SAM Allardyce, generally regarded as having the safest job in football, admitted today that the sack could be "just around the corner".

The Wanderers' boss has the security of a 10-year contract - believed to be the longest in the game - a supportive chairman and board of directors and an incredible track record in his two years at the Reebok.

But, in a week when Barnsley's Nigel Spackman became the 19th managerial casualty of the season, he made it clear he was taking nothing for granted.

"It seems to be inevitable these days that when a club's expectations are raised far higher than its financial resources - this club included - it's the manager who pays the ultimate price," he claimed.

"It's just round the corner all the time."

Allardyce believes pressure from the media has played a major part in the rash of sackings that have thrown football into chaos in the early weeks of the season. But he also feels too many chairman have been too quick to buckle under the pressures.

Stuart Gray was sacked by Southampton chairman Rupert Lowe just eight games into the season, having only been appointed in July after working as caretaker manager following Glenn Hoddle's departure last season.

The Saints have had a poor start but Allardyce says there were contributary factors. "Would Southampton be where they are if they hadn't sold Dean Richards?" he asked.

"He went and the replacements weren't done in time. It's crazy when it comes so soon in the season, like with Jim Smith at Derby ... Kingy (Andy King) went before even a ball was kicked at Swindon!

"Where's it all going to end? It's all about pressure - pressure from the media and from the money that's coming in, pressure which people at the clubs are not withstanding and their only answer is to sack the manager.

"But look at the benefits clubs have had when they have kept faith with their managers. Look what Alex Ferguson has achieved in 15 years at United; Dario Gradi at Crewe ... nobody should ever under-estimate the job he has done in 18 years there; George Burley at Ipswich is in his seventh year, Alan Curbishley is in his seventh and Martin O'Neill achieved much in his five years at Leicester.

"Changing your manager is not the recipe for success."

The League Managers' Association, of which the Wanderers' boss is an active member, has warned that a staggering 70 per cent of professional clubs could have changed their managers by the end of the season.

The answer, Allardyce believes, is a rule that would force clubs to pay compensation to their sacked managers before a replacement is appointed.

"It would have to be made cast iron," he insists, "Managers are having to fight in the courts for the compensation they are entitled to.

"Looking at that list of 19 sackings already this season, who can say any of them really deserved it?

"But if clubs were prepared to give them time, they might have been able to turn it round. You never know."

Wanderers are understood to have dropped their interest in Nigerian international goalkeeper Abi Baruwa, who has been on a week's trial.