In many ways the club skipper’s career, as it has for a number of years, relies on Sam Allardyce.
If, as is rumoured, the Hammers continue to back the boss and fail to listen to the growing discontent among Irons supporters, expect to see Kevin Nolan leading the side for another season.
Despite a woeful campaign on the pitch having been sent off twice and notching a paltry seven goals all season, Big Sam continues to have faith in his trusted lieutenant and that shows no sign of changing any time soon.
If Allardyce was to get his marching orders before the end of the season, or in the summer, it would surely bring an end to the 31 year old’s Hammers career.
Nolan has proved blunt without Andy Carroll and after a bright start when the pair were reunited, their on-field partnership has faltered in recent weeks.
However, should that end his relationship with the club?
After a career almost entirely spent in the Premier League, the former Bolton Wanderers and Newcastle Unitedmidfielder could provide valuable experience as a coach. Particularly if the Hammers were to sack Allardyce and go for an untried manager at Premier League level, such as Slaven Bilic.
Whatever happens, Nolan will be keeping a watchful eye this summer as any movement on Allardyce is likely to have a significant impact on his career.
Well the rumours appear to be correct, with Sam appearing to have the owners backing regardless of almost 80% polled not wanting him. If Sam can continue on in games where 4 out of 5 supporters around him don’t want him, well that’s how it is eh? I couldn’t be bothered going on anymore about Sam, as there’s only 10 more days left to the end of the season & the owners don’t want to listen to their own fans anyway. I don’t know what the future holds for the club now let alone Kevin Nolan, because the owners will probably keep Sam, so Sam will keep Nolan. That being the case Sam will have the same trouble as this season in trying to get players to sign for West Ham. Yes, I’m one of the overseas fans who were polled, so I’m lucky I can’t get to the games, so am not a season ticket holder, but I really feel for fans who have to decide if they want to re-new their season tickets. I was born & bred just up the road from Forest Gate & Upton Park & I always have been & always will be a West Ham fan, so I really feel for all Hammers fans as we have had the academy taken away from us. Our academy has fed clubs like Liverpool, Man Utd, Chelsea, Spurs & on & on with talent we could not hang onto, but Sam seems to ignore all of that. He only wants to sign players, and they don’t want to sign for him anyway. We might as well share the OS with the Orient at this rate, because both them & us could be in the Championship by the time the move comes. Why bother continuing venting our concerns. The latest owners of our club don’t listen anyway.