Avram Grant may only have one match — Saturday's clash at Blackburn — to save his job.
Grant's position as West Ham manager is on a knife edge after a disastrous first part of the Premier League season, which has seen his team win only two matches.
They are three points behind second-from-bottom Wolves and while the club's owners, David Sullivan and David Gold, have remained faithful to the boss, their patience is finally running out.
Reports today suggest that West Ham have to win one of their next three matches — which also include a trip to Fulham and the visit of Everton — for Grant to survive.
However, it is understood he could go this weekend, depending on the result at Ewood Park.
A draw or better would buy the former Chelsea and Portsmouth manager some much-needed time but a sub-standard performance and a heavy defeat could force the owners to end his six-month stay.
Sam Allardyce, sacked by Blackburn this week, would be an obvious front-runner to take over but alternatives include former West Ham player Chris Hughton who was dismissed by Newcastle this month.
Sullivan and Gold have prided themselves on being loyal to their managers at their previous club Birmingham and would only sack Grant reluctantly.
