West Ham boss Curbishley has been installed as favourite to win the Barclays Premier League sack race amid an atmosphere of uncertainty at Upton Park.

It is a far cry from his days at Charlton where he was viewed as one of the Premier League's most secure managers, but the 50-year-old accepts the change in fortune.

"I've been a manager for nearly 20 years and in some respect I've had an easy life," said Curbishley, who is preparing his side for tomorrow's opener against Wigan.

"In the past the vultures have never circled around me and put the pressure on. That's the case now then I just have to deal with it.

"Someone has to be the favourite to be first to go. I looked on when I was a 40-1 outsider and wondered what it's like."

Curbishley used the unfortunate analogy of comparing his position to that of Martin Jol, last term's pre-season favourite for the axe who was subsequently fired by Tottenham in October.

"Last year I think Martin Jol was in a fairly similar position," he said.

"There's always someone. Maybe I'm doing the other 19 managers a favour at the moment."

Curbishley has come under fire inside and outside Upton Park after shelling out £47million since taking over yet managing just 10th place last season.

The Hammers were decimated by injury but critics point out it was Curbishley's decision to sign the notoriously fragile Freddie Ljungberg, Kieron Dyer and Craig Bellamy.

"What's been said hasn't shaken my self-belief because I've been at West Ham 18 months, stayed up and finished 10th, even though we had many problems," he said.

"Like everyone I'm hoping for better things from this season. I understand the criticism and take it on board.

"I don't just close my eyes to it, but I don't have to accept all of it either.

"It seems a bit pre-meditated in some respects but I just have to get on with it.

"The criticism is part and parcel of the game now. The build-up starts on Thursday and doesn't die down until Tuesday.

"Everyone's clamouring for a piece and all managers understand the pressure of the job.

"There won't be too many complaining because we know it's part and parcel of what we do. That's the way it is in the Premier League now.

"I always seem to be defending myself and the team, so I'd like not to have to do that. I want everyone to give us a fair crack."

Curbishley bristles at comparisons between the fortunes of West Ham and Charlton, who endured an annual collapse in the second half of the season under his stewardship.

"There's no manager in the country who wants to be in a challenging position then fall away. As if we do it on purpose," he said.

"It's amazing that people keep talking like that. This reference to Charlton is irritating because they're a totally different set of circumstances.

"Charlton came from nowhere and tried to establish themselves in the Premier League. They did that successfully.

"But West Ham are different. Last season the team picked itself because injury meant there was no-one left."

ends