West Ham United boss Alan Curbishley says Bolton Wanderers didn't give Sammy Lee enough time as manager.

The Trotters - now managed by Gary Megson - remain in the drop zone ahead of Sunday's trip to Upton Park and Curbishley says: "There has been a lot of short-termism when it comes to managers' positions and it is now very difficult to imagine 15 years at a club like I had at Charlton. Sam did 10 at Bolton and Sammy got 10 games.

"The people above see fit to make changes but in the last few games, which includes when Sammy was there, Bolton had gone back to being Bolton again. It was a settled side and the one people were used to seeing.

"And no matter what happens in the Premiership you are never really stranded even if you find yourselves in the bottom three. For those clubs in the bottom three, one or two wins at this time in the season can change everything.

"Bolton got a decent point against Villa and looked settled so perhaps that is the key for them."