Avram Grant's chances of managing West Ham United for their next Premier League game against Arsenal now hinge on how the team perform in their two cup ties.

PA PhotosAvram Grant: 5-0 loss put future in doubt

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Grant looked set for the sack after losing 5-0 to Newcastle United in midweek but after previously going unbeaten for five matches he has earned a stay of execution.

West Ham cancelled Friday's press conference amid reports Grant was on his way out, but the club later reinstated the date with the media and the Israeli will now have Saturday's third round FA Cup clash against Barnsley and possibly Tuesday's Carling Cup semi-final against Birmingham to save his job.

Twice before Grant has been given his 'last chance', and twice the Teflon man of management has pulled out a result that has kept him his Upton Park job.

Grant is now being assessed game by game, whereas before he was given a series of three games to save his job. He is in charge for the FA Cup tie, but whether he makes it to Tuesday's tie is still up in the air.

A source told ESPNsoccernet: "There is no definitive answer. He will definately be in charge for the FA Cup tie on Saturday." But there were no guarantees beyond that.

Co-owners David Gold and David Sullivan have decided not to contact Grant to discuss the nature of the 5-0 defeat at Newcastle, which is an ominous sign of their growing disillusionment.

"To live in this club is to live with the rumours," Grant said. "It is a matter of what your boss is telling you and I have a good relationship with the owners. I don't think they are shy guys to tell me something else. One of them (Gold) is here and we are only concentrating on how to make the squad stronger.

"When you sign a manager you sign up to a philosophy and you have to know what you are doing. In this club we know what we are doing, we know our vision for the short and long term. Despite all that has happened we will continue with our vision. My way will stay the same way. I will not change.''

West Ham are back at the bottom of the Premier League, yet they are only two points worse off than Fulham, who are 14th.

However, West Ham sources have told ESPNsoccernet that owners Sullivan and Gold have lost patience with the manager they gave a four-year contract to only last summer, but while he has been given time because he has suffered a chronic run of injuries, that time and patience has now run out.

Grant needs something special to save his job yet again.