Phil Brown says West Ham United will be making a big mistake to allow Sam Allardyce to leave.

Southend United boss Brown as Allardyce's No2 at Bolton Wanderers.

"I think it's crazy that West Ham are letting him go. He's one of our top English managers," said Brown to talkSPORT.

"A lot of people have pigeonholed him as a survival manager which is ludicrous. He's got promotion from the Championship and not only survived but taken them into the top half.

"He came to West Ham to do a job and nobody can say he hasn't."