West Ham manager Sam Allardyce has given up hope that he would one day manage a top four chasing club.

The 58-year-old has managed Limerick, Preston, Blackpool, Notts County, Bolton, Newcastle and Blackburn before taking charge of the Hammers in the summer of 2011.

While at Bolton he was rumoured to be in the running for the England job but was unsuccessful on two occasions.

“I won’t ever be going to a top-four club so I think we’ll just leave it at that,” he said.

When asked why that was Allardyce replied, with tongue firmly in cheek, saying: “Because I’m not called Allardici, just Allardyce.”

The West Ham boss revealed that he had stopped talking about it because of the distraction it can bring to a side.

“I don’t ever comment on that anymore because other people will jump on the back of it and cause all sorts of columns going here there and everywhere,” he said.

“I understand what I can do, I understand my ability as a manager and I just do my job to the best of my ability wherever I work.”