David Sullivan admits hiring David Moyes ‘is a gamble’ as West Ham chief tells new manager to ‘grab his chance’

West Ham joint-chairman David Sullivan has admitted that the club has taken a ‘gamble’ by appointing David Moyes as manager.

The club confirmed the Scot’s appointment on Tuesday morning, following the sacking of Slaven Bilic 24 hours before.

Moyes has been out of work since resigning as Sunderland manager at the start of the campaign, having been relegated from the Premier League with the Black Cats the season before.

The club hope he can rediscover the managerial touch that made him a success at Everton – and subsequently lead him to succeed Sir Alex Ferguson as Manchester United manager. After all, Moyes has 499 Premier League games under his belt placing him second behind Arsene Wenger in the division's most experienced managers currently in work.

His appointment has been met by mixed reviews among the club’s supporters, and Hammers chief Sullivan admits that hiring Moyes is a risk.

“This is a gamble but let’s see where we are at the end of the season,” Sullivan told the Sun. “I believe he will keep us up.”

“I have promised him nobody else has been lined up, that we have not signed another manager for next season.

“This is his job and he has to grab it. It is a big chance for him.

“You don’t do what he did at Everton for ten years and become a bad manager - he is a good manager. “

Moyes will be formally introduced to the press on Wednesday afternoon.

Standard Sport’s Ken Dyer runs the rule over West Ham’s new manager.