SAM Allardyce is grateful for the backing he has received from West Ham United – after admitting he did not have the same luxury at Blackburn Rovers.

West Ham currently sit 19th in the Premier League and saw an inexperienced side thrashed 5-0 by Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup on Sunday.

But co-chairmen David Sullivan and David Gold issued an open letter to West Ham’s fans backing Allardyce’s position.

That comes in contrast to the end of his reign at Ewood Park, when owners Venky’s opted to dispense with Allardyce with Rovers 13th in the league - even though chairman John Williams wanted to keep the manager.

Allardyce also lost his job at Newcastle United in 2008.

”I’m obviously pleased by the united front we are trying to keep under these difficult times at the moment,” Allardyce said ahead of West Ham’s League Cup semi final first leg at Manchester City tomorrow night.

”When it comes public from the co-chairmen it is nice to see and hear.

“From our point of view we are all understanding the difficult position we are in at the moment.

”We all have to work through it together in the hope that we turn it around in to a positive reaction in terms of our results.

”I wasn’t backed by my last two chairmen and got sacked for no reason at all.

”The day-to-day running of the football club is all I’m focused on.

“I keep in touch with the owners on a regular basis, it is a daily basis at the moment.

“I would be more worried if that communication went quiet.”