WHUFC.com
Jonathan Spector's United States were beaten 3-2 by Brazil in the FIFA
Confederations Cup final
28.06.2009
Jonathan Spector suffered FIFA Confederations Cup heartache as Brazil
recovered from 2-0 down to beat the United States in a thrilling final on
Sunday.
The West Ham United full-back appeared to have set the Americans on their
way to a stunning victory when he set-up the game's opening goal for Clint
Dempsey after just ten minutes at Ellis Park in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The US doubled their lead when Landon Donovan fired past Julio Cesar on 28
minutes, only for two second half goals from Luis Fabiano and a late header
from Lucio to break the Americans' stubborn resistance.
Success would have completed a remarkable turnaround for Bradley's men, who
lost their opening two group stage matches before embarking on a memorable
run to the final.
Having been soundly beaten 3-1 by Italy and 3-0 by Brazil, the 2007 CONCACAF
Gold Cup winners beat African Cup of Nations champions Egypt 3-0 and
European Championship title holders Spain 2-0 in the semi-finals.
Ellis Park, the scene of South Africa's 1995 Rugby World Cup triumph and
host for seven matches at next year's FIFA World Cup, was a cacophony of
noise, most of which was supplied by the native country's now famous
Vuvuzela horns.
However, there was complete silence when, prior to kick-off, an emotional
address was given by Marc-Scott Foe, the son of former West Ham midfielder
Marc-Vivien Foe, who died after collapsing during the 2003 Confederations
Cup semi-final between Cameroon and Colombia in Lyon.
Foe made 48 appearances for the Hammers between January 1999 and May 2000,
scoring twice.
Once the game was under way the US, competing in their first ever FIFA
final, continued to show the never-say-die attitude that had served them so
well against Egypt and Spain.
While Brazil controlled much of the possession and territory, the five-times
World Cup winners were unable to find a way past US goalkeeper Tim Howard,
who saved well from Felipe Melo, Kaka and Fabiano before the break.
As such, it was a huge surprise when Dempsey turned Spector's cross into the
net from the edge of the penalty area. Likewise, it was an even bigger shock
when Donovan netted his record-breaking 41st international goal following a
lightning counter-attack involving striker Charlie Davies.
Brazil, coached by 1994 World Cup-winning captain Dunga, were always likely
to come back strongly after half-time, and it took just 38 seconds for
Fabiano to halve the deficit with a neat turn and shot.
Howard made a plunging save to deny Lucio before pushing Kaka's header on to
the underside of the crossbar as the South Americans pressed hard for an
equaliser. Replays appeared to show the new Real Madrid star's effort had
crossed the line before the goalkeeper's intervention.
Donovan and Dempsey both tested Cesar as the Americans attempted to regain
their two-goal advantage, but it was Brazil who looked by far the more
likely scorers.
The Americans' resolve was finally broken with 16 minutes remaining when
Kaka burst down the left and crossed for Robinho, whose shot hit the
crossbar before being headed into the net by Fabiano.
Then, with just five minutes remaining, Brazil captain Lucio rose highest to
head substitute Elano's right-wing corner past Howard, handing his country
their third Confederations Cup triumph.
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Noble's final fling
WHUFC.com
England U21 captain Mark Noble is desperate to lead his country to European
Championship glory
28.06.2009
Mark Noble is determined to lead England's Under-21s to UEFA European
Championship glory in his last game for Stuart Pearce's side.
The West Ham United midfielder and U21 captain will line up against Germany
at the Malmo New Stadium in southern Sweden on Monday evening.
Skipper Noble is aiming to end his U21 career on a high after playing an
influential role throughout England's campaign.
"We started out nearly two years ago to win the competition and we're one
step away now," said Noble. "There's still a lot of hard work to do, Germany
will definitely not be easy, but we're a confident team, we have a great
spirit and believe that we can achieve what we set out to do."
England reached Monday's showpiece by defeating host nation Sweden 5-4 on
penalties following a thrilling 3-3 draw in Gothenburg. England had gone 3-0
up before the Swedes launched a superb second-half fightback.
Noble had suffered shoot-out heartache at the same stage of the competition
in the Netherlands in 2007, losing out 13-12 to the Dutch, and he admitted
to fearing a similar fate when James Milner sent England's first spot-kick
high into the stand.
Thankfully for Noble, goalkeeper Joe Hart saved from Marcus Berg and
Guillermo Molins hit a post, sending the U21s through to their first
European Championship final since 1984.
"I thought it was going to be a repeat of two years ago in Holland, another
European Championship semi-final and another penalty shootout," said Noble.
"Before the game, Milly had said about him missing out in two different
semi-finals, on penalties, against the hosts and he didn't want a repeat of
that. But when Sweden fought back from three goals down I couldn't believe
it.
"I think we did a good job in the first half and our preparation was spot
on, scoring three goals from one of our strong areas of the game. We have
some powerful players in this team and we can be very dangerous from
set-pieces.
"After half-time Sweden came out and made it very hard for us and when they
got their first goal it really lifted the crowd. They were flying and we
should take nothing away from them. To come from three goals down is not
easy and they just kept going. But I know it may sound funny, but we never
thought that we'd lose, we always had confidence, especially when we went
into penalties."
Noble was withdrawn by manager Pearce with England leading 3-1, only to
watch on as Berg and Ola Toivonen levelled the scores. Berg hit the crossbar
with a late header as England, who lost Fraizer Campbell to a red card, held
on grimly for penalties.
"I wasn't on the pitch at the end, and it was probably worse for me and the
other subs watching the shoot-out, rather than the players on the pitch,"
said Noble. "I was nervous, I won't lie, but the lads lining up ready to
take their kicks were relaxed and focused after so much penalty practice."
Campbell's sending-off will see him miss Monday's final, while goalkeeper
Hart and forward Gabriel Agbonlahor are also suspended after being shown
their second yellow cards of the tournament against the Swedes.
Noble says all three will be missed, but insisted he and his team-mates -
including fellow Hammer James Tomkins - would do everything to ensure their
absent colleagues would receive winners' medals.
"Joe was fantastic, he also smashed his penalty in, and I feel so gutted for
him that he'll be suspended for the final," said Noble. "He's worked so hard
for us all through qualifying and in the final, and for him to miss out he
must be devastated.
"I sort of know what he feels like as I would have missed the final two
years ago if we'd made it. But with him, Gabby and Fraizer all out, there
are three more reasons why we want to make sure we win this trophy.
"When the last penalty hit the post, it was a great feeling, both mentally
and physically. The team dug in and showed their character. Afterwards, the
dressing room was quiet as, although we won, we know we can do better. But
we're in the final on Monday and no one can take that away from us."
"Next stop Malmo!"
England have won the European U21 Championship twice, beating West Germany
in 1982 and Spain in 1984. The Germans have never lifted the trophy.
Monday's final will be screened live on Sky Sports 1, with kick-off at
7.45pm.
Follow England's bid for U21 glory at www.thefa.com/england
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Scott Duxbury: Part One
Filed: Monday, 29th June 2009
By: Graeme Howlett & Gordon Thrower
KUMB.com
It's been a busy year for West Ham United CEO Scott Duxbury.
Since last summer he's worked with two chairmen, replaced a departing
manager, battled constant rumours of financial ruin and impending fire sales
whilst fighting various battles in the courts - including the bitter Carlos
Tevez affair that ended with far-reaching consequences not just for West Ham
United, but for football as a whole.
His reward for all that? A grilling from KUMB.com's Graeme Howlett and
Gordon Thrower, who took the questions of KUMB members - on a diverse range
of subjects - along to the Boleyn Ground for his consideration.
Our exclusive interview - which ran to almost two hours - is broken down
into four parts; the first, touching on various subjects from the future of
the Boleyn Ground to the club's marketing policy gets us under way ...
KUMB: Is there any news on the training ground? Where are we, what's
happening and are we ready to go?
SD: Yes. Our option, which was structured as an option just for pure cash
flow - there was no point in spending the £1.5million if we couldn't
actually get in there and start to develop it. So we are exercising the
option either today or tomorrow; I can't remember which it is, but we are
definitely exercising it so we will own the land.
We're doing it in two phases unfortunately. Now we've actually been allowed
to get on there we've discovered there's a big electrical cable running
straight through the middle of it that we're going to have to move. Phase
One is to immediately develop three pitches because Chadwell Heath in the
winter is just a complete disaster and Gianfranco was getting really tired
of it [because] as soon as the winter comes as we can't really train there.
So Phase One is to get three pitches up and running so that in the winter
they have three proper Premier League-standard training pitches.
KUMB: And that will be done by this winter?
SD: That will be November. Then Phase Two is the development of the
building. Because of this electrical service pipe that goes through the
pitches we're probably going to demolish the existing building. The original
plan, because it's a good building, was to actually refurbish it because it
doesn't do itself justice. We were going to put a new fascia on it, skin it
and do it [that way] but we're probably going to knock it down now and just
build a brand new purpose-built [building]. That's Phase Two and that will
start in the new year. I can't say when that be ready but probably eight
months to a year later.
KUMB: Is that something CB Holdings will be investing in?
SD: Obviously I've tried to secure as much money as I can from any owner
including Straumur. They initially said they would be in a position to
provide funding, at this present time they're not so my whole business plan
is to do this through our own funding.
I may as well answer it as we're going to come to it - they're confident, I
can't believe they would have entered into the purchase of West Ham and the
whole restructuring they've done - they're confident that they will come out
of moratorium. During this six-month period they are internally
restructuring themselves and their plan is to come out of moratorium as a
solvent, trading investment boutique bank of which one of their major assets
is West Ham. At that point they envisage being able to invest in the
football club to grow the asset over several years with view then to moving
on.
So that's their plan, I'm not dependent upon it - if it happens, great. I'm
exercising this option on the basis of my budget for the next three years
irrespective of whether Straumur help or not.
KUMB: What's happening with this place - specifically the East Stand?
SD: Eggert [Magnusson] gave great statements about Champions League football
and building a whole new stadium. I've sat down with Gianfranco [Zola] and
our perspective is that we want to invest in the team and get Europa League
football regularly and the new training ground. The new training ground is
far more important than a new stadium.
So what I've done is put planning permission in for the East Stand, which
we've got. I think we've got a five-year window, maybe longer where we can
redevelop that stand with corporate premium seats. Our premium seats are 6%,
Arsenal's are 12% so we do need to raise the level of premium seats and
offer better hospitality than what we are.
But my plan is, let's strengthen the first team, let's get regular Europa
League football and let's see what happens post-2012 with the Olympic
Stadium. There's got to be commercial opportunities there with the new
stadium, irrespective of what the politicians are saying.
If there isn't then we'll look to redevelop the East Stand. But to me, the
most important thing is strengthening the first team, getting the new
training ground and getting regular Europa League football. Once we've got
that, then there's an absolute need to increase the stadium capacity.
I think the way it was planned before, we were putting the cart before the
horse. Let's grow the football club to where we want it to be and where it
will be - but to do that - training ground, first team, regular Europa
League football and then we'll either develop the Boleyn Ground or look at
opportunities for 2012.
I can't see, in the current financial climate there are any other scenarios
ie. another piece of land comes up, such as Parcelforce, and we develop it.
It just wouldn't make commercial sense.
KUMB: So have there been talks in the past - or are there any planned - with
regards to Stratford?
SD: Lots of talks! Unfortunately it's a political environment that you're
dealing with; one moment you're being encouraged ... To me we are the
perfect legacy, what we do with football in the community, our football
impact - not just in this community but throughout the world - it's the
perfect Olympic legacy.
If we were to take occupation of the stadium and provide football in the
community on a larger scale, what better legacy? But that's down to the
politicians. But we'll be here, we'll be talking - we're not dependent on
it, as I say we've got Plan B which is the East Stand.
Me personally, I would sooner stay. I think there's a great history to the
football club; you look at Anfield and think they're going to move - it's
soulless. To develop the East Stand would be my preference but I'm not going
to be blind - if the Olympic stadium comes up and everybody's on board with
it - and that includes the supporters - then we'll look at that. But for me,
just to sit tight until 2012 is the prudent thing to do.
KUMB: Are there any plans over the next few years up to and including 2012
to improve some of the transport infrastructure? As I'm sure you're aware,
at Upton Park the tubes have been a bit of a nightmare.
SD: Well this is where - if we were to stay and develop the stadium - we've
had lots of discussion with Newham Council with regards to taking ownership
of the road there [behind the East Stand] and moving it, developing the tube
station. I think Newham have their own plans with regard to the market there
so yes, those discussions are completely ongoing but again, I think we're
going to benefit from the Olympics because the borough here, regardless of
West Ham's needs have got to improve the transport and the infrastructure -
because it's just not adequate.
But if we were to start developing the East Stand then yes, absolutely as
part of that planning permission would be the improvement of the transport
links.
KUMB: You've got the two main line platforms and nobody ever stops there. I
did some ringing around but you get passed from pillar to post; TfL never
got back to me, C2C gave a story that if you read between the lines said it
wasn't going to be cost effective and nobody seemed particularly interested
in it.
SD: It's awful. We're aware of it and we keep hitting the point home with
Newham Council and they're aware of it but I think they encountered the same
problems that you have. But it's something that has to change, it's just a
matter of when everybody wants it to happen - but I think 2012 will push it
over the line.
KUMB: This stand here which is no longer the Dr Martens stand, now the West
Stand. It's been suggested that a more tangible title like 'Ron Greenwood'
or 'John Lyall' might be in order. Has that been considered at all?
SD: With regards to John Lyall, I've been speaking to his family for several
months. They really are keen on having the front gates named after him so
we've agreed to that and we're just sorting out the appropriate ceremony and
when we're going to announce that and have the full event. With regard to
other namings of the stand, I want to do the Centenary… but yes, I'm going
to consider all aspects - I want to get away from Centenary, Dr Martens and
actually get our former greats recognised.
KUMB: I've always thought 'Centenary' was a bit ...
SD: Naff?
KUMB: Yeah, a 'nothing' sort of thing ... I understand why this was the Dr
Martens stand obviously, for the financial implications and the sponsors ...
SD: But that wasn't the sole reason. There's also the Bobby Moore Stand and
the suite inside it is being renamed [...] As you say, it's just making a
better view of things and a better way of honouring them.
KUMB: If we can go back to the East Stand for a moment; you said we've got
planning permission from the council for that - what does that entail
exactly and what capacity would that give us?
SD: It's only outline but that then will allow us to increase the capacity
to about 43-44,000 with corporate offerings and allow us then to increase
our percentage of premium seats to round about 10% - which to me would be
ideal. As I say, I personally don't want to go to a new stadium - I think if
we can develop the transport links, get the tube station redeveloped and
increase this capacity to 43,44,45,000 I think it's perfect.
KUMB: Most major football teams have a global following. What are West Ham
doing to draw international fans to the club and to promote the brand (which
is a horrible thing to say) globally?
SD: We have a three year business plan which was presented to the staff when
I became CEO, which was initially a benchmarking exercise. We compared
ourselves to similar-sized clubs in the Premier League and European clubs as
well with similar turnovers and similar net profits in the various
activities, partnerships, retail, merchandising. We set a three-year plan of
increasing those revenues and passing our competitors - and the key to the
partnership income is the brand of West Ham.
So we've got a UK strategy and an international strategy. The international
strategy for now, until we get regular Europa League football is just
creating general awareness. That's why we went to the MLS AllStar game last
year and why we're going to Beijing this year. It's not with view to getting
direct, incremental revenue to create awareness. I think [Real] Madrid have
got nearly 500,000 fans in Asia but 0.01% of them financially engage. So I'm
aware we're not going to get that kind of financial engagement, but if we
can create awareness by the first team being there.
And being creative we've got various meetings set up with various businesses
within Beijing, talking about potential partnerships. Already the
advertising is shown around the world so we're trying to get different
brands to invest in the football club. But then as the team grows, as we get
regular Europa League football which has a global audience we will then be
in a position to exploit that because the brand will be out there, people
are aware of what West Ham United is about and it's just exploiting that for
the benefit of incremental revenue.
We've had some pretty big hitters as commercial directors at this football
club and for a variety of reasons it hasn't really worked out. I think, from
my take on it, is that we've tried to focus on this international brand and
be Manchester United - let's get into Asia, let's get into India and get
that direct revenue, and not focused on our local market.
We've got some real big West Ham United fans in huge corporations and local
corporations - Canary Wharf - that may not be West Ham United fans but want
to invest in football. So I've recruited staff now that understand the local
market; they are West Ham United fans, they're from round here and they're
really targeting the local area - the City, Canary Wharf - to get them to
invest in the football club. So I think - and sorry it's a long answer -
that I want to get it right locally first, make sure we're getting
sponsorship and partnership and the brand position correct locally, then
we'll take that internationally and communicate effectively.
To me we've played around with the brand and I've gone back to basics with
this concept of The Project which is, we are an Academy football club.
What's best about this football club is the young, homegrown players that
are brought through, play attractive, stylish football - but now the next
part is 'and win'. I think we've got the brand elements right, the staff
understand what we're about, we're now selling that locally and then we'll
be in a position to exploit it internationally.
Two years ago, if you asked any member of staff 'what are the principles of
West Ham United?' you'd get a million and one different answers. If you ask
the staff now they'll all be the same - a young, aspirational brand. Once
we've got those brand values communicated locally and to our staff then
we're in a position to exploit it globally. It's a slow process but it's a
structured business plan that we have and we're moving in the right
direction.
[silence]
Sorry, I bored myself there!
[laughs]
KUMB: So, the three-year plan covers both local and international
development.
SD: Yeah. The Holy Grail is every football club and its technical partner
and shirt partner, obviously we can increase the level of consideration we
get predominantly by Europa League football - we need that European offering
to get those bigger deals. But the Holy Grail is this second tier of
partners - Man United call them Platinum Partners. We can get significant
partners investing - an official car partner, whatever - if we can get to a
significant level then we can start to unlock some serious revenues.
But as I say, I think there's this tendency to go global instantly without
getting your local market correct first and that's really where we're
focusing on.
KUMB: Is this not something that has been done before, under previous
regimes. A business plan?
SD: To my knowledge we've never had a business plan, which was surprising.
It's just creating a structure; I think a business plan gives people clear
objectives and key performance indicators. You need to benchmark; first of
all you need to know who your competitors are and what you want to hit, then
you set each department key performance indicators and then you can look
back and see whether you've hit them or not. It's not rocket science but it
does create a structure and a belief.
We have the same business plan for the football club as well. Gianfranco
understands where our three-year targets are and what we're trying to
achieve.
KUMB: It seems incredible that nothing like that was in place before.
SD: I think it's pretty endemic in football, to be honest. I think there's a
few football clubs that simply take the Sky money, spend it on players, take
the season ticket money - there's my shirt partner, there's my technical
partner. Right; that's it, job done.
KUMB: It's how you'd run an old-fashioned club rather than a thriving
modern-day business.
SD: Exactly, there's no other business like it. 80% of our turnover is
guaranteed - and that can actually make you quite lazy. Sky money,
partnership money, season ticket money - 80% of your income at the start of
the season is guaranteed so as I say, for some people that can be a quite
comforting and lazy. We want to be a little bit more dynamic than that.
KUMB: On the marketing/PR side, why was our relationship with Phil Hall
Associates stopped then restarted recently? How did that come about?
SD: All external PR consultants basically piggy-back on the owner. Phil Hall
was originally brought in under Paul Aldridge to provide external PR because
at that point our media relations, our fan relations were just dreadful - we
just didn't communicate. He was brought in to try and devise a strategy.
Then Eggert Magnusson took over and his PR advisor was Mike Lee.
Then Straumur took over and Straumur's PR was Phil Hall. I work well with
Phil so I have no problems with that at all.
KUMB: Someone else a lot of our readers are keen to know about is Kia
Joorabchian. Does he still have an official role? What does he do for the
club?
SD: There was obviously a legal dispute that was quite bitter in the press
so we were keen to end that. Part of the settlement was that there'd be a
consultancy agreement where he would advise on transfers. That agreement has
ended now; his involvement with the club is no more.
KUMB: A number of our readers have asked about the Megastores and replica
kits. Obviously the decision was taken to bring it in-house - under Eggert
Magnusson I think?
SD: Yep.
KUMB: On the one hand that must be good business for the club - all revenues
go to the club rather than JJB or whoever. But the problem that has created
is that you can't walk into a shop on the high street and pick up a West Ham
shirt - and that means a lot of floating supporters don't have the
opportunity. Is that something that's going to continue, or could that
policy be changed in the future?
SD: That decision has its pros and cons. The pro behind that decision was
that when we had normal arrangements where it was supplied to every sports
shop [Mike] Ashley, in particular and Sports Direct on the day we would
launch the kit, he would just discount it to half price and so simply
through our own club outlets didn't have the ability to sell shirts at any
meaningful level, and we were simply just funding the pockets of Ashley -
and Newcastle, pretty much.
So the rationale behind it was to make sure that we weren't hostage to
fortune to people like Ashley and we could sell it at the true retail price.
The con to that is we don't get our brand out there to the wider market and
then obviously we do lose sales. But the sales argument hasn't really
manifested itself because the online sales have just gone through the
roof,so it's quite clear that the West Ham fans who aren't local are going
through the online store.
It's been such a success that there is no plan to change it - what there is
a plan to do is to expand our retail outlets. We'd like to get a new bricks
and mortar store in Romford and we'd like to look at potential concession
agreements - at one point we were in discussion with Debenhams. In the
current economical climate that's all stopped, but we will look at potential
concessionary deals with big high street stores.
KUMB: So a similar arrangement to that which we used to have with stores in
Basildon and Southend?
SD: Yes, but it'll be taken a little further out that that.
The biggest negative in any club retail is the JJBs and Sports Directs that
just destroy you - and this stops that.
KUMB: So what outlets have we got at the moment? Lakeside ...
SD: Just Lakeside and the Stadium store. And online. We're looking at
Stratford as well.
KUMB: A general question that's come up a lot: is there any chance that
supporters might have a say in choosing or designing kits in the future?
Everyone likes to have a moan at the new kits but one thing they would like
is to be presented with a few options and see which ones are popular.
SD: I think it's an excellent idea. At the end of the day they're the
consumers that are going to purchase the kit and like any decent company,
you should take their views absolutely on board.
We have the fans forums and one or two focus groups but I think that would
be a brilliant idea. If we create a focus group… KUMB might have a
representative each year and we'll get a focus group of four or five fans
who can meet the kit designer and our head of retail - absolutely, it's a
great idea.
KUMB: But we'd have to stop short of posting an online poll - I'm thinking
of Southampton and Portsmouth where the Portsmouth fans hijacked it and
chose the most hideous kit ...
SD: So a representative of KUMB.com, a season ticket holder ... five people,
I think that'd be a great idea.
KUMB: The other question on kits is that we've got the SBOBET sponsor, but a
lot of people have said that they wouldn't mind paying extra to have the
Bobby Moore logo on an adult shirt. Is that something that might be a
possibility?
SD: No, they've got to go on all the replica adults. But you've seen around
the stadium we've given it [the BMF] huge presence - we've got it on the
media backdrops when we could have had a paying partner on there, for
example.
KUMB: How long is the SBOBET deal?
SD: One more season.
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Scott Duxbury: Part Two
Filed: Monday, 29th June 2009
By: Graeme Howlett & Gordon Thrower
KUMB.com
KUMB: The club's accounts have been held back twice now. What's the current
situation?
SD: I think they are due to be published mid-to-end of August. The reason
why they were delayed in the first place was that in order for our accounts
to be audited and us to be confirmed as a going concern you need to declare
all liabilities - and where you're not sure, you need to give an estimate of
what you believe it will be.
So when we were negotiating with Sheffield, if we had put a figure in there
as to what we believe that liability will be clearly it would hinder our
negotiations somewhat. So we took the view that we were going to delay the
accounts pending the negotiations with Sheffield, and then they would be
published.
KUMB: Okay. I think a lot of the queries will be settled when we actually
see the accounts.
SD: The accounts were a disaster; we've had absolute Hell. We've had the
owner going bankrupt, XL ... it's been an absolute disaster. Ironically the
past year-and-a-half has been the best it's been because we haven't had an
owner, we've been able to just get on and run the club without interference
and basically implement the business plan.
But we've had massive pressure from the banks. The collapse of our various
partners and owner coincided obviously with the banking world just being
absolutely destroyed. What happened was, when Eggert came in we embarked on
a massive player acquisition programme. It's not just the transfer fees, it
was the salaries that were given. And all of this, we didn't know, was bank
funded - it wasn't owner funded. Then the banking world collapses and they
said 'we want our money back'. Fantastic.
So we've had to enter a period where we've had to reduce our debt through
player disposals and making sure we're self sufficient. Now ironically, with
BG having the problems that he was, that allowed me then to just get on with
that - plan, budget and do the player disposals. So when I said in the
January window that players wouldn't be sold I was confident that there was
no interference from above and I could deliver what I said.
But the big arguments and the big problems have been with the banks. I
remember being sat around in January with two days to go before the window
and the banks are saying 'you must sell Scott Parker'. I had a huge, huge
row and said 'I'll leave then, that's it. We're in budget, we're making the
payments back to you, we've never defaulted on a payment, you've got no
right to operationally start to dictate how we run this football club'.
As far as the banks are concerned, they just want their money back. As far
as I'm concerned I want to create a team that's competitive and can actually
win so it's a balancing act between player disposals, getting rid of the
fringe players that we agreed with Gianfranco but keeping the team
competitive. We came under massive, massive pressure to sell Scott Parker
because there was a bid, in writing, from Manchester City - and they [the
bank] were saying 'sell'. So that's been the biggest issue I've had to
overcome is to put the banks back in their place. You've lent us the money,
we're not defaulting - now back off.
But our accounts, when they are published will show they're a disaster - but
they're a historical disaster and that will show what we've had to come
through to remain a going concern, to reduce our borrowings, to reduce our
debt. We're through the dark tunnel now, we're on the other side and now we
can move forward.
KUMB: Are we self-sufficient now, Scott?
SD: Oh completely, yeah. Next summer we are budgeted to be able to take
quite a proportion of the TV money and spend it on player acquisitions
whereas we have - well I've made it a sort of secret - we've had to sell
players, fringe players I have identified that won't hurt the team.
Gianfranco wants a squad of 21, we had a squad of 30-odd. But I did come
under pressure to sell some key players. Well, I would have gone,
Gianfranco... it would have been a complete disaster. But they are the
arguments we've had to have, we've done them and the banks can just get back
in their place as far as I'm concerned.
KUMB: Are the banks all onside now?
SD: I still have my arguments! As far as I'm concerned we've never
defaulted, we won't default and the fact that they messed up in their own
banking world and they're now trying to claw money back is not my problem.
So I'm comfortable they have no legal right, they have no ability to
operationally become shadow directors and get involved in this football
club.
But that's been my biggest challenge. They're in their place now, Straumur
have taken over and the banking syndicate are there. I'm sure I'll continue
to have rows with them but they're not going to force us to sell players.
KUMB: So legally speaking, as long as we are not in any ...
SD: We've never defaulted on a loan payment.
KUMB: So they can go whistle?
SD: Absolutely. You know, I found the banks to be extremely frustrating and
not very supportive but they've got their own problems. They're not
interested in this football club being a success which I find baffling
because to me they should be. If we get relegated ... bloody Hell.
But you're sat round the table with bankers and I'm explaining we want to be
competitive and we want to get into the Europa League - and they just see
£7/8million for Scott Parker and say 'we want it'. Fortunately we've won
every battle and that's it now. Those were the hard times, January when we
had a defunct owner, we had a potential court date where the asset could go
into administration, all of these rumours. But now we've got a new owner so
I think the banking discussions are now over.
KUMB: On Straumur, you mentioned that they were confident they could come
through the moratorium which I think has a deadline date for 6th August?
SD: I think so, I genuinely try not to get too involved in that.
KUMB: So you're very much at arms length from all that?
SD: Completely. I think if I start getting involved with that and other
issues... my whole focus is West Ham United, not Straumur and I've created a
business plan that's not dependent on external funding. So my decisions are
always for West Ham, not for Straumur.
KUMB: What would happen though - obviously Straumur have their own problems
to a certain degree and creditors - what would be the situation if we got
towards the 6th and Straumur's creditors were saying 'no, we're not happy
with what you're doing'?
SD: Well there are no creditors of Straumur as such because CB Holdings is
Straumur and the creditors, so they are as one. They are just restructuring.
If you think about it logically it's unthinkable that anything other than a
restructuring will happen. This football club is worth £120-150million,
they're not just going to lose than for want of a restructuring process. The
creditors are all as one voice now, they are CB Holdings.
KUMB: On slightly related matters, obviously BG's involvement ended with the
Straumur restructuring and CB Holdings coming in. Up to that point we heard
various tales of interested parties; were there any talks with anybody?
SD: Not as far as I am aware. I've got nothing but great respect for BG
because he's always supportive, he put huge amounts of money in - okay
through loans, but when the s**t hit the fan in the past year and a half he
said 'Scott, just get on and run it, I'm not going to interfere'. He could
have, if he was in any way malicious or personally motivated said 'Scott,
sell Ashton, Green ... give me the money' - he's never ever done that. On
the contrary, he's just let me get on with it and grow the team.
That's my biggest worry and why I distance myself from ownership issues. At
the moment we've had two years [of it] and Straumur seem to be letting me
get on with it and letting Gianfranco get on with it and not interfering.
The big fear is it's sold, somebody comes in and says 'right, I don't want
Gianfranco, I want this high-profile manager ... no you're not playing
Collison, we're going to go and sign Kaka' - and then the wheels come off.
If you look at Newcastle, owner interference - perfect example. You look at
West Ham where it's actually allowed to implement the strategic business
plan without all the interference and we've flourished. But that's out of my
control and that's why I try not to worry too much - because I can't control
it.
KUMB: There were a number of sales last summer and in January, Craig
Bellamy. One comment was that only a fraction of those sales appears to have
been reinvested into the team.
SD: Absolutely. But we are now a self-sufficient football club so everything
I do has to be funded from within our own income. So with regard to the
player disposals, some of it was re-used on further player acquisitions like
exercising the Ilunga option; the purchase of Savio. But some of it was
re-routed back to reduce the debt in order to satisfy the banks, in order
for us to purchase the training ground.
So the money has been used throughout the whole of the business - a
proportion to reduce the debt, yes, a proportion for player acquisitions, a
portion for the training ground, a portion for Gianfranco and Steve Clarke's
new contracts - but it's basically just using the money from within because
unfortunately - or fortunately whichever way you look at it - other than the
Sky money, the main resource of income for this football club is player
disposals, so we've got to use that.
We can't just take ten for this player and then spend that ten on another
player - at the moment some of that money has to be used through other areas
of the business. But as I say, we move to next summer and we'll have reduced
our debts sufficiently and we'll have moved forward so that the majority of
the money we receive from the TV deal and then player disposals will be able
to be used in its entirety for player acquisitions.
But you'll see our accounts this year - they are a disaster. I'm going to
keep using that word because they are. But I think that what we have to
understand is that they are a historical picture of where we were and not
where we are - and it just shows the hurdles that we've had to overcome.
KUMB: In financial training they call that a 'snapshot' ...
SD: It was a horrible snapshot! But we got through it and the most important
thing, as you know, is that for Deloitte's to have signed us off as a going
concern we've had to overcome some pretty huge hurdles. But we're there now.
KUMB: A lot of people accused Eggert Magnusson of behaving like a kid in a
sweet shop with Gudmundsson's money. Do you feel that would be a fair
accusation? It seems to have been a reckless period for the club in terms of
spending on players like Llungberg, huge contacts for players like Lucas
Neill ...
SD: I think the wages that we gave to the players meant that we had to be a
Champions League club. The wage to turnover ratio was at Champions League
level and I think that Nick [Igoe] did a calculation that even if we won the
Champion League with the bonuses that we were giving to these players, we
still wouldn't be in a profit making situation. So it was a bold player
acquisition programme.
I'm not going to criticise Eggert but I think where he may have been
unfortunate is that a lot of these player acquisitions were funded through
bank loans - and the banking sector collapsed. That's put a huge, huge
pressure on us because we've had to reduce our debt, because the banks
demanded that. Had we not purchased those players financially we'd be very,
very strong.
This is just a personal view and one I've implemented with Gianfranco, but
that's not the way to achieve success. I think that The Project, as I call
it with Gianfranco is the way to do it. You don't need to spend those kind
of monies and put players on those kind of contracts to deliver success. I
think that the West Ham ethos is strong and really clear, and I think we
just lost it a little bit there.
KUMB: But why was it allowed to get out of hand? You have a financial
background, Nick Igoe being Financial Director - were there not alarm bells
ringing at the time?
SD: Yeah, but to be fair to Nick he was ostracised a little bit at the time
and he flagged up several concerns. It was always made quite clear that this
was an owner-led decision and the funds were available.
KUMB: So presumably if the global banking crisis hadn't occurred we could
still be ...
SD: I still think it's so highly leveraged that without European Champions
League football it was a mistake. Let alone the footballing consequence of
having the players in the changing room. It's so easy, and I do it sometimes
- you sit there and see this wonderful glitzy product on the pitch and you
get a little detached - but they're just human beings like me and you and
they sit round the changing room and one's driving a certain car and
bragging that he's earning x per week and the other, who's a better player,
playing every week and doing far more for the team is on a third of that.
It's not good team spirit and that's why we've altered the wage structure
and why all of our top players are on there or thereabouts the same salary.
That was the rationale behind the Lucas Neill contract - great player, but
at his age and where he was... He got an Eggert Magnusson contract and so he
wanted another Eggert Magnusson contract, but that doesn't happen. So we
gave him a good contract, making him one of the top earners at the club but
all within the same wage structure so when they all go out there, there is
no jealousy, there is no rivalry - they all know they're being paid roughly
the same.
The younger players are not on as much as the senior players but they know
they can aspire to that. They know when they get to that level they can get
that.
KUMB: So do we have a wage cap in position, as such?
SD: We don't have a wage cap, no - I'd never be that inflexible for us, but
we have a clear idea of what our players should be earning, so ...
KUMB: A structure, of sorts?
SD: Put it this way - if Kaka becomes available and he needs to earn a
little bit more, I'd be flexible!
KUMB: Talking of acquisitions, foreign or otherwise, Jimenez has just come
in. If I can ask a technical question on how these things work? He has come
in on loan. I've seen various figures bandied around but presumably that
option to purchase is at a set price?
SD: Yes, the deal is with a view to a permanent transfer. We went to all the
trouble with the work permit, we've been tracking him for six months. We had
a barbeque at Gianfranco's house and were just talking but his whole team
revolves around Jimenez. He's got Plan A and Plan B - Plan A is I'll have
Jimenez there, Mancini there, Cole there, Behrami, Parker ... he said 'if
that stays fit, it's Champions League!'. That is a team that he believes, if
it stays fit will push on, so his whole team has been built round Jimenez.
I'll try and do every deal this way. I know Martin Samuels did this thing
where he hates loans but from a cashflow perspective they're superb. But
it's fantastic, it's the best way to do it. Legally binding, Ilunga is a
perfect example and it's just if clubs are willing to do it it's the best
way. The onus is on the player to impress.
KUMB: On the technical side again, what happens at the end of the loan
period if we want to exercise our option to buy and the player decides he
doesn't want to come? How does that pan out?
SD: It's like any transfer - you can't keep a player that doesn't want to be
here so it would be identical to Mikel's [transfer from Man Utd to Chelsea].
They had an option and in the end Chelsea ended up paying Man United
£12million - and Man United didn't even have a day where the player trained.
That's what would happen.
Generally he's our player, we would exercise the option so he's on a
four-year contract. If the player doesn't want to stay we're not going to
force him so he'd be sold for £20-£25million or whatever we agree or what
fee a compensation court says. But the thing is, and this is so clear with
Gianfranco, is that it's all about personal relationships. If he wants to
stay and be with Gianfranco he will do - if he doesn't Gianfranco doesn't
want him, so...
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Scott Duxbury: Part Three
Filed: Monday, 29th June 2009
By: Graeme Howlett & Gordon Thrower
KUMB.com
KUMB: You mentioned Mancini earlier; where are we with him?
SD: We're pretty much there with Milan. I'm flying there tomorrow to see the
player.
Jimenez was never an issue, he's totally behind West Ham United. Gianfranco,
when I was signing him in Milan phoned and I handed the phone to him
[Jimenez] and they were talking tactics, where he's going to play in the
diamond. He hadn't even signed, it was fantastic; we were still arguing over
the last 100,000 - we won that one!
Mancini's a different story really because he's got lots of offers and lots
of options - so it's down to Gianfranco really. I'll get the deal done, I
know where we are with it so that won't be an issue - but I'll do my bit
about the project, what the club's about but it's down to Gianfranco. If
Gianfranco and Mancini can hit it off and Mancini wants to come then I'm 80%
sure it'll happen.
But it's just such a good way to work. I'll give you the background. The way
we worked with other managers, it was 'how much money have we got?' - and
from that basis they would then decide which players they wanted to go for.
We never talk about money with Gianfranco, it's always 'which players do I
want?'
He has a system - I want Jimenez, I want Drogba, I want this and that - and
then he leaves it to me and Gianluca to try and get these players. Obviously
when we're discussing [it and] money is a problem then we try and find a
solution. But all he gives us is players that he wants.
There's three other players if we don't get Mancini that he's absolutely
happy with to fit that bill. Again, we've had good discussions with those
people as well so it's just such a healthy way to run a football club. He's
not concerned about money, he just wants the various players and the
finances are just left to me and Gianluca to worry about.
KUMB: These possible alternatives - are they all overseas players?
SD: Yes. And Sturridge was one, but he's gone.
What Gianfranco wants to do, we've got a real good core of young British
players - Collison, Noble - he believes that by getting Jimenez and Mancini
he can really raise it to the next level. He's identified these three
players, all of whom are above what we've got and will raise us to that next
level. I think there's something to be said for a continental influence, it
allows the young players to see different techniques.
I think that Jimenez is absolutely huge for us - a massive, massive signing.
You go to Inter Milan's headquarters and he's a top drawer player, he's
exactly what we've been missing. He's Yossi Benayoun, he's everything.
KUMB: What's the situation with Alan Curbishley?
SD: The second part of the hearing I think is mid-July and I think the
decision will be in September. That's just a dispute as to whether he feels
entitled to compensation for resigning. Our view is that he wanted to
resign, that's your decision and compensation shouldn't follow.
KUMB: There's been a few rumours about BG retaining an interest in the club
through Straumur or one of it's creditors. Is there anything in that?
SD: No, he's got no financial interest. I've invited him back to games and I
think what he did for the club was good, he has moved us on and he's a
massive fan so I'm hoping he'll still come next season. But he has no
interest.
KUMB: When he turns up the conspiracy theorists are going to have a field
day...
SD: Yeah. But he deserves it, he's been through Hell this last year and I
think he's been to a handful of games and at his time of life I think he
deserves to be remembered for it. Because he did make a good contribution to
the club, it's not his fault that the financial world collapsed. The
intentions were good.
Generally there's a policy at the moment to re-engage with the people that
helped make this club what it is.
KUMB: So Terry Brown's got his seats back now?
SD: Yeah, I think he was suing about a year-and-a-half ago but the
Icelandics settled that and gave him his seats back.
KUMB: One last question on financials, and it goes back to something Eggert
Magnusson told me two years ago that got blown out of all proportion.
What's the average salary of a West Ham fan these days..?
SD: [laughs] I think in this climate there isn't an average salary or an
average fan - I think the world has been devastated. But on a serious note
I've got no idea why Eggert said that, from my perspective it's the wrong
way to look at it - it's almost saying there's a pot of money in fans and
seeing each fan as a pound sign and what we can get from them.
I think you've got to turn it on its head and ask 'what can we do for them?'
That's why we've reduced the season ticket prices, that's why the focus
group for the kits is a good idea. It's not about average income, it's about
if creating an environment and a football club that fans want to come and be
a part of then yes, they will financially engage which benefits the football
club as the football can grow.
But it's not about average incomes, it's about everyone being together and
wanting to be a part of this club. That's how I see it, it's not about
average incomes.
KUMB: That's a very good answer.
SD: So I've had one good answer in the past hour!?
KUMB: [laughs] The thing about Eggert was that he was really enthusiastic
and had a real passion for football. You could see he loved it.
SD: If you take away the financial disasters of the past three years every
single development has been so important because we had a faceless Chairman,
a sort of lack of direction. Eggert came along and gave it a face, a sense
of direction and enthusiasm and suddenly wow, there was a media focus. It
was fantastic.
Then BG came along and by the end of it Eggert was a little bit of a circus.
BG came and gave us this austere, dignified, respected Chairman figure,
moved the club forward again and gave us stability. He said 'right, we're
not going to spend recklessly and we're going to have a business plan'.
Everybody's played their real part in moving this football club to where it
is.
KUMB: What exactly was BG's role in that first year? Eggert was appointed in
pretty much the same role as you are in now to run the football club.
SD: The budgets didn't add up. When we were signing Matthew Upson we said
'we haven't got the money to do this'. He just picked the phone up and said
to me and Nick [Igoe] 'it's alright, I'll sort it. It's an owner purchase,
don't worry about it'. This is where BG blames himself, I think - Eggert was
informing BG but at the end of a phone and he'd say 'yeah that's fine'.
I had dinner with Asgeir [Fridgeirsson] last week and he said BG thought he
was so wealthy that and that he was untouchable. It's a shame that he didn't
use his own money to purchase, it's a shame it was all bank loans because he
went and we're saddled with those loans. We would be so strong now.
KUMB: But didn't Terry Brown have us pretty much back on an even keel?
SD: This is one of the issues and I try not to worry about it. Had Terry not
sold us after the FA Cup we were so strong. The debt was the lowest it's
ever been - all he had to do was sit tight and just do nothing, let us grow
the football club.
Ownership issues do worry me - but what can we do?
KUMB: It's kind of funny in retrospect, he was quite conscious - publically,
at least - of ensuring the club went into the hands of someone who could
take it on and move us forward. Kind of the opposite has actually happened;
does he have any involvement these days?
SD: I speak to him on match days to say 'hello' to him. He's delighted that
the team's doing well again but I don't really have a relationship with him.
KUMB: The Tevez affair. Why did the club settle out of court with Sheffield
United?
SD: All the lawyers told us that we couldn't possibly lose Sheffield. Their
claim was flawed on many levels. One that it's impossible to argue that one
player over the course of a season can be responsible for three points let
alone you don't actually analyse Sheffield's own conduct. Had they not sold
Unsworth and he hadn't come back in the last game of the season and scored a
goal they would have stayed up. Had they not fielded a weakened team against
Manchester United... so there's so many factors during the marathon of a
season that it's impossible to argue that one player is responsible for
three points, let alone the fact that the Premier League's charge against
West Ham was never that we fielded an ineligible player. He was always
eligible.
So - you can't lose, it's just a nuisance factor and we'll get through it.
Then, there was the absurd judgment of Lord Griffiths; I think my views on
him have been well documented. Then the owner goes bankrupt and the
financial situation of the club means we're self-sufficient and it became
clear to me we simply couldn't risk an absurd decision by Lord Griffiths
that says the full £40million that Sheffield United are claiming is payable,
and it's payable within seven days - which would be the award. So at that
point I made a decision that you've got to actually put personal feelings to
one side and realise that if we can negotiate a settlement - no matter how
unpalatable.
How I accounted for it was that the increase in the TV money that we got,
that little increase we're actually giving to Sheffield, so it doesn't hurt
us as such. But it safeguards the future of this football club, because I
didn't have any external funding that would allow us to take a further
ridiculous decision of Griffiths' on the chin. So I had to make a decision,
put it to bed, swallow that bitter pill. But we're in the Premier League
prospering; I was at the play-off final and unfortunately, they are in the
Championship.
KUMB: You were wearing claret and blue, presumably?
SD: My best friend is a Burnley fan so I was in the Burnley end! But I just
take the view that I think it was the right decision, settling a ridiculous
decision. The next day I was at Gianfranco's house having a glass of wine
celebrating [because] nothing can derail us now. That's gone and we can now
just look to the future so I don't think about them, I don't know what goes
on in the Championship; I don't propose to find out.
KUMB: So we were willing to contest it right the way up until Griffiths made
that unfathomable decision?
SD: I can only speak for myself and Nick [Igoe] but if we had had owners
that had the ability to actually defend it so the consequences of a wrong
decision wouldn't had destroyed this club then yes, we would have defended
it because everybody was saying it's ridiculous. But even at the damages
hearing our lawyer were saying the damages should be zero because nobody in
the Premier League makes a profit.
When you've spent all the money on players, to stay in the Premier League
you've got to spend money and have an operating loss. So yes you've won -
but your damages are zero, but given the absurdity of Griffiths we simply
couldn't risk it.
When you're making decisions in life … I just couldn't get past paying that
money and I wouldn't settle, but if you look at the consequences had we not
done it – the possible end of the football club – and the ability for us
just to get on. You saw how productive we were in the January window, what
we did; it just put it to bed.
KUMB: I'd like to ask you about the way you're perceived by the supporters.
You're the one who's born the brunt of all this right through from Terry
Brown's initial negotiations [to sign Tevez and Mascherano] to Eggert's
negotiations. You've been called a liar and Christ knows what else; how do
you feel about that?
SD: I used to be concerned. I know the whole politics behind it but I just
take a really pragmatic view now, that I'm the one through all of it -
Brown, Eggert, BG - I'm the one that's guided the club through it. So I'm
actually proud of everything that I've done because… I'm of the firm belief
that if I wasn't here then the club would be in a worse position. The moment
that I feel I'm not helping or assisting the club, then I'll go.
But I think we've had issues - not just Tevez, although Tevez was a big
issue I had to guide us through. The negotiations with Sheffield, the
collapse of XL; I think I've guided us through it and the moment I've not
had external pressure from whether it's Terry Brown, BG and I've been
allowed to run the club and make the decisions - which manager I want, how
we're going to implement the business plan, the football project - when I've
been allowed to run unhindered the last year-and-a-half I think that it's
been good.
I believe in myself, I believe in the business plan and I'll continue to
implement that business plan and deliver success because I've never doubted
myself.
KUMB: I should add that I wasn't accusing you of anything(!), but I wanted
to give you the opportunity to answer that as it's something that's been
levelled at you.
SD: Yeah, absolutely. In the early days it was worrying but it's a
massively, massively political issue and I think the truth will never come
out. But what the supporters should glean from it is that through all our
issues - and there are massive political issues, as I keep saying - through
all of this timeline the various chairmen - Terry Brown went, Eggert came
in; Eggert went, BG came in; Asgeir and now Straumur - every single one has
given me their absolute, unequivocal support and said that they completely
back me.
They know the truth behind all of the issues and they've seen it absolutely
fit that they back me 100% and have never doubted me. I've brought the club
through it and I'm now moving the club forward to what should be a better
future. But I think the fact that the variety of chairmen and the variety of
owners have absolutely backed me shows that there must be something in
there.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Scott Duxbury: Part Four
Filed: Monday, 29th June 2009
By: Graeme Howlett & Gordon Thrower
KUMB.com
KUMB: Scott, one thing a lot of our members have asked about is the Craig
Bellamy situation in January. Had we finished a couple of places higher I
don't think this question would have even arisen, but we missed out on the
Europa League by a fraction so here it is. Why was Craig Bellamy not
effectively replaced in January, did we try to do that and do you feel that
cost us a European spot?
SD: We had no interest in selling Craig because he'd just started [again].
He'd been injured for most of his career at West Ham and we'd finally got
him back and he seemed to be back at his best, so we really had no intention
of selling him. When it became clear that he wasn't going to stay I think
Gianfranco was looking at two replacements, he mentioned Balotelli last
week. We tried to move quickly but we couldn't do the deals.
Savio was not a replacement for Bellamy, he was somebody who we'd been
tracking for several months. It just transpired that a few weeks before he
scored two goals and everybody was talking about him back in Italy - I think
Fiorentina were one club coming in with a big bid for him and it looked like
we wouldn't be able to get through until the summer. So with the money that
we got for Bellamy we decided to react quickly and get Savio whilst Zola was
still looking for strikers to add to replace Bellamy, but none of the deals
could happen so...
I think we were a striker down and it's no disrespect to the players that
we've got. Unfortunately Cole got injured, Ashton obviously long term. You
can't lose a player like Bellamy and it not affect you - it does, and we
didn't want to. Who knows whether he would have been responsible for those
extra points - but I'm sure it didn't help.
KUMB: On George McCartney and Anton Ferdinand. Did they express a wish to go
to Sunderland - because they've both gone on record saying they didn't want
to go?
SD: That's just bizarre. George signed a new five-year contract - any
conspiracy theorists saying that we were trying to get rid of him, well it's
a pretty risky strategy to put someone on a new five-year contract if you're
trying to remove them! So George was baffling, he had his own personal
problems with his wife who wanted to leave, we thought we'd put them to one
side hence he signed a new five-year contract but they resurfaced a few
weeks later. I was in the manager's office when he demanded that he wanted
to go so at that point it was obvious.
Same with Anton; he wouldn't sign a new contract, he changed agents in
between negotiations, he went to Pini Zahavi. Pini said yes, he would sign a
new contract but on a level that was just ridiculous that we simply would
not possibly ever entertain. So absolutely, they both wanted to go.
KUMB: What's the current situation with Lucas Neill?
SD: Lucas Neill has been given a contract that would make him one of our top
earners, certainly slightly more than the established senior players that
you see every week - but that's still there for him to accept.
KUMB: So he hasn't accepted it yet?
SD: He hasn't, no.
KUMB: Matty Upson and Rob Green; where are we with those two?
SD: Matthew's slightly more pressing, he's only got two years left on his
contract so we'll start to sit down with his agent and try to negotiate an
extension. We've made contact, I don't know when those discussions will
begin - but they will begin. Rob Green, he's got three years left; we've had
several discussions, we haven't finalised them.
Total respect for both of them. Rob Green has a level of expectation of the
contract he should have, we're trying to meet that. Discussions have stopped
but they'll start again. It's not pressing, there's no way Rob Green's going
anywhere and I'm sure we'll meet an agreement on a new contract.
KUMB: You referred to three players in your recent interview with Bryan
Swanson (Sky). If we say Jimenez and Mancini are two of those, how are we
doing on the other one and is there any chance of that materialising soon?
SD: Well it's not just those, Gianfranco has quite a few targets that we're
in discussion with. There's three or four at the moment, none of them really
are close to being finalised within the next couple of days but one of them
will come off because we're not putting all our eggs in one basket.
Hopefully the second one will be sooner rather than later and the third one
we'll just keep popping away at.
KUMB: There seems to be a policy of buying more foreign players at the
moment. Is that because Gianfranco feels more comfortable, because he knows
the players better or is just a question that the players he's liked aren't
necessarily British?
SD: He's happy with his squad, the squad of 21 he's got he's really happy
with. But he just wants three players of a higher level who will really
raise the standard. It's just that one of the players he's identified plays
for Inter Milan - so that's just the way it is. He is looking in England but
from my experience, getting the English players out of top clubs is very
difficult to do. We do have English players on the list where we've started
negotiations and they haven't gone anywhere.
He's identified top players and if they're English and we get them, great -
if they're not then it doesn't make any difference. But we have moved a
significant number of foreign players on this year.
KUMB: Are we likely to sign any players on a permanent basis - or should we
just expect loans?
SD: Not in this window, no. When I say no, we have to fund any player
acquisitions from our own trading. So if Gianfranco decides that he wants to
sell one of his players and then wants to reinvest that money to buy players
then yes, we'll buy a player. But if he wants to keep his current squad as
it is and simply add to it then unless certain fringe players are sold -
which we hope to do - then we'll structure them as loans with an option to
buy. But we will need to sell players before we can buy.
KUMB: Jason Burt, writing in the Independent today says that we'll accept
£10million for Dean Ashton. Is that correct?
SD: No. I'm not selling him to Stoke and Dean Ashton is not £10million in
any way. I want Dean Ashton here, I want him fit, I want him playing and
it'll be nice to see him. So he is not being sold.
KUMB: Freddie [Sears] is going to Crystal Palace on loan. Are we likely to
send anyone else out on loan next season?
SD: Freddie has a bright future here, that's why we want him to have
competitive football. The way Gianfranco coaches, it's such a small squad of
21 to give that one-on-one that I don't really think we can afford to send
too many players out on loan because we'd be pretty stretched. Obviously
we've got the reserve team football as well so no, I can't really see it.
I can see certain fringe players being moved on permanently to reduce that
squad. It's no secret - we've had Faubert out at Madrid, Davenport at
Sunderland.
KUMB: I'm not 100% on how these loan deals work, but Sears is off for a
year?
SD: Yeah.
KUMB: Is there any provision to call him back? My vague understanding was
that if it was a year-long [loan] then you couldn't call him back.
SD: No, but up front we'll have Savio, Ashton, Cole, hopefully Mancini,
Jimenez can play there ... and Terry Dixon.
KUMB: How is he by the way?
SD: He's fit. If he develops? It's a no-risk scenario.
KUMB: Rumours are that Daniel Sturridge wanted £50k p/w+. Isn't that
ridiculous for a 19-year-old?
SD: It's crazy. He obviously knows Shaun Wright-Phillips as well - Shaun
must be saying 'you're mad'.
KUMB: Scott - how are you going to keep Tony Carr working for another 30
years?
SD: [laughs] That's something we're looking at. We do need a succession
policy in place and we're working with Tony to achieve that. But Tony's got
a few more miles left on the clock yet, so we'll be ok!
KUMB: We see a lot of clubs that get in youngsters at a very young age -
Arsenal [for example]. We've seen one or two come in - is that something the
Academy are looking at a little more?
SD: Absolutely, we need to expand into Europe and that's where Gianluca
[Nani] really, really helps. It's amazing - you touched on it before with
Tony - we really are dependent on Tony's eyes, we don't really have any
infrastructure of any sorts and that's part of the Technical department and
what I've briefed Gianluca to do. Not just to restructure the medical
department, but to give us a proper scouting department.
Chadwell Heath are having a building built with banks of TVs and DVDs so we
can monitor every single game live around Europe and create a proper
scouting network. We're just recruiting two senior people from top European
football clubs. So, to create a proper structure that gives a little more
objectivity about our scouting process both Academy and senior so we're not
just relying on the excellent Tony Carr.
KUMB: The scouting network has always seemed to be fairly loose and
informal.
SD: Yep.
KUMB: The chap who discovered both Anton and Rio happens to live locally to
me; some of the stories he's come out with over the years... we get back to
the fact that it's a multi-million pound industry that depends on bringing
players through, to a certain degree...
SD: Completely.
KUMB: And we've got a bloke that goes and watches people in parks...
SD: We need to get more objectivity into it because Gianluca - and this is
what he has been tasked to do - discovered Kaka and Jimenez, both at very
young ages. Unfortunately the club he was at didn't have the resources to
actually take them on so... He created this objective scouting process for
the benefit of Brescia and this is what I want to have implemented here so
we find the new Kaka and Jimenez. Then we'll be very happy.
When we signed Jimenez, Jimenez knew Gianluca and they were all very happy -
but we've paid a considerable amount more than we would have done had we got
him when Gianluca first scouted him. The players are out there - we just
need to make sure we've got an objective structure that ensures we don't
miss them.
We've also got connections with Ujpest in Hungary and there's a couple of
Italian clubs we're looking at in terms of relationships. We've loaned
[Tony] Stokes there [Ujpest] and took their goalkeeper so I think there'll
be more of that with clubs across Europe and even further afield perhaps.
Partnership agreements, loans etc.
KUMB: Scott. I want to ask you this otherwise I'll get accused of only
asking you soft questions. What can you say to reassure those West Ham fans
who fear that The Project is a fancy spin to cover up the sale of
experienced players and a dependence on cheap kids; who claim that Bellamy
was sold to balance the books of an otherwise bankrupt club and who mistrust
both your motives and your public statements?
SD: I can understand why it might be seen as spin - and to a certain degree,
it is. Because what we're trying to do is create a message to the fans and
to the media of what we're trying to do. What we're trying to do, it's not
re-invent the wheel but it's take every element of the football club and
give it strategic direction. So we take the Academy, we take the medical
department, we take the scouting network, pull it all together in one
direction - and that's the Project.
When I met Gianfranco in Rome and convinced him to come to the football club
I can assure you that that wasn't spin, he wouldn't have come. If I said
'here's a chequebook, we're going to go and do a Manchester City' he
wouldn't have come. He believed in himself and where he was at his stage of
his managerial career was taking young talent - the Italian under 21s -
developing them, coaching them and making them better players, delivering
sustained success over a period of time. That was his project.
The thought of coming to a club that didn't have huge amounts of money, but
wanted to invest in the infrastructure of a new training ground, the
infrastructure of a medical department and allow him to coach players and be
on a training field, one-on-one with Freddie Sears for an hour, saying 'do
this, do this, do this' and grow a football club without huge pressures on
him to say 'here's £10million, spend this and deliver success' like that
[snaps fingers] but grow, was attractive to him - and was the sole reason he
came.
He had concerns about his Chelsea links, we had to have long discussions and
in the end he said 'look, this is a team effort Scott - you've got to be
with me, Gianluca's got to be with me and the three of us, if we're together
and drive the football club forward with the project, as he kept calling it,
then we can deliver success.
Yes, the term 'The Project' is spin - it's a digestible way of pulling all
the elements together of what we're trying to do. But the actual work that
the three of us are putting in and how we're moving this football club
forward - which just works perfectly with what West Ham's about, which is
the Academy, the young players - that's not spin, that has real direction.
The reality is, it was a time where money did dry up. The owner went
bankrupt, the partners went into administration so yes, we had no choice, I
agree - but it still took people to take the best of that opportunity,
create a different vision and work with it. Gianfranco is the perfect,
perfect ambassador for that vision and the perfect person to implement it
and deliver success. And that's not spin.
KUMB: There was a poll on KUMB.com where we were looking at potential
replacements for Alan Curbishley and Gianfranco polled just 4% - he came
bottom of a poll of around six. Do you feel your decision to hire him has
been vindicated?
SD: At the time there wasn't one person that was in support of it - and I'm
not just talking supporters but within the club as well. But rightly or
wrongly I was in a position where they had to back my judgement because it
was my plan. I think we went seven games without a win and there was quite a
bit of pressure being put on me from various people that this was a mistake
and that I had to correct that mistake.
If you looked at those performances even though we weren't getting a win you
could see the improvement, you could see what was happening and I think
there was also a poll that said if the games were 75 minutes we'd have been
top of the league, because we were always winning! So as soon as I'd had a
drink with Gianfranco and explained to him that football is 90 minutes and
not 75 we never looked back!
It's easy to say I never doubted it - but I didn't. Did I think we would
have this success? Well, football, there's so many variables, so many things
that can derail you but Gianfranco is a very, very talented individual, so's
[Steve] Clarke and so's [Kevin] Keen. The three of them, if you could see
them at the training ground...
The thing that encourages me is that I know now if we don't spend a penny,
our team is going to be better than last year. That's because the three of
them are coaching these players and making them better players - and that's
a brilliant position to be in. If we can add players like Mancini, Jimenez
or whoever - brilliant, instant improvement. But he, with a pre-season -
which he hasn't even had yet - is improving that team.
The decision was the correct one, definitely. But through a variety of
circumstances where you end up with the season we've had it's just really,
really pleasing that for once the club seems to be all together.
That's the thing that annoyed me about the decision at the time. I didn't
want the club to become fractured so I'm pleased that everyone seems to have
bought into what we're trying to achieve. Because again, it's not spin but
if the fans are on board with what we're trying to achieve - forget whether
they like Scott Duxbury or not - but they're on board with what the club's
doing, what Gianfranco is trying to do, what we're trying to do - then it's
pretty powerful and we can achieve success and I think that's where we are.
KUMB: West Ham United have only finished in the top ten on three successive
occasions twice previously. If we finish in the top ten again this year
that'll be our third. How confident are you that we can achieve that?
SD: Absolutely. Gianfranco shares my optimism. I'm not one of these people
that just does the party rhetoric - 'oh it would be great to be mid-table da
da da'. 'Can you win the league?' Yes - we can win the league. 'Can you
qualify for the Champions League?' Yes, we can. How long that will take I
don't know, but if you don't have that ambition, that belief - what's the
point?
I was with Gianfranco a few weeks ago and I said 'we're definitely going to
finish seventh this year and qualify for the Europa League' - and he said
'only seventh?' So he's got absolute ambition. If we get the targets we've
identified - we've got one of them - if we keep the players fit, yep,
absolutely confident.
We're aiming for the Europa League next season and then beyond - because
that's what we're all here for.
KUMB: Thanks Scott, we appreciate your time - and for going over time.
SD: No problem, thank you.
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US cut down by Brazilians
Filed: Sunday, 28th June 2009
By: Staff Writer
KUMB.com
Jonathan Spector's USA narrowly missed out on what would have been a famous
victory in tonight's Confederations Cup final against Brazil.
Despite leading 2-0 at the break the USA succumbed to three second half
goals from the South American champions, who held on to the trophy they won
in in Germany four years ago.
Spector had a hand in the opening goal when he provided an inswinging cross
for Fulham's Clint Dempsey to cleverly convert after just ten minutes. It
was the second time in two games the pair had combined to score.
The US - who had already been beaten 3-0 by the Brazilians in the group
phase - doubled their lead on the stroke of the half-hour mark when Landon
Donovan converted a Charlie Davis cross.
However a different Brazil side emerged from the half time break and the
defecit was reduced almost immediately. Luis Fabiano made it 2-1 just a
minute into the second period before the same player leveleed the scores
with 16 minutes of normal time remaninig.
With the US in a state of shellshock the Brazilians pushed on in search of a
late winner and that duly arrived on 84 minutes. Manchester City's Elano
provided a pinpoint corner for Lucio which flew in off Howard's post via the
head of the 6'4" defender.
Spector's West Ham team mate, Mark Noble, will be hoping for a little more
luck tomorrow night when the England under 21s face Germany in the final of
the European Championships.
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Sears relishing Palace chance
Striker keen to play and score goals on a regular basis
Last updated: 28th June 2009
SSN
Crystal Palace new boy Freddie Sears is relishing the chance to play regular
first-team football after joining the Championship club on loan. West Ham
United have allowed the teenage striker to link up with Palace as Gianfranco
Zola wants Sears to build up his experience. Sears is eager to get started
with Palace and is confident he will benefit from the opportunity to feature
for Neil Warnock's side. "I can't wait at the minute," Sears told the
Hammers' official website. "I want to get a good pre-season behind me and
then go from there. "I'll get more experience from playing week-in, week-out
in front of fans at a good standard of football. "I think getting a good
run in the team and starting to get some goals should be good."He (Warnock)
said I'll play and then see what happens and hopefully we'll have a good
season there."
The 19-year-old was wanted by several Championship clubs and he is expecting
to play in a competitive division next season. He added: "It's a good
league. You see the teams coming up getting stronger and stronger and there
are a few big teams in there like Newcastle and Middlesbrough, so it should
be a good challenge. "I think it will be a bit more physical. I don't think
it will be faster as the Premier League is probably the fastest league. I'll
just have to get stronger and see what happens."
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Eidur eyes England return
Barca man hints at Hammers interest
Last updated: 28th June 2009
SSN
Former Chelsea ace Eidur Gudjohnsen says a return to England is "probably
inevitable" as he looks set to leave Barcelona. Barcelona are thought to be
open to offers for Gudjohnsen with the player failing to establish himself
as a regular in Pep Guardiola's plans. A host of Premier League clubs
including West Ham, Everton, Aston Villa and Portsmouth are believed to be
interested in offering Gudjohnsen a return to England this summer. Icelandic
international Gudjohnsen is interested in a move back to England and hinted
he would be happy to be reunited with former Chelsea team-mate Gianfranco
Zola at West Ham. "Returning to England is probably inevitable. There is a
lot of interest from the Premier League," Gudjohnsen told the Daily Star
Sunday. "I had a great time with Chelsea and Gianfranco and I know the game
inside out. I know I would adapt easily to the football there."
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Foe remembered before Confed Cup final
Reuters - Yesterday, 19:08
Fourfourtwo.com
JOHANNESBURG - The death of Cameroon midfielder Marc-Vivien Foe was
commemorated by FIFA when his son read an emotional address to the crowd
before the Confederations Cup final between Brazil and the United States on
Sunday.
Marc-Scott Foe, wearing a Cameroon shirt with his father's No.17 on the
back, thanked FIFA for the support his family had received since Marc-Vivien
Foe, aged 26, died after collapsing during the Confederations Cup semi-final
against Colombia in Lyon, France in 2003.
Images of Foe were shown on the stadium's two giant screens while the
players of both teams stood together in the centre of the pitch.
Foe was found to have suffered from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a
heart-related disease and FIFA have since developed health programmes to
detect it among young players throughout the world.
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To play Germany is just massive, says Noble
The Under-21 captain hopes to join a select band of men to have lifted a cup
wearing the colours of England, writes Steve Tongue
Monday, 29 June 2009
Independent.co.uk
The number of England captains to have lifted an international trophy of any
significance in the last 30 years is pathetically few. Mark Noble, proud
patriot and one-club West Ham stalwart, hopes to join a small list in Malmo
tonight. Supporters of the "Big Four" clubs may be lukewarm about England
these days, but in London's East End, where a statue of Bobby Moore, Geoff
Hurst and Martin Peters sits opposite the Boleyn pub 100 yards from Upton
Park, they still care. Hence the West Ham flags wherever England have played
in this tournament.
"It maybe shows just how much the club loves football," Noble said
yesterday. "It leads back to the Bobby Moore days when you had West Ham
players in the final.
"[The fans] love the atmosphere. I'm pretty sure their wives don't like it
because they are away but that's the way West Ham fans are. They are either
fantastic or they can be on your back. When it comes to things like this
they are brilliant."
During Friday's epic semi-final against Sweden, the chirpy Noble
unexpectedly found the England manager on his back. Stuart Pearce's
displeasure with the way the team fell to pieces in surrendering a
three-goal lead was channelled through his captain, who barked back at least
once and then found himself being substituted. Yet Noble would be bitterly
upset to lose either the armband or his place in the team today, and he
believes his relationship with the excitable Pearce to be unimpaired. "You
know the gaffer as well as I do. I said to him afterwards as a joke: 'I
can't believe you haven't had a heart attack yet.' His reaction was, 'It
looks like I'm going to out here but inside I'm nice and cool.' He's two
different people. He's so quiet around the hotel and gets on with what he
has to do, then when it comes to the game he just wants to win so much. He
wears his heart on his sleeve and barks out his orders from the touchline. I
didn't think I'd done anything wrong. Obviously he is the manager and I'm
the captain and he wants to put his orders through me onto the pitch. That's
why it seems he is shouting at me sometimes. If I thought he was wrong I'd
tell him after the game but we won so there was no need to do that."
That, the whole camp now agrees, is what it all comes down to. After all
this time with one trophy to show for it – an under-18 competition 16 years
ago – England simply want a win. To achieve it against Germany, Noble
believes, would have a pleasing historical significance.
"When we were on the coach and got the news we were going to play Germany,
it seemed like it was meant to be," he said. "If every fan could say who
they want in the final they would say Germany. When you get brought through
the ranks from Under-16s to Under-21s and the senior team, whenever you play
Germany it is always a massive game. I'm pretty sure it's the same between
Argentina and Brazil. I remember Carlos Tevez in our [West Ham]
dressing-room and he was late one day. The forfeit was to pay a large amount
of money or wear a Brazil shirt. He chose the money."
There is no doubt who West Ham shirts are on today. "We've played Germany
once before in the tournament and got a great result against them and
dominated them in many spells," Noble said. "If we can do that again and
learn from the Sweden match then I'm sure we can lift the trophy."
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Gudjohnsen open to Hammers switch
Viewlondon.co.uk
Barcelona striker Eidur Gudjohnsen has revealed he would welcome a move to
West Ham United. The Hammers, managed by Gudjohnsen's former Chelsea
team-mate Gianfranco Zola, are thought to be the favourites to sign the
30-year-old. After making 72 appearances for Barcelona, mostly as a
substitute, the European champions have given Gudjohnsen permission to
leave. Portsmouth are also keen to sign the Iceland international and could
make a bid when their takeover is complete, while Fulham boss Roy Hodgson is
also believed to be a fan of the striker. But Gudjohnsen said his preference
would be a move to the Hammers. "Returning to England is probably
inevitable. There is a lot of interest from the Premier League," he told the
Daily Star Sunday. "I had a great time with Chelsea and Gianfranco and I
know the game inside out. I know I would adapt easily to the football
there." Gudjohnsen was set to leave Barcelona last summer but was convinced
to stay by boss Pep Guardiola. He spent six years at Chelsea before joining
Barcelona in 2006.
© Adfero Ltd
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