Kirk Blows writes for you every week of the season

It would be an understatement to say there was no shortage of ‘industrial language’ used by West Ham fans on various websites and forums last week when it was announced that Sam Allardyce would remain as manager.

Suffice to say, it was the kind of stuff that can’t be reproduced in a family newspaper such as this.

The reality, however, is that those fans should be rejoicing rather than angrily voicing their discontent – because the statement issued by the club was a significant victory for fan-power.

Admittedly, Allardyce succeeded in clinging on to his position, but the Hammers hierarchy have set so many demands and ultimatums that it’s clear they have taken on board everything the fans have been complaining and protesting about in recent times.

Make no mistake, however Big Sam tries to put a positive spin on things in his newspaper column, there’s no disguising the fact that the recent events are virtually unprecedented in modern-day football.

Allardyce has been forced to agree with the acquisitions of both an attacking coach and a director of recruitment while allowing the board to “have a greater involvement in the players who are signed”.

Furthermore, co-chairmen David Gold and David Sullivan have demanded that “the team provides more entertainment next season” while, most significantly as far as Allardyce’s future is concerned, securing “at least a top-10 finish” next year.

With just a year remaining on his contract, it’s obvious that the manager must deliver – both in terms of results and a producing more enjoyable product – or he won’t secure himself a new deal, meaning the fans will have got what they wanted one way or another.

Certainly, it’s embarrassing for Allardyce that the club have so publicly told him what they think he is doing wrong, with many believing his authority has been heavily undermined.

And so the 59-year-old, in a similar manner to the way many red-cheeked politicians were forced to try and put a brave face on things following the local election results, has been insisting that some of the club’s ideas have been “received with enthusiasm”. Well, he would.

Whether Allardyce can really change his fundamental tactical approach to the game remains to be seen, but there is genuine hope that we will avoid the recent dross – and the fans can be thanked for that.

? Hammer Blows, by Kirk Blows, is available now from Amazon and pitchpublishing.co.uk