Allardyce looking for improvement

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce has revealed preparations have already begun for next season.

Allardyce put pen to paper on a new two-year contract after successfully navigating the club to safety in the Premier League.

He was disappointed with his side’s 2-0 defeat to Everton on Sunday but insisted he will not make wholesale changes to the squad.

“I am very pleased about signing my new contract but I wasn’t expecting that it was ever going to be a problem,” Allardyce told the club’s official website.

“There was a lot of speculation but it’s over and done with now and we can concentrate on building for a new season.

“Really, trying to get better is our main priority, of course. I hope there will be less business to be done as there has been over my first two years.

“I hope there be single figures in terms of players coming in, unlike the double figures or beyond.

“It will bring us more stability but I’ve got to choose the right player to make us better for next season and not think about standing still, even though we have had a fantastic season this season.”

The former Blackburn Rovers manager stated that his side will have to improve away from home if they are to move up the Premier League table.

“One disappointing thing this season, for me, has been away from home,” he said. “We’ve gone back to the old West Ham syndrome where it’s very difficult to go away and play away from home and win.

“We’ve not found that to be very easy at all this season. We have managed to win three away from home and we have got some very good draws at Liverpool and Southampton when we needed them.

“At the end of the day, our players played like they had the sun and the beach in their minds (against Everton). They played like they were on their holidays before they really are.

“The buoyant Everton were always going to come out all guns blazing and we had to match that, but of course we didn’t find the tempo and time to contend with Everton’s very good play and they deserved to win.”