wrong. The vertical column of John Terry, Michael Essien, Lampard and Drogba are back and that's important but it will be a tough game against United. "They have to win and then at least draw against Arsenal if they want to keep surviving in the competition. The positive thing I can say about Chelsea is that they haven't had any luck." Lampard aims to prove his fitness this afternoon at a specially-arranged 11-a-side training game at the club's Cobham base. The England midfielder, 32, who managed 13 minutes at White Hart Lane after being out for three and a half months with hernia and groin problems, will look to get in at least an hour in the match involving the club's second stringers and youth players.
Roberto Mancini last night insisted Carlos Tevez will not be leaving Manchester City. And the Italian will deliver the message in person when he finally meets Tevez back at Carrington tomorrow. Mancini wants the striker, who is not with City for tonight's clash with Juventus, to honour the remaining three-and-a-half years of his Blues deal. He claims the Argentina international is key to his plans and believes he can make history with the club. "I said at the start of the season that this is an *important season for us," said the Italian. "We have this group of players for the year. Carlos is an important player for us. Sure, he must stay here. "I think that Carlos is our player. In my opinion, Carlos will stay with us. I think he can continue to play with us, but I want to speak to him. "He has a three-and-a-half year contract and I expect him to stay here. I hope he continues to score goals for us. "We can change the history of this club. Together we can do good work this year." Mancini will thrash out Tevez's future when he sits down with him tomorrow for the first time since the former Manchester United star claimed he was ready to quit Eastlands. Mancini has been in Italy having a minor procedure on his eye and visiting his ill father while Tevez has been in Tenerife. "When I see him on Friday the first thing I will say is ‘Good morning'," joked Mancini. "It is important that we speak, but what we say will be private."
Why I don't feel sorry for Tevez or City... but I do feel for Blues fans
By Oliver Holt Published 22:59 14/12/10
The only people I feel sorry for in the latest Carlos Tevez saga are Manchester City fans. No one else. Certainly not the club itself. In fact, the moral indignation coming out of Eastlands - the threats to sue Tevez, the whining about how long he has left on his contract, how well paid he is - makes me laugh. Many modern footballers may indeed be overpaid prima donnas on vastly inflated wages but football clubs want it both ways when it comes to loyalty and the rules of employment. Manchester City sacked Mark Hughes midway through a contract, they moved Craig Bellamy out on loan midway through a contract, so why they should expect any sympathy when a player announces he wants to leave midway through a contract? When City sacked Hughes, they effectively gave notice that when it came to rules of employment, there were no rules. With Tevez, they are merely reaping what they sowed. ** One thing that has gradually emerged from the confusing picture on top of the Premier League: Spurs may not be the favourites to win the title but they are the best team to watch.
It was not an epic at Old Trafford on Monday. Intense - yes. Intriguing - arguably. A classic - probably not. It was a hard-fought, close battle between Manchester United and Arsenal,two genuine title contenders. But you just wish that on some occasions Arsene Wenger would accept defeat with just a tad of good grace. "People at Arsenal have got to learn to lose with grace," said the late Sir Bobby Robson after Newcastle had won a Premier League match at Highbury. "My answer to that it that we don't want to learn how to lose," said Wenger. Good response from a man who is obsessed with the game and hell-bent on bringing trophies to Arsenal and, for all his professorial demeanour, hurts like hell when Arsenal suffer a setback. Sometimes, however, it is better to bite the bullet, accept a defeat and move on. Not blame the playing surface at Old Trafford. The match wasn't decided by the pitch. It was decided by a deflected cross and a superb example of improvisation by Korean Ji Sung Park who somehow headed the ball into the net. It was always going to take something special to decide a match between two closely-matched outfits and United provided it. Arsenal failed to follow suit. End of story. Not once was Edwin Van der Sar troubled in what became largely a game of midfield chess. The pitch did not decide the game. The ball control of Nani, Wayne Rooney (penalty excepted) and Anderson did not seem affected by the condition of the pitch. And that of Samir Nasri and, when they came on, Cesc Fabregas and Robin van Persie was not too shabby either. No - United were simply too strong - physically and mentally - over the 90 minutes. Nasri has had a great season but on the biggest stage Arsenal have played on to date, he went AWOL. So did Thomas Rosicky. So did Marouane Chamakh. And Andrey Arshavin was the highest-paid spectator in the ground. At the back, Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic were imperious and Arsenal could not find a way through. When Wenger needed his Young Guns to deliver, they failed. It happens. But the surface was not to blame. It certainly did not hamper United's attempts to play sweeping, attacking football. There were no crazy bounces, no wicked deviations. Maybe Wenger could not believe that his talented team who have at times illuminated the Premier League this season had failed to reproduce that form in their most exacting test to date. He looked a frustrated man afterwards - and perhaps with reason. Of the last 11 matches against Manchester United and Chelsea, Arsenal have won one and lost ten. As far as I am aware, the pitches at Stamford Bridge, The Emirates and Old Trafford are usually in great nick. So what were the reasons behind those setbacks ? Mental strength may be a factor. Physical presence may also have contributed. But in these days of highly-paid and professional groundsmen allied to undersoil heating, the pitch is rarely the reason behind a result. You need to look deeper. Like at your own squad and their ability to handle the big occasion. Maybe they all need to pitch in.
There is one major problem with statistics. You can't sign them in the transfer window. Stats can show you the number of completed passes and the amount of yardage a player covers in a game. What they can't show is whether the subject is "a player". I cannot recall Jimmy Greaves coming off in beads of sweat. Or Paddy Crerand. Or Michael Owen. Or Bobby Moore. But, boy, could they play. They were responsible for the most important stat of the lot - they were winners and they had the medals to prove it. So maybe if Sam Allardyce had trusted his football instincts - he was a more than decent central defender - rather than rely on figures on a sheet of paper, he would still be in charge at Blackburn and may never have left Newcastle. Now he is a statistic. ** Alan Pardew was effusive in his praise of his predecessor as Newcastle manager. "He did a great job," said Pardew in his first press conference after getting the job. Shame he didn't get the name of the man in question right. "Chris Howton is a good man," he said. Pardew is probably right. Chris Hughton did even better, though.
Why the only way Blackburn are going without Big Sam is down
By Oliver Holt Published 22:58 14/12/10
Sam Allardyce may not be everyone's favourite manager and those who complain about his tactics have a point. But Allardyce is probably England's most underrated boss. He is a master at working with limited funds at unfashionable clubs and he was a perfect fit for Blackburn. When the club's new owners sacked him and suggested he did not blend in with their vision for the future, it begged the question what their vision is. My vision for Blackburn now that Allardyce is gone is a long struggle against relegation. ** The best thing about Wayne Rooney's sky-high penalty against Arsenal was the run-up. It looked more like an audition for Strictly Come Dancing than the prelude to a spot-kick.
West Ham must win at least one of the relegation-threatened club's next three games or manager Avram Grant will be sacked, BBC Sport understands. Time is running out for Grant, 55, who has one win in 11 Premier League matches, leaving the club three points adrift at the bottom of the table. It is understood Sam Allardyce, sacked by Blackburn this week, is being considered as a replacement. West Ham play Blackburn away on Saturday and Fulham away on Boxing Day. A source said replacing the Israeli if he fails to meet the terms of the ultimatum would allow the club to make best use of the transfer window, giving the new manager "a chance to make the changes he wanted". 606: DEBATE If we DO win just one out of three, we will have played 20 games and secured 15 points and STILL be bottom of the league!
westhammerhead
After narrowly avoiding relegation last season West Ham sacked former manager Gianfranco Zola and signed former Portsmouth boss Grant on a four-year contract. Despite sweeping aside Manchester United in the Carling Cup, defeats to Sunderland and Manchester City mean that the club have collected only 12 points from 17 league matches. Grant has faced an injury crisis at Upton Park, deprived of the services of Jack Collison, Thomas Hitzlsperger, Valon Behrami, Kieron Dyer, Carlton Cole and Mark Noble for significant periods of the season. In addition, several of his players are out of contract at the end of the season. The club's owners David Gold and David Sullivan are sympathetic to Grant, but are aware only once in 18 years of the Premier League has a team bottom at Christmas survived the drop. "Dismissing Avram is not something the board wants to do" said the source. "The club are aware that we were lucky to avoid relegation last season, and that Avram inherited a 'Championship-rate' squad. "He's also had a dreadful run of injuries, but we can't get to the beginning of the window and not do something if things don't improve." Survival specialist Allardyce has an unparalleled track record in digging clubs out of trouble. He took over Rovers when they were 19th in the table and kept them in the Premier League