Teddy Sheringham has insisted that he had little choice but to leave his role as attacking coach at West Ham United, due to the uncertainty surrounding the future of Sam Allardyce.

The former Manchester United striker was appointed as manager of Stevenage earlier today, after spending less than a season at Upton Park.

It is a first taste of management for Sheringham, although he admits that things may have been different had Allardyce's position been more secure in East London.

"If Sam would have asked me three or four months ago, 'Look I've got a couple of more years here and I want you to stay' then I probably would have said 'oh yeah that's fantastic I'm enjoying my time there, let's do it'," the 49-year-old told BBC Sport.

"But things have been uncertain for Sam for the last six months which has left an empty corridor for myself. He is still hopeful that something will happen.

"It happened like that the last time he was out of contract at West Ham, and it happened to Steve Bruce at Birmingham. I don't think it's been any mystery or secret that they have been trying to look for other managers."

Allardyce's future is expected to be decided during a board meeting on Monday afternoon.