GLENN Roeder has hailed Sam Allardyce as a master of management for keeping Wanderers in the Premiership.

The Hammers' boss, who was grateful for the public support from the Bolton boss when he was under threat of the sack in the early weeks of the season, expressed his delight in seeing his fellow "rookie" beat the odds and survive in the top flight.

And he described the signings of Youri Djorkaeff and Fredi Bobic as master strokes.

"He's worked a minor miracle there," Roeder said. "His signings in the last quarter of the season have been nothing short of masterly.

"Sam's got a lot of experience wheeling and dealing and he's done exceptionally well."

Allardyce came out strongly in support of Roeder in the early weeks of the season when the former Portsmouth and Watford boss, appointed to succeed Harry Redknapp, came under fierce criticism from the media at a time when managers up and down the country were losing their jobs. Wanderers were top of the Premiership table at the time but the Reebok boss, tackling top flight management himself for the first time, described the treatment Roeder was receiving as "indecent".

Saturday's 2-1 victory over Wanderers earned the Hammers a seventh place finish in the Premiership but Roeder was not surprised to see his team forced to go the distance before Ian Pearce headed the winner in the 89th minute.

"They made it tough for us," he said, "and they've made it tough, generally speaking, for most teams this year.

"I saw them lose 3-0 at Craven Cottage but that scoreline didn't tell the true story of the game.

"Sam's done a terrific job and I'm delighted he's stayed up."

Roeder, who boasts the best midfield quartet outside the Premiership's top six, voiced his admiration of Youri Djorkaeff's playmaking talents and exonerated David James of any blame for failing to keep out the Frenchman's deflected free kick that cancelled out Steve Lomas' goal on the stroke of half time.

"What really caught him out was the spin on the ball," he explained in defence of the England World Cup keeper.

"You can see why Djorkaeff has been the player he has been. I thought he was fantastic."

The Hammers' boss appeared to quash repeated speculation that he is lining up a big bid for Michael Ricketts when he spoke of his summer spending plans and hinted of the dire consequences for clubs paying huge fees and salaries.

"I'd like to add at least three or four quality players but most will have to come in on a low budget, more likely on Bosmans (free transfers)," he revealed.

"Unfortunately with the financial problems in football there are about a dozen clubs like ourselves in the same situation.

"You can only pay out what you get in, although they are saying there are a lot of clubs paying out more than they get in.

"That's Armageddon!"