West Ham co-owners David Gold and David
Sullivan have issued an open letter to fans in
support of boss Sam Allardyce.
The struggling Hammers lost 5-0 to Championship
side Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup
on Sunday.
The Upton Park club are second from bottom of the
Premier League after just one win in 13 top-flight
games.
"We know Sam has not lost his ambition or desire
and is committed to making West Ham United a
great Premier League club," read the letter.
Gold and Sullivan also revealed the club are "close
to securing one of our key striking targets".
With record signing Andy Carroll yet to play this
season because of a foot injury, BBC Sport's Ben
Smith reports Monaco's 6ft 8in forward Lacina
Traore could join the club on loan if he gets a work
permit.
Wolves defender Roger Johnson has already signed
on loan after the Hammers failed to bring in
Everton's Johnny Heitinga.
"January is not an easy time to do business but we
are pleased to confirm we are close to securing one
of our key striking targets," continued the letter.
Allardyce, 59, fielded a youthful side at Forest as he
made nine changes from the team beaten 2-1 in the
Premier League at Fulham on New Year's Day.
The Hammers boss said he had informed Gold and
Sullivan of his plans to prioritise the club's top-flight
campaign and the Capital One Cup semi-final
against Manchester City.
"It is never enjoyable being knocked out of a cup
competition and losing by such a large scoreline to
a lower division side is hard to take for us all,"
added the letter.
"We thought the youngsters gave their all and did
not stop trying, but in the end Nottingham Forest's
experience proved too much for us.
"I know Sam would have loved to have put out a
more varied side, with our talented youngsters
accompanied by more senior players in the starting
XI.
"But many key players are out injured and Sam has
been handed a near impossible task of coming
through three crucial games in the space of six
days with a squad of only 14 fit and available senior
players.
"This is not an excuse, it is a fact."
Graeme Howlett, editor of West Ham online fanzine
Knees Up Mother Brown, feels the statement is
"essentially a vote of confidence" in Allardyce.
He said: "It ties in with a poll we ran last week
where a small majority of supporters voted to stick
with him.
"It's injuries and suspensions that are costing us
dearly at present. Any manager would have his
work cut out. Replacing him won't make the likes of
Andy Carroll, Winston Reid or Mark Noble fit again."
West Ham visit Manchester City on Wednesday for
the first leg of their Capital One Cup semi-final
before a league trip to fellow relegation battlers
Cardiff on Saturday.
They are currently without Carroll, Reid, Noble,
Ricardo Vaz Te, James Tomkins and James Collins
because of injury, while captain Kevin Nolan is
suspended.
"We are under no illusions as to the seriousness of
our current predicament in the Premier League,"
added the letter.
"But on the board we have a combined talent of
running football clubs and we will draw on all of our
nous to get West Ham United out of this situation.
"We are all working round the clock to do everything
in our powers to help arrest our slump in form."
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