The 2014–15 season was West Ham Uniteds third campaign in the Premier League since being promoted in the 2011–12 season. It was West Ham's 19th Premier League campaign overall. As well as competing in the Premier League, West Ham took part in the FA Cup and the League Cup entering at the third and second rounds respectively. Sam Allardyce started his fourth full season as West Ham manager, with Kevin Nolan captaining the team for the fourth year. It was to be their penultimate season playing at the Boleyn Ground before moving to the Olympic Stadium for the start of the 2016–17 season. West Ham got off to a very good start in the league. The team was 3rd in the Premier League table on Christmas Day but won just 3 matches between Boxing Day and the end of the season as their form collapsed dramatically and they finished in 12th place, one position higher than the previous season. Minutes after the last game of season- a 0–2 defeat away at Newcastle, the club announced that they would not be renewing manager Allardyce's contract. Key events 23 May 2014: The release of players Joe Cole, Jack Collison, George McCartney, Callum Driver and Jordan Spence is announced. 28 May 2014: West Ham announce the signing of Argentine player Mauro Zárate from Vélez Sarsfield. 18 June 2014: Cheikhou Kouyaté signs from Belgian champions Andrelecht on a four-year contract for an undisclosed fee. 3 July 2014: Left back Aaron Cresswell is signed from Ipswich Town on a five-year contract for an undisclosed fee. 8 July 2014: Midfielder Diego Poyet, Charlton Athletic's Player of the Season for 2013–14, signs on a four-year contract. 29 July 2014: Ecuadorian Enner Valencia signs for an estimated £12 million fee from Mexican club Pachuca on a five-year contract. 31 July 2014: Carl Jenkinson of Arsenal is signed on a season-long loan. 14 August 2014: Senegalese forward, Diafra Sakho, is signed on a four-year contract from French club Metz for an undisclosed fee. 30 August 2014: Alex Song of Barcelona is signed on a season-long loan and becomes West Ham's eighth signing of the summer transfer window. 7 November 2014: Manager Sam Allardyce is named Manager of the Month and Diafra Sakho Player of the Month for October 2014. 28 November 2014: Both West Ham and Everton are fined £20,000 by the FA for failing to control their players,