West Ham United boss Sam Allardyce is confident his signing plans will go smoothly.

Allardyce said he does not believe the illness of the club's co-chairman David Gold will affect business in the January transfer window.

Gold, 76, is in hospital recovering from pneumonia after being taken ill following the FA Cup third-round clash with Manchester United.

Allardyce said he had yet to speak to Gold, who also needed hospital treatment for cholangitis and septicaemia in March 2011, but wished him well and moved to assure supporters the club's recruitment drive will not falter in his absence.

"Myself and all the players will be wishing him well today. I only found out yesterday that he was poorly," Allardyce said. "We will get a message to him in the very near future and wish him a speedy recovery.

"I think that there's always a communication line to him if David needs to (be contacted). In terms of what we're doing at the moment, we're as active as everybody else.

"If there's a player there that we think can improve the squad we'll try to move on him."