PREMIERSHIP new boys West Brom, Norwich and Crystal Palace have been urged to follow Sam Allardyce's lead in coping with life at the top.

Frank Clark, vice-chairman of the League Managers Association, says the Bolton boss is a shining example of how underdogs can succeed against seemingly overwhelming odds.

Drawing parellels with Wanderers' progress under Big Sam's guidance and Greece's transformation from no-hopers to European Champions under German coach Otto Rehhagel, Clark believes inspirational leadership, careful planning and good teamwork can help the minnows topple the game's big fish.

"People like Sam Allardyce at Bolton have worked hard at something similar to what Greece did as he looked to give them a chance of survival initially and now he is trying to bring in better players." he said.

"I would hope that coaches of the newly-promoted clubs will have that attitude next season."

Clark says Greece's stunning victory at the European Championship can help inspire the Premiership underdogs in their bid to survive in the top flight.

Echoing the words of new Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, who heralded the Greek's success -- beating the hosts, Portugal, twice, as well as knocking out favourites France and the Czech Republic en route to the final -- as a triumph for team work, the former Nottingham Forest boss saluted the unsung heroes.

"Rehhagel is a very experienced coach and I did think Greece had a good chance of surprising a few people, because they are very difficult to beat," he said.

"It showed what can be achieved with an excellent plan and team work. If you have got some top quality players you have a better chance of winning, but they have to play within a framework.

"It is good for the game, as it has shown an underdog can win something. It is very difficult when you face a team who are better than you, but you have to try and come up with some sort of plan -- and that's exactly what Rehhagel did."

Allardyce said he was flattered to have his achievements acknowledged by the LMA, of which he is an active member, but warned that the tide is likely to turn in favour of the top dogs.

"This has been the year of the underdog," he said, "with Greece winning Euro 2004, Porto and Monaco in the Champions League final, Bolton and Middlesbrough in the Carling Cup final and Millwall reaching the FA Cup final. But it was probably a fluke year.

"I expect normal service to be resumed next year."