'Are you a big-name manager? Is your contract coming to an end? Have you recently been sacked by your club? Please contact David Gold and David Sullivan on the following number.'
Since West Ham United and Sam Allardyce decided to call an end to their four year love/hate relationship - the East London club have sounded out countless options. Slaven Bilić, Jürgen Klopp, Marcelo Bielsa, Unai Emery, David Moyes, Carlo Ancelotti, Rafa Benitez and Eddie Howe are amongst those who have been touted for the position.
Last week David Sullivan said of the vacant position, via the clubs official site, www.whufc.com; "It is a constantly changing landscape but we are being absolutely thorough in our search...What is clear from our discussions so far is that this job is attracting names it wouldn't have done five years ago...I am not expecting us to make an appointment for at least a week. We must do everything we can to get this appointment right."
It's all well and good taking the time to make sure you acquire the right man for the job, considering the Hammers need stability in that they must be in the Premier League in after next season to stand any chance of a successful transition away from the clubs home of Upton Park, to the Olympic Stadium. There were already strong rumours for instance, that West Ham had all but tied up a deal to lure Rafa Benitez back to England, before Ancelotti's departure saw Real Madrid swiftly move in on the Italian manager, scuppering any chance West Ham had there and then. Consequently Karren Brady was thought to be extremely keen to do everything possible to get Ancelotti to make the move back to London, however, back surgery seems to have ruled him out of management for some time.
It's a shame, as the Italian had previously stated his interest in managing the club, when they were relegated in 2011, saying to the Daily Mail; "I would coach West Ham - why not? It's a challenge to manage a team in the Championship...The atmosphere at West Ham is amazing. It doesn't matter if you manage a top team or a smaller team."
One thing which is beginning to become disconcerting for West Ham fans is the timeframe; they've already lost out on the man who was supposedly the clubs first choice in Rafa Benitez. David Moyes has several times exclaimed that he doesn't wish to cut short his stint in Spain with Real Sociedad. Eddie Howe is categorically going nowhere as Bournemouth start to prepare for their Premier League trials. Unai Emery is being courted by much bigger teams, despite some murmurs that he has flown to London for talks regarding a move to East London. Marcelo Biesla has also had a sizeable offer of a new contract from his current club Marseille, whilst it is believed West Ham have bettered the wages of that deal, it's unknown whether or not he was using West Ham as leverage to gain a better contract where he was, or not.
It is looking more and more like the club will link up with their former defender, Slaven Bilić, who has left Beşiktas amidst the speculation of his return to East London. With the scattergun approach West Ham are implying, they could well end up shooting themselves in the foot if they mull over their possible candidates for too long. It does seem though, as if Bilić will be the back up idea whilst they pursue both Biesla and Emery, but if they dawdle for too long, the Croatian may well get fed up of being the 'fall back' option, rather than being wanted as the main man.
The owners have remained adamant in their desire to get a big-name manager, and, a manager who the fans will be happy to get behind. Talking to the club's official site, www.whufc.com, David Sullivan also added; "I want to appoint a manager you all feel excited by and one that will honour the Club's traditions and history."