Allardyce: West Ham never considered Joe Cole move

Sam Allardyce admits he did not consider rescuing Joe Cole from his Liverpool nightmare because of the former West Ham star's wage demands.

Cole began his career at West Ham before making the move to Chelsea at the start of the Roman Abramovich era.

But his career has stalled since, with knee injuries and a loss of form meaning the 29-year-old has struggled following his switch to Liverpool.

It was seen as something of a coup for Roy Hodgson when he signed Cole on a free last summer but the midfielder was sent off on his debut, missed a penalty in his second game and failed to establish himself in the side since.

Cole has been linked with a move away from Merseyside following a disastrous year at Anfield but Allardyce, who begins life back in the Championship with West Ham this Sunday when they host Cardiff, can't help him.

Asked whether he considered Cole, Allardyce said: "Not particularly, purely and simply from a financial point of view.

"I just think it's impossible on the reputed £5m-a-year for us to even contemplate."