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SLAVEN BILIC admits some West Ham fans think he’s been lucky to avoid the sack.

Hundreds of Hammers supporters walked out of Friday night’s humiliating 3-0 home defeat by Brighton and many more want Hammers boss Bilic gone.

But while Everton sacked Ronald Koeman and Leicester parted company with Craig Shakespeare, Bilic is still clinging on.

And after clear-theair talks with chairman David Sullivan and a positive players’ meeting, Bilic (inset) believes he can ride out the latest storm by winning at Tottenham in the Carabao Cup tonight. Asked whether

he was lucky to still be in a job, Bilic said: “A lot of people think I should consider myself lucky but a lot think differently and that I deserve to be here.”

He added: “I have to get us playing better immediately. It’s my job to do it, to lead them.

“I didn’t need the chairman to tell me the situation. I knew.

“We were talking, we agreed we have to get points very soon.

“You ask me about Koeman… there are always three, four, five managers in those positions and I’m definitely one of them.

“Does it make me lose my focus? No, it gives you even more. I never gave up in my career... as a parent, as a friend, as a manager.

“That’s my biggest strength, to be strong in hard times. Now I’m having a hard time, yes I am. That doesn’t scare me, I never hide.”

Starsport revealed yesterday the Hammers had sounded out Hoffenheim’s Julian Nagelsmann as a potential replacement.

Defeat tonight and at Crystal Palace on Saturday could still spell the end but Bilic is grateful Sullivan has not yet axed him.

“It is nice to feel that backing from the chairman,” said Bilic.

“I cannot say I’ve had anything but support from him.”