Sunday will be the last day of this Premier League season and for many players and some managers it will likely be a time to say goodbyes. That may be the case for Sam Allardyce who is expected to be moved on this summer after West Ham failed to renew his contract and let’s be honest if the club were really hoping for the Englishman to be back in charge come August then they would have started negotiations already.

Allardyce joined the Hammers in 2011 making him the leagues second longest-serving manager behind Arsenal’s Arsene Wenger but that is probably about to change. The ex-Newcastle United boss helped mastermind a promotion to the Premier League making this their third consecutive appearance in the top-flight. Though despite keeping the club up many of West Ham’s fans no longer think he has what it takes to develop the team and help them climb the table.

I can’t help feeling a bit sorry for Big Sam as in the last three years West Ham have consistently avoided the relegation battle finishing around mid-table but apparently that is no longer enough. The Hammers started the season so well that qualifying for the Champions League or Europa League, through points not discipline, was actually still a possibility. In all honesty West Ham are nowhere near being a top six or seven club but they want to be and that is perhaps why Allardyce’s time is almost up.

Teams like Southampton and Swansea City have shown just how far ambition can take you and after West Ham’s impressive start some are questioning why they haven’t finished in a higher position. Especially with the club just one season away from their big move to the Olympic Park. If they want to fill the stadium then they’ll need to make the club more entertaining and nothing entertains like success.

Their 2-1 defeat against Everton on the last home game of the season definitely didn’t help the matter though Allardyce has one last chance to impress by beating Newcastle on Sunday which may even see the club relegated. Allardyce spent less than eight months with the Magpies before a mutual agreement to part company occurred, though fan protests over the clubs continuing decline surely left him with little option but to leave. Now his last action as Hammers boss may be to condemn his old club to the Championship.

If Big Sam does leave, with some expecting his departure to be confirmed as soon as tomorrow, then the club will obviously have to find the replacement that they believe has the attributes Allardyce was lacking. Ex-Manchester United manager David Moyes is rumoured to be a front runner but considering that he has publically stated a desire to stay in Spain with Real Sociedad then next choice Rafa Benitez might be a better option.

Benitez has worked previously for Liverpool and Chelsea where he won both the Champions League and Europa League so if West Ham are looking for experience at continental level then he’d certainly be their man. But whether he’s ready to leave Napoli is uncertain as the Italians may still qualify for next year’s Champions League and Rafa will want to be around for that.

Allardyce has been through a lot during his many years in football management and he always finds a way to get back on his feet after a sacking so you’d expect he’ll do the same this time. And who knows, maybe West Ham’s new manager won’t work out and the club will come back on bended knee for Big Sam, at which point he would be well within his rights to tell them where to go!