Sam Allardyce believes Leicester City would be ill-advised to get rid of Nigel Pearson if they are relegated come season's end.

The Foxes are struggling at the bottom of the Premier League table with nine fixtures remaining in the 2014/15 campaign suggesting that the odds are against them to remain in the top flight.

With that being the likely scenario, there is a chance that Pearson could be removed from his post at the King Power Stadium but his West Ham United counterpart Allardyce feels that would be a stupid move.

"I rate Nigel very highly. He's a very good manager," said the Hammers boss.

"Nigel has done a fantastic job for the football club.

"If Burnley go down this season, they will stick with Sean Dyche won't they? Well, Leicester should do the same with Nigel.

"The owners there need to stay strong and judge Nigel on what he has done, not just this season, but throughout for that football club.

"Leicester weren't living off parachute payments but working to a limited and restricted budget in the Championship. So, to achieve promotion was impressive.

"In the end, Nigel is a very, very honest man and he says how it is. Perhaps, sometimes, that's the wrong thing to do publicly.

"But he knows who he is, he knows what he wants, he knows what he wants to try to achieve."

Leceister meet Allardyce's ninth-placed West Ham at home on Saturday.