Friday, January 22

Daily WHUFC News - Peter, a message to you from our Chairmen

Dear Peter

It gives us great pleasure to introduce ourselves to you as the new joint
chairmen of West Ham United football club. This is an important move for us.
We are both lifelong West Ham fans and for 20 years, this is the club we
wanted. The club is now back in the hands of East Enders, people who
understand the community and its passion for the Hammers. It will be an
immense privilege to lead this great club and more importantly its
supporters. It's been a difficult period for the club and it will take time
to turn things round. But that's what we will do and we can't wait to get on
with it.
Our first priority has to be securing the Premier League status of West Ham.
The players at this club have shown great commitment in trying circumstances
and the new board will get behind them in every way. We will also look to
bring in new players to supplement the squad and have discussed this with
the manager. Our long-term aim will be to put the club on a stronger
financial footing. With our new board we have the expertise and experience
to do that and put this club where it belongs - challenging for the top
honours and representing the heart and soul of its community.
We want to put the smiles back on people's faces. For the many thousands of
loyal fans that come to the Boleyn Ground, whether they are in the stands or
the corporate boxes, we want them to enjoy the best possible experience and
real value for money. And we want to take that experience to a new level.
We are exploring the prospect of using the 2012 Olympics Stadium once the
Games have finished. This would be a fantastic home for our club, a real
showpiece stadium we can all be proud of. With a sizeable capacity it would
also enable more people to watch top quality football at affordable prices -
putting the game back into the community.

This club has enormous potential and it's a dream come true for us to be
taking it forward. It's the start of a new adventure and we want you to
share it with us.
Thank you for your support.

David Gold David Sullivan

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http://vyperz.blogspot.com

Daily WHUFC News - II 22nd January 2010

Payne loaned to Chairboys
WHUFC.com
Josh Payne has joined League One side Wycombe Wanderers on loan for an
initial month
22.01.2010

Josh Payne has joined League One club Wycombe Wanderers on loan. The
agreement, initially for a month, will see the 19-year-old midfielder join
Wycombe's battle to stave off relegation to League Two. The Buckinghamshire
side sit 23rd in the standings, seven points from safety. Payne could make
his Chairboys debut in Saturday's fixture with Southend United at Roots
Hall. Wycombe have failed to win in their last seven league matches, a run
stretching back to a 2-1 victory over Stockport County on 5 December.

The teenager, who started West Ham United's 3-1 Carling Cup win over
Millwall in August, enjoyed a loan spell with League One outfit Colchester
United earlier this season. Last term, he also spent three months with
Cheltenham Town, making 13 appearances for the Robins. Meanwhile, Andrea
Zola has joined Blue Square Premier club Grays Athletic for a month, where
he will be managed by former Hammers defender Julian Dicks. The 18-year-old,
who can operate at left-back or in a defensive midfield role, has made three
appearances for West Ham's reserve team this season.

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Tomkins feeling bubbly
WHUFC.com
James Tomkins believes there are more clean sheets to come with all eyes on
Portsmouth next Tuesday
21.01.2010

James Tomkins has been working hard in training this week after a hugely
successful performance last time out in the Barclays Premier League. The
England Under-21 defender has been on a high following his imperious turn in
the goalless draw at Aston Villa last Sunday. He had a leading role in the
rearguard action that denied a home side boasting the likes of Emile Heskey,
Gabriel Agbonlahor, Ashley Young, James Milner, Stewart Downing and
substitute John Carew. Alongside central defensive partner Matthew Upson,
Tomkins was a rock at the heart of the Hammers' back-four, winning header
after header and making block after block to keep Martin O'Neill's side at
bay. Tomkins and his team-mates have now kept two clean sheets in their last
three league games, taking their overall tally to four for the season.
Portsmouth, Blackburn Rovers and Wolverhampton Wanderers provide the
opposition in West Ham's next three fixtures and Tomkins sees no reason why
the fine form cannot continue at Fratton Park on Tuesday. "We've got a
little rest now as we've not got a game this weekend," said Tomkins. "We can
make the most of it and rest our legs ahead of what is obviously a big
fixture against Portsmouth. We played them recently and we beat them, so we
know what to expect. "We'll go there full of confidence. It would be nice to
win and if we can keep another clean sheet, we know we can't lose."
Last Sunday, captain Upson presented Tomkins with a bottle of champagne, but
the 20-year-old shared the bubbly with the whole team. "I was well pleased
as overall it was a good performance from us," said the Academy graduate.
"To go in at half-time at 0-0 and hold out for the draw was great, because
we were under quite a lot of pressure. The way we played and defended was
pleasing. "Clean sheets haven't come along too regularly this season, so to
get another one on the board was obviously good for our confidence levels.
It was not just the back-four and goalkeeper who defended well, it was the
whole team, really. "I was told that it was between me and Matty, but I
thought the whole back-four was brilliant and it was about the whole team.
We all did our jobs. A couple of times when we had to make individual
contributions and we all did so, so it went well."

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U18s go to Chelsea
WHUFC.com
Tony Carr's Under-18s will be looking to build on their midweek Youth Cup
win when they travel to Chelsea
22.01.2010

Tony Carr could call upon a number of promising youngsters for Saturday's FA
Premier Academy League trip to Chelsea. The Under-18s came through a
physically draining FA Youth Cup fourth-round victory over Queens Park
Rangers on Tuesday evening, and Academy Director Carr admitted he may rest
some of his older players at the Blues' Cobham training ground. The likes of
England U16 attackers Blair Turgott and Mathias Fanimo could be involved.
England U17 striker Robert Hall, who scored one goal and made another in the
3-0 victory over QPR, is likely to keep his place. Whatever lineup he names,
Carr is eager to complete a league double over Chelsea, having defeated them
3-1 at Little Heath in mid-November. Hall was on target twice that day, with
Conor Okus adding a third late on. "We've got Chelsea on Saturday," said
Carr. "We beat them at home, so it would be nice to do the double over them.
It will be tough, having played in the FA Youth Cup in midweek, with a few
of the lads nursing some cuts and bruises. We shall have to count the
wounded and see what we've got. "We might have to put a few younger boys in,
which might change the control we may have over the game. We're looking
forward to it, though, as it's a great pitch and a fantastic training ground
and they always make us feel very welcome. "Chelsea let spectators in to
watch the games, so we'd love some support with the first team being without
a game this weekend."

Kick-off at Cobham is at 11am. Admission is free.

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Quashie departs
WHUFC.com
Midfielder Nigel Quashie has joined Coca-Cola Championship side Queens Park
Rangers
22.01.2010

Nigel Quashie has joined Coca-Cola Championship side Queens Park Rangers
until the end of the season after being released by West Ham United. The
31-year-old midfielder made eight appearances for West Ham after joining the
club from West Bromwich Albion in January 2006. The Scotland international's
Hammers career received a setback when he suffered a broken foot in a
Barclays Premier League fixture against Tottenham Hotspur at the Boleyn
Ground two months later. Quashie, who has recently been on loan at League
One MK Dons, enjoyed a successful spell at Loftus Road earlier in his
career, scoring five goals in 63 appearances for the R's between August 1995
and August 1998.

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Transfer latest
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 22nd January 2010
By: Staff Writer

West Ham continue to be linked with a string of players following David
Sullivan's revelation that he is looking to bring in some new faces ahead of
the transfer window deadline.

The Midlands-based Sunday Mercury bring us one of the strangest links of the
transfer window this morning - a proposed 'shock move' for former Hammer
Bobby Zamora who they claim would cost more than the £5million Fulham paid
West Ham two years ago. Perhaps it's an-joke by the Brummies that's gone way
over our head.

Speaking of former players, Zamora's ex-strike partner Marlon Harewood is
another cited by some sources as a possible last-minute signing, should all
of West Ham's main transfer targets fall through. Harewood, who will always
be fondly remembered for his FA Cup semi final winner against Middlesbrough
is currently on loan at Newcastle but the Championship club are stalling
over offering the former Forest player a permanent deal. QPR are also said
to be monitoring the situation.

On to more likely targets and Blackburn's Benni McCarthy remains one of the
hot favourites to join the Double D's East London revolution, although
conflicting reports suggest the Hammers have offered anywhere between
£1-2million for the South African international. Rovers, no doubt mindful of
the fact that West Ham can afford to pay one player £100,000 per week are
said to be holding out for around £3million.

Elsewhere the mystery £100,000 man referred to Five Live yesterday by David
Sullivan is, according to most papers this morning, Real Madrid's Ruud Van
Nistelrooy - despite Sullivan adding that West Ham are the only English club
to make a firm offer for him. Van Nistelrooy was rumoured last night to be
close to joining former German giants SV Hamburg instead.

On possible outgoings and Swiss midfielder Valon Behrami is being linked
with a £15million move to Manchester City. I'll stick my neck out here and
say there's absolutely nothing in it as Behrami's agent, Allessandro
Beltrami, has a history of hawking his player in the press. Therefore don't
be surprised to see a few more stories of this ilk before the end of the
month.

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DS: fingers crossed
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 22nd January 2010
By: Staff Writer

David Sullivan says he remains hopeful of signing Real Madrid's Ruud Van
Nistelrooy - despite latest reports suggesting the Dutch striker is set to
snub a return to England. Van Nistelrooy is also said to be interesting
Tottenham and SV Hamburg, although nither are offering the kind of money
West Ham are, according to new joint Chairman Sullivan, who said: "We know
Spurs wanted him but we have offered far more money. You could say it
doesn't make sense because I have been critical of others who have overspent
at this club, but that is missing the point. "There has to be different
wages for different players, and if we have identified one special player,
and strikers are special, we have to pay the going rate to get him. "And
even offering as much as we have done, we are still competing with one
foreign club. It's now down to us and a foreign club, and I believe we shall
know in the next 72 hours, but they have a big advantage. "We are lumbered
with a 50% tax rate, the pound is weak against the euro, so it doesn't make
it particularly attractive for a foreign player. But Van Nistelrooy wants to
come back to the Premier League so we do have a fighting chance, and we are
waiting to hear. "But we also have a fallback position or two, because we
have identified the need for at least one striker."
Also in the frame are Blackburn's Benni McCarthy, Manchester City's Benjani
and Aston Villa's Marlon Harewood.

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Quashie gone - for good
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 22nd January 2010
By: Staff Writer

Nigel Quashie has joined Championship side Queens Park Rangers for the
remainder of the season - finally bringing an end to his turbulent spell at
West Ham. The 31-year-old midfielder - who began his career at QPR in the
mid-1990s - has been released from his contract with United and moves across
the City to join Rangers. The news was confirmed on qpr.co.uk this
lunchtime; a statement read: "Queens Park Rangers are delighted to announce
the signing of midfielder Nigel Quashie, following his release from West Ham
United. "Quashie, who began his career as a youth player at Loftus Road, has
put pen to paper on a deal until the end of the season." Quashie, who made a
grand total of eight appearances for the Irons during his three years at the
club said: "It's great to be back home, and I am delighted to be at a club
that I love to pieces. I had a good time when I was here before, and the
fans were very good to me. "I'm a fan of the club myself so I know what
they demand. There are some excellent players here and it is nice to come
back and be a part of it."
Of all the players signed by Eggert Magnusson and Alan Curbishley during the
Icelandic's reign at the club, Quashie is perhaps the most criticised deal
of them all. Signed for £1.75million to the surprise of many from West Brom
during the 2007 January transfer window, Quashie made just a handful of
appearances before sustaining an injury that was to keep him out of action -
on and off - for nearly two years, a period during which West Ham continued
to pay his £25,000-per-week wages. However that figure is dwarfed by the
salary earned by midfielder Kieron Dyer who has fared only slightly better,
managing 18 appearances since arriving at West Ham seven months after
Quashie.

* Young midfielder Josh Payne has joined Cheltenham on a month's loan.
Payne, who made his first team debut against Millwall in the Carling Cup
earlier this season goes straight into the squad to face Rochdale this
weekend.

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Sullivan: Hammers should not have accepted Tevez guilt
By Harry Harris, Football Correspondent
ESPN
January 22, 2010

West Ham co-owner David Sullivan has told Soccernet the club should not have
pleaded guilty in the Carlos Tevez affair and says they do not yet know the
full cost of the various lawsuits against the club. Sullivan has rated the
club's debt at £110 million. There is £50 million to be paid to banks, £40
million to other clubs and £20 million to Sheffield United over Tevez. West
Ham reached an agreement regarding compensation over Tevez in March last
year after the player - whose signing was deemed to have breached Premier
League third-party rules - helped the Hammers avoid relegation at Sheffield
United's expense in 2007.
Sullivan told Soccernet in an exclusive interview: "West Ham pleaded guilty.
They shouldn't have done. They should have fought the case. "Instead, this
club has to pay out. We have a well-documented legal settlement and there is
no way out of it, other than to offer to pay Sheffield United a lump sum -
then they might accept a slight deduction. Does anyone have a spare £30
million? "And that is not where it ends. Clubs like Fulham are still suing
West Ham over Tevez, and as new owners we intend to fight these issues."
The size of a payment due to former manager Alan Curbishley has also still
to be decided. The manager won a compensation claim late last year after
having left West Ham in September 2008, and Soccernet understands that
Curbishley could be owed up to £3.5 million, although West Ham might try to
settle at £1.25 million. Sullivan said: "The club have already lost their
case with Alan. It's a question of how much, and we shall now try to settle.
We are all hoping Alan gets himself another job, as it would mitigate his
loss!"

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Benni McCarthy move held up by permit issue
By Harry Harris, Football Correspondent
ESPN
January 22, 2010

Soccernet understands West Ham's move for Blackburn Rovers striker Benni
McCarthy has stalled due to a work permit complication. The South Africa
striker will need to re-apply for a work permit if he joins the Hammers and
that might delay a move from Blackburn beyond the end of the present
transfer window. New owners David Sullivan and David Gold were frustrated by
the long process of acquiring the club which means they are tight for time
in signing up at least one striker, possibly two, before the window closes
at the end of the month. An insider told Soccernet: "The work permit problem
could be overcome as the player has a Spanish wife, and could soon obtain a
Spanish passport, but that too will take time. "West Ham are working on all
the complicated issues, and one way out might be to take the player on loan
subject to a permanent deal, [but] then he would not be able to play against
Blackburn, which would not be a good idea." West Ham are tracking Ruud van
Nistlerooy as well as McCarthy in a sign of their intent to snap up a
quality striker - something manager Gianfranco Zola believes is the key to
avoiding relegation.

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West Ham make £100,000-a-week contract offer to 'special player'
West Ham co-owner David Sullivan has said he has offered a "special player",
thought to be Real Madrid striker Ruud Van Nistelrooy, a £100,000-a-week
contract.
Telegraph.co.uk
By Telegraph staff
Published: 9:49AM GMT 22 Jan 2010

West Ham are said to have joined Tottenham and Stoke in expressing interest
in Ruud van Nistelrooy. Sullivan admitted this week the club are £110m in
debt, but has now said he would be willing to pay out big wages to one
"exceptional" signing. "We've offered £100,000-a-week to a player today and
we are still not sure we are going to get him," Sullivan told Radio Five
Live. Tottenham challenging West Ham for Inter Milan forward Luis
Jimenez"That was a very special player. "There's no transfer fee involved
and he's got the choice of almost every club in Europe. He has played at the
highest level. "He's down to three clubs and West Ham are the only English
club still in the hunt for him. Whether we get him is another thing."
Sullivan did not mention the player involved, however, it is believed to be
former Manchester United striker Van Nistelrooy. The 33 year-old has been
linked with a move to Upton Park, with Tottenham and Stoke also interested
in the Dutchman. Sullivan admitted West Ham, who are 16th in the Premier
League, are desperate for a player who can make an immediate impact. He
said: "We can carry one exceptional player, who would make a difference on
that wage, but generally we have to bring the wages down and in the summer
we would hope to sign younger players on a fraction of those wages. "We have
looked at a few players in the Championship but the reality is that it is no
good if they make the grade in 12 months' time, we need them to make the
grade now. "We have a crisis and you have to have a different strategy to
what our long-term strategy will be."
He added: "We are trying to sign players because unfortunately we have come
in very, very late and we have got a very unbalanced squad. "We are
particularly short of strikers and they are the hardest and most difficult
position to fill. That's the short-term objective. "We have guaranteed that
we will not sell a player in the transfer window and we are looking at
targets. We are doing our best for West Ham but at the moment we are drawing
blanks."

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Football transfer rumours: Ruud van Nistelrooy to West Ham or Spurs
Today's tell-all promises so much, but delivers so little
Barry Glendenning guardian.co.uk, Friday 22 January 2010 08.52 GMT

Good morning. Today's Rumours overslept, so you'll have to go without
today's pointless opening paragraph o'fun. But then who needs one, when the
word on the street is that Ruud van Nistelrooy has decided against pledging
his future to an East End club joint-owned by a pair of rhythm mag
publishers, one of whom has a fondness for the kind of burgundy crushed
velvet dinner jackets made trendy by Bernard Manning in the 1970s. Despite
West Ham's offer of £100,00-per-week, the Dutch international striker will
definitely sign for Spurs. Maybe.

West Ham and Birmingham are both interested in bringing out-of-favour Milan
striker Klaus Jan Huntelaar to the Premier League on a loan spell, while the
player's agent has confirmed that his client is eager to go to a club
willing to give him first team football so that he can guarantee his place
in the Dutch World Cup squad. Marco Ruben's chances of securing a berth on
Holland's plane to South Africa are considerably slimmer, not least because
he's Argentinian. The striker does, however, remain hopeful that Roberto
Martinez will pluck him from Villarreal reserves and give him a chance at
Wigan.

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Benni on his way to West Ham
Bafana Bafana's Benni McCarthy could be on his way to West Ham after they
made a £1.2m offer for the striker.
Football365.co.za

The London club's new owners David Gold and David Sullivan are eager to snap
up the services of the Blackburn Rovers player as cover for the retired Dean
Ashton's and the injured Carlton Cole. Gold told the Daily Star: "Benni
would be a good acquisition. It is possible , it's just a question of
whether we can do business." Gold and Sullivan held talks with Hammers
mentor Gianfranco Zola this week and it looks likely that the former Porto
striker could join them in the next few days. "Gianfranco is a ­really nice
guy. I believe he can be a great manager," said Sullivan. "We agreed we need
at least one striker by the Portsmouth match next Tuesday and the second by
the end of the window."
The former Porto frontman revealed earlier this month that he was eager to
find another club in order to play regular first-team football as he looks
to get himself into prime condition for the World Cup on South African soil.
And according to the 32-year-old's older brother, Jerome, the former Ajax
man's move to the Hammers is all but done.
"Benni is definitely moving to West Ham and this is good for him as a player
and also for Bafana. "All of us are happy for him because he has not seen
regular action at Blackburn," he told the Daily Dispatch.

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Ruud van Nistelrooy snubs Tottenham, West Ham and Stoke for shock Hamburg
switch
By Sportsmail Reporter
Last updated at 10:26 AM on 22nd January 2010
Daily Mail

Ruud van Nistelrooy is set to snub a return to the Barclays Premier League
in favour of joining Hamburg. Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United and Stoke
City had all hoped to sign the Real Madrid striker, but he apparently fears
he would not be able to live up to expectations that come with him being a
one-time Manchester United goal machine. The Hammers were even prepared to
meet his huge £100,000 a week present salary, but the 33-year-old Holland
international is instead on the verge of accepting a lower offer from
Hamburg. Van Nistelrooy has been sounding out compatriots Rafael van der
Vaart and Joris Mathijsen about the Bundesliga club. Van der Vaart played
for the club before signing for Madrid 18 months ago, while defender
Mathijsen is in his fourth season with Hamburg. Van Nistelrooy is keen to
play regular football in the run-up to the World Cup and is expected to seal
his move to Germany in the next 24 hours. Hamburg are also keen on AC Milan
striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, though it is unclear whether they will want to
complete deals for both of the Dutchmen. West Ham and Birmingham City have
been linked with the 26-year-old, who is unhappy at playing so little for
Milan since a summer switch from Real Madrid. With Arsenal, Liverpool and
Spurs all known to be looking at their attacking options, his agent Arnold
Oosterveer confirmed: 'There are some clubs in England interested in the
player, but out of respect for the clubs I cannot tell you (who they are).
'Everything is possible and in the last week (of the transfer window) a lot
of things can happen. He wants to play more than he plays now and if that is
in England or Germany or Spain or Italy, that is for him. 'There is no
problem at the moment and I hope Milan want to co-operate for the next four
months and play him, because he needs to play more. It depends if Milan want
to co-operate with the player. For now they want him to stay in Milan.'

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Manchester City launch whopping £15m bid for West Ham's Valon Behrami
By Matt Fortune
Last updated at 10:41 AM on 22nd January 2010
Daily Mail

Manchester City have moved to strengthen their already burgeoning midfield
ranks with a £15million bid for West Ham's Valon Behrami. The once-touted
'Switzerland's answer to David Beckham' has been a revelation since moving
to Upton Park, but could be sold to raise much-needed funds for the
relegation-threatened Hammers. West Ham's new co-chairman David Sullivan
and David Gold have suggested none of their star players will be sold this
month but such a cash injection could prove vital as Gianfranco Zola looks
to strengthen his side ahead of thei fight for Premier League survival.
Behrami, who cost the Hammers £5million 18-months ago, is popular with fans
and has proved a valuable asset for the injury-hit squad, filling in across
midfield and in defence. However the Swiss international has also had
fitness worries of his own. In March 2009 he suffered serious injuries to
his knee and ankle playing against Manchester City and only returned to
action in mid-September. Should Behrami make the move, West Ham are likely
to cement their interest in Aston Villa's out-of-favour duo Luke Young and
Marlon Harewood, the latter himself a former Hammer. Up front, they are keen
on City's Benjani Mwaruwari, whom they tried to sign last year. The
Eastlands outfit, meanwhile, also have their eyes Middlesbrough star Adam
Johnson. City have made tentative inquiries about the wing-wizard but face
competition from Chelsea, Sunderland and Wolves. Johnson is out of contract
in the summer and Boro boss Gordon Strachan is expecting his star-turn to
leave the Riverside. Sunderland were hoping to get their man for £3million
but City could win the race with a £5m bid.

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EXCLUSIVE: QUASHIE RETURNS TO R'S
Posted on: Fri 22 Jan 2010
Qpr.co.uk

Queens Park Rangers Football Club are delighted to announce the signing of
midfielder Nigel Quashie, following his release from West Ham United.
Quashie, who began his career as a youth player at Loftus Road, has put pen
to paper on a deal until the end of the season. The 31-year-old originally
left the R's in 1998 to join Nottingham Forest, before going on to play for
Portsmouth, Southampton, West Bromwich Albion and the Hammers. The combative
midfielder also spent time on loan at Birmingham City, Wolves and MK Dons
while being registered with the Upton Park outfit. Quashie told
www.qpr.co.uk: "It's great to be back home, and I am delighted to be at a
Club that I love to pieces.
"I had a good time when I was here before, and the fans were very good to
me. I'm a fan of the Club myself so I know what they demand. "There are some
excellent players here and it is nice to come back and be a part of it.
"We've got a chance to get into the play-offs, and if we can do that and
then get into the Premier League, the whole place will just take off. "I
guarantee I will play with passion. It's about putting your foot in and
working as hard as you possibly can. "We want opposing teams to come to
Loftus Road knowing they're going to face one hell of a difficult game.
"It's important to me that I do well for the QPR supporters."
R's gaffer Mick Harford added: "Nigel has been training with us for the last
few days and has looked excellent. "He will give us added experience in the
middle of the park and is a great addition. "No disrespect to anyone else,
but I feel we have missed Martin Rowlands and Gavin Mahon's experience.
Nigel will give us some of that." Quashie is expected to go straight into
the squad for next Tuesday's Championship fixture at Nottingham Forest. He
will wear shirt number 15.

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Huntelaar enquiries gather pace
Sport.co.uk
Author: Nigel Brown
Posted on:22 January 2010 - 12:13

According to the Daily Mirror Birmingham City and West Ham United have
contacted Serie A side AC Milan regarding the availability of Dutch
international striker Klaas Jan Huntelaar. German Bundesliga club Hamburg
are reportedly leading the chase for the frontman although Manchester
United, Liverpool, and Arsenal have also been linked with former Real Madrid
forward.

West Ham's new owner's David Gold and David Sullivan have promised that
manager Gianfranco Zola that they will provide funds to bring in two quality
strikers with former Manchester United forward Ruud Van Nistelrooy,
Blackburn Rover's striker Benni McCarthy, and Monaco's Eidur Gudjohnsen
confirmed targets for the newly owned Hammers.

Birmingham City are another Premier League club that has undergone a change
in ownership with new owner Carson Yeung eager to strengthen Alex Mcleish's
squad. Bids for Liverpool's Ryan Babel, Ranger's forward Kris Boyd, and a
number of other player's across Europe have signaled the new owner's
ambitious intentions. And now McLeish has asked his new bosses to enquire
about the possibility of signing AC Milan's Dutch marksman.

Long-term admirers Arsenal, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are
still reportedly monitoring the situation at the San Siro. Although Arsenal
boss Arsene Wenger hinted this yeterday that he is now unlikely to purchase
a striker in the January window with a five point plan. And, Manchester
United manager Sir Alex Ferguson may now have to use any surplus funds to
find defensive cover with John O'Shea out until the end of the season.

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Quashie seals Rs return
Midfielder delighted with Loftus Road return
Last updated: 22nd January 2010
SSN

Queens Park Rangers have sealed the signing of former star Nigel Quashie on
a deal until the end of the season. As revealed by skysports.com earlier
this month Rangers were lining up a move to bring the midfielder back to
Loftus Road. The 31-year-old secured his release from West Ham to enable him
to make the move back to Rangers on a free transfer. Quashie, who began his
career at QPR, was delighted to make the return to West London. "It's great
to be back home, and I am delighted to be at a club that I love to pieces,"
Quashie told the club's official website. "I had a good time when I was here
before, and the fans were very good to me. I'm a fan of the club myself so I
know what they demand. "There are some excellent players here and it is nice
to come back and be a part of it "We've got a chance to get into the
play-offs, and if we can do that and then get into the Premier League, the
whole place will just take off."
QPR boss Mick Harford feels Quashie will bring much-needed experience to the
team. "Nigel has been training with us for the last few days and has looked
excellent," said Harford. "He will give us added experience in the middle of
the park and is a great addition."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham and Ruud van Nistelrooy makes more sense than an electric blue
Rolls-Royce
David Sullivan preached prudence when he took over West Ham two days ago.
But a man with his flair for sartorial misadventure wasn't going to be quiet
for long and now he's prepared to splash the cash for Ruud van Nistelrooy.
Money well spent, says the Bung...
Telegraph
Published: 12:23PM GMT 22 Jan 2010

BACKING A SURE THING

Saviours come in many forms. Sometimes they are simple carpenters with
healing hands. Other times they are bubble permed fantasists who deal only
in black and white. And then there are those who appear out of electric blue
Rolls-Royces wearing claret coloured velour smoking jackets bought and paid
for by men who go shopping in stores with no external windows and a fine
line in onanistic apparel.

But in these difficult times one cannot pick and chose one's messiah. And
David Sullivan, the recently installed owner of West Ham, appears to have
his heart and his wallet in the right place.

The deal to see him returned to East Laaandan, the sound of Bow bells
ringing in his shell like, he claimed, made "no commercial sense at all".

It was a decision made by the heart rather than the head. The club are in
the kind of debt that in other industries would qualify them for a bumper
pay out from the treasury. He would not be waving a magic wand. Merely
steadying the ship and planning for the long haul.

But a man with the kind of sartorial devil may care attitude to rival Eddie
Izzard is not going to be all prudence and straight thinking for long. His
natural showmanship could not be suppressed for more than two days before he
was talking as loudly as he dresses about marquee signings, exceptional
circumstances and a wild punt on a nag that we all thought had long since
been put out to stud.

"We've offered £100,000-a-week to a player and we are still not sure we are
going to get him," said Sullivan, being unusually coy and showing nothing of
the financial caution he had previously claimed was necessary for West Ham
to survive and prosper.

"It's a very special player. He's got the choice of almost every club in
Europe. He has played at the highest level. He's down to three clubs and
West Ham are the only English club still in the hunt for him."

Tottenham, and even Stoke City, might dispute the veracity of the final part
of that statement, the 'it' in this case being Ruud van Nistelrooy, whom
Harry Redknapp and Tony Pulis both fancy a flutter on too.

"We can carry one exceptional player who would make a difference on that
wage," continued Sullivan. But would he really make a difference? Probably
yes. He may have the kind of pace these days that would give Dean Windass an
even chance of beating him in a hundred yard dash, especially if it was to
the chippy, but he's been there and done it all before.

Van Nistelrooy's goal scoring prowess has never been questioned. At PSV
Eindhoven, Manchester United and Real Madrid, before his legs went and the
club shelled out on a phalanx of attacking talent who could actually still
run for more than five minutes without needing a rest, he filled his boots
like few others.

At the age of 33 the Dutchman's best days are behind him. But with no
transfer fee to be paid the deal is not as highly priced as it first sounds
and with West Ham facing the prospect of relegation, a handful of goals from
the old stagger may well be enough to avoid that calamity.

Sullivan's judgement, at least when it comes to whistle and flutes and flash
motors, may not be one you would instantly think to trust, but he may well
be backing the right horse this time round.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Arsenal and West Ham land Boro kids
15:01 - 22 January 2010
TheComet.net

PREMIER League giants Arsenal and West Ham United have between them signed
six eight-year-olds from youth football club Stevenage Borough Juniors. The
six youngsters, four of whom joined the club when they were just four years
old, have been chosen to receive two year training contracts from hundreds
of players that Arsenal and West Ham have looked at in the past 18 months.
All six - Jay, Patrick, Daniel, Ben, Joshua and Zak - attended an Arsenal
training session before brothers Patrick and Daniel signed for West Ham
while the rest remained with Arsenal. Patrick and Daniel's father Richard
said: "From the day we started at Stevenage Borough Juniors, my boys have
loved their football and they were always encouraged to both do their best
and have fun. "I'm sure the grounding they got will help them in the
future".
Local Arsenal scout Brian Stapleton said: "Stevenage Borough Juniors are
really good at developing youngsters and offer them every opportunity to
become better players." Stevenage Borough Juniors club secretary Brian
Mitchell said his club aims to help local youngsters make the most of their
natural footballing ability. Mr Mitchell said: "If that means that some
players leave us to join professional clubs, we are delighted for them and
are proud of the part we have played in their development. "However we are
just as proud of the progress that is made by the players that remain with
us and we try to make sure that playing football is a fun activity, as well
as a healthy pastime."

Any parent who would like their son or daughter to join Stevenage Borough
Juniors should contact Mr Mitchell on (01438) 350157. Players of all ages,
gender and abilities are welcome.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

http://vyperz.blogspot.com

Daily WHUFC News - 22nd January 2010

Goal joy for Jordan
WHUFC.com
Jordan Spence has told WHUTV of his delight after scoring his first goal
since November 2008
20.01.2010

Jordan Spence was understandably delighted after scoring his first West Ham
United goal in more than two years. The 19-year-old defender hit the target
with a headed equaliser in Wednesday's 1-1 Barclays Premier Reserve League
South draw with Portsmouth at Bishop's Stortford, some 26 months after
scoring in a 2-2 reserve-team draw with Arsenal in November 2007. The former
England Under-19 captain's effort hit a Pompey defender on its way into the
top corner, but Spence told WHUTV he was in no doubt that his name should
appear on the scoresheet. "I think there was a bit of confusion but it was
mine! The defender had a part to play in it, but I'll take it. My last goal
for the reserve team was a little while ago, so it was nice."
While Spence does not score too often, he also famously netted England's
winner in their FIFA U17 World Cup group-stage victory over Brazil in 2007.
"I don't remember a lot of that goal, to be honest. Henri Lansbury has had a
shot and it was going wide and I've managed to sidefoot it towards the goal.
The celebration was a little more muted this time around!"
Having drawn the Hammers level, Spence was disappointed that Alex Dyer's
side were not able to go on and win the game. Davide Ferrari and Olly Lee
both went close to snatching a winner late on, only to find Portsmouth
goalkeeper Liam O'Brien in unbeatable form. "I think we showed good
character. I think we were the better side on the night, as we'd have
expected to be with the players we had on show. We just needed to be patient
and persevere and if the final ball was right and the finish was right, we
could score.
"Certainly, looking at it on reflection, I think we were the better side,
but it was better than coming away having lost. "We were a little bit
brighter after half-time. The tempo in the first half was a little bit
laboured, so it was case of upping that and doing the things we know are
right. Once we did that, we were dangerous and could have got a couple of
goals."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hammers want £100,000-a-week star
BBC.co.uk

West Ham's new owner David Sullivan has offered a player wages of
£100,000-a-week to join the club. Sullivan, who now controls the Hammers
together with David Gold, admitted this week that the club are £110m in
debt. But with West Ham struggling in the league, Sullivan has made the
offer to a "special" player to try to avoid the "horrendous" prospect of
relegation. Sullivan would not name the player but Real Madrid striker Ruud
van Nistelrooy has been linked with the club. Tottenham and Stoke have
stated their interest in the 33-year-old Dutchman, who joined the Spanish
giants from Manchester United in 2006. "We've offered £100,000-a-week to a
player today and we are still not sure we are going to get him," Sullivan
told BBC Radio 5 live. "That was a very special player. "There's no
transfer fee involved and he's got the choice of almost every club in
Europe. He has played at the highest level. "He's down to three clubs and
West Ham are the only English club still in the hunt for him. Whether we get
him is another thing. "We can carry one exceptional player, who would make a
difference on that wage, but generally we have to bring the wages down and
in the summer we would hope to sign younger players on a fraction of those
wages. "We have looked at a few players in the Championship but the reality
is that it is no good if they make the grade in 12 months time, we need them
to make the grade now. "We have a crisis and you have to have a different
strategy to what our long-term strategy will be."
Sullivan has reportedly targeted two strikers and a defender to sign in the
January transfer window as he tries to get West Ham out of relegation
trouble. They are currently 16th in the table and are on the same number of
points as Hull, who are in the relegation zone. "We are trying to sign
players because unfortunately we have come in very, very late and we have
got a very unbalanced squad," added Sullivan. "We are particularly short of
strikers and they are the hardest and most difficult position to fill.
That's the short-term objective. "We have guaranteed that we will not sell a
player in the transfer window and we are looking at targets. We are doing
our best for West Ham but at the moment we are drawing blanks. "It's a
difficult time to sign players but the club desperately needs strikers and
we have to bring some in."
Gold and Sullivan, who left Birmingham City in November following Hong Kong
businessman Carson Yeung's takeover, took control of the Hammers on Tuesday
in a deal which concluded a long-running saga over the club's ownership. At
the media conference to announce the takeover, Sullivan revealed the scale
of West Ham's debts and he told 5 live on Thursday that the club "from
top-to-bottom" is "very inefficient". And when asked how much of a crisis it
would be if West Ham were relegated, Sullivan replied: "It would be
absolutely horrendous, that's all I can say. "It doesn't even bear thinking
about. It can't happen and it must not happen. That's why we are doing
everything in our power for it not to happen."
Sullivan suffered relegation and promotion with Birmingham but he believes
the drop has bigger consequences for West Ham than it does to his former
club. "Birmingham is a much smaller club, it does not have the same
potential as West Ham," he said. "We never took on the wage bill at
Birmingham, the highest paid player is on £25,000-a-week. If they got
relegated it wasn't pleasant but you could take a season of it because it
was built into the equation. "We've inherited a situation at West Ham where
it's not built into the equation in any shape or form. "If we weren't
supporters we wouldn't have taken it on. There is no other club we would
have taken on this liability for and risked a huge amount of money for - we
could lose the lot."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Sullivan reveals mega offer
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 21st January 2010
By: Staff Writer

David Sullivan has revealed that West Ham have offered a six-figure weekly
pay cheque to an unnamed player as United seek to boost their options ahead
of the transfer window deadline. Sullivan, who was talking to Five Live
earlier evening revealed that the club had made the astonishing offer to 'a
player that's played at the higest level'.
"We've offered £100,000 per week to a player today," he said, "and we're
still not sure we're going to get him. He's a very special player and we're
doing our best for West Ham. "At the moment we're drawing blanks from a
priority list. It's like a game of chess because you have those at the top
of your list - do you hang on for them, knowing you've got five critical
games coming up in 16 days, or do you move down your list, discount your top
targets and get what you can with only nine or ten days left before the
transfer deadline? "I can't [name names] but it's a genuine thing. We're not
going the route of the Icelandics - this a player where no transfer fee is
involved - but he's got a choice of almost every club in Europe. He's a
player that's played at the highest level and who we think could make a
difference. "He's down to three clubs and West Ham is the only English club
that's still in the hunt for him - but whether we get him is another thing.
These are the things we're up against, it isn't easy."
Speculation has immediately thrown up the names of 33-year-old striker Ruud
Van Nistelrooy and 32-year-old Italian forward Luca Toni, with the former
known to be looking for a move away from Real Madrid. When reminded of the
club's parlous financial position and asked whether it was a viable move,
Sullivan replied: "We could carry one exceptional player who could make a
difference on that wage but generally we've got to bring the wages down. In
the summer we'll be looking at signing younger players on transfer fees at a
fraction of those wages in the hope we can discover a star or two.
"Unfortunately at the moment we're in a crisis and you've got to have a
different strategy now to what our long term strategy is. We need two or
three players now that can make the difference and help us climb the table.
Then, in the summer, we'll be buying players for the future, buying players
we can bring on, buying players on sensible wages. "Unfortunately we can't
wait for them now - we've looked at a few players in the Championship that
we'd like to sign but the reality is that it's no good if they make the
grade in 12 months time, we need them to make the grade now. "It may take
them 20 games to adjust - and we just haven't got that amount of time."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Spurs in pole position to sign Ruud van Nistelrooy after Real Madrid striker
turns down big-money offer from West Ham
By Simon Cass Last updated at 9:58 PM on 21st January 2010
Daily Mail

The shock absorbers may be past their best and the engine has plenty of
miles on the clock, but when it comes to Van the Man the pros still outweigh
the cons by some considerable distance. Ruud van Nistelrooy is in demand
and, given he is available from Real Madrid for a nominal fee, it is little
surprise he has attracted the interest of Tottenham, West Ham, Stoke City
and Turkish side Galatasaray. The 33-year-old has recovered from his latest
serious knee injury and is described as fit and raring to go by those close
to him. Just as Sir Alex Ferguson was prepared to gamble on Van Nistelrooy
despite his arrival at Old Trafford being postponed by a cruciate ligament
injury, so an eight-month lay-off with a torn meniscus has done little to
deter current suitors. Van Nistelrooy clearly feels he still has plenty to
offer, hence his decision to bide his time in search of a chance to end his
career on a big stage. Such ambition, which may explain his reluctance to
sign up for West Ham's relegation struggle, would also seem to put paid to
Stoke City's approach, while a move to Turkish side Galatasaray is believed
to hold little attraction. Tottenham, therefore, would seem to be in pole
position, although their willingness to offer only a contract based on
performance and appearances represents a stumbling block. Van Nistelrooy is
expecting more offers between now and the end of the transfer window and his
burning ambition to be part of the Holland World Cup squad means he will
almost certain be on his way out of the Bernabeu by the end of this month.
The Real Madrid hierarchy are making all the right noises about Van
Nistelrooy being gentlemanly in his conduct and are insistent they will do
everything in their power to help facilitate a move. Florentino Perez and
company are wise to take such a stance given how revered Van Nistelrooy is
among Real's supporters for his record of 46 goals in 68 league appearances
for the Spanish giants.
But there is also the small matter of a £3million saving in wages, not to
mention that Van Nistelrooy was a grandstand signing of Perez's presidential
predecessor, Ramon Calderon. Van Nistelrooy's arrival in the Spanish capital
in 2006 certainly divided opinion. Sections of Real supporters felt he was
already past his best. Furthermore, it is understood the then manager, Fabio
Capello, took some persuading by former sporting director Predrag Mijatovic
that Van Nistelrooy was the right man for the job. In addition, the Holland
striker's arrival was something of a damp squib in galactico terms, since
Calderon had promised and failed to bring in the likes of Kaka, Cristiano
Ronaldo and Cesc Fabregas. Such misgivings were forgotten when Van
Nistelrooy's 25 goals lit up an otherwise dull Real side and wrested the La
Liga crown away from bitter rivals Barcelona.
Although less spectacular under Capello's replacement Bernd Schuster, Van
Nistelrooy still bagged 20 goals in all competitions and another league
title winners' medal, while there are some who argue he was playing the best
football of his career before suffering his knee injury in his third
campaign with Real. H aving battled back to fitness, Van Nistelrooy is now
ready to give his all for a new club to try and secure an international
swansong in South Africa. Klaas Jan Huntelaar has failed to live up to his
billing not only for Real Madrid and AC Milan but also for his country,
while Dirk Kuyt, though honest and hard- working, does not strike fear into
international defences. Dutch hopes are riding on there being no relapses in
the recovery of Robin van Persie, the Arsenal striker who has pencilled in
mid-April as the date for his return from an ankle injury. But a fit-again
Van Nistelrooy, scoring goals on a regular basis in the Barclays Premier
League, will be difficult for Holland coach Bert van Marwijk to ignore.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham offer £100k-a-week to a ''special'' striker
By Soccernet staff

West Ham's new owner David Sullivan says that the club have made an offer of
£100,000-a-week to one striker who is a ''very special player''. Despite
criticising former owner Eggert Magnusson for his poor financial handling of
the Hammers which has seen their debt rise to £110 million, Sullivan is
adament that the player, who is a free agent, is worth it. "We've offered
£100,000-a-week to a player today and we are still not sure we are going to
get him," Sullivan told BBC Radio 5 live. "That was a very special player.
"There's no transfer fee involved and he's got the choice of almost every
club in Europe. He has played at the highest level. He's down to three clubs
and West Ham are the only English club still in the hunt for him. "We can
carry one exceptional player, who would make a difference on that wage, but
generally we have to bring the wages down and in the summer we would hope to
sign younger players on a fraction of those wages. "We have a crisis and you
have to have a different strategy to what our long-term strategy will be."
Sullivan has reportedly targeted two strikers and a defender this month,
with Ruud van Nistelrooy one of the names linked. "We are trying to sign
players because unfortunately we have come in very, very late and we have
got a very unbalanced squad," added Sullivan. "We are particularly short of
strikers and they are the hardest and most difficult position to fill.
That's the short-term objective."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham United In The Hunt For Tottenham Hotspur Striker Robbie Keane -
Report
The Hammers are keen on Robbie...
Jan 21, 2010 3:04:00 PM
Goal.com

West Ham United have made no secret this week of their desire to sign a
striker this month, and are now monitoring Tottenham Hotspur's Robbie Keane,
according to a report from The Daily Express. New Hammers owners David
Sullivan and David Gold have said they will help manager Gianfranco Zola
reinforce his squad and have identified the forward positions as a priority.
Keane has been linked with clutch of clubs over the last month, with Celtic,
Sunderland and Aston Villa amongst the names believed to be interested in
taking the Republic of Ireland striker away from White Hart Lane. Although
the report claims that the Hammers have had an initial loan enquiry for the
player rejected, Gold and Sullivan have apparently made an £8 million
transfer kitty available to Zola. Monca's Eidur Gudjohnsen and Benni
McCarthy of Blackburn are also believed to be on the Hammers list of
possible targets, whilst they are also interested in bringing a centre-back
to Upton Park.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hammers target 'special' player
Mammoth contract offered to unknown star
By James Riach Last updated: 21st January 2010
SSN

New West Ham co-owner David Sullivan claims he has offered a £100,000-a-week
contract to a 'special player'. Despite Sullivan admitting earlier in the
week that the club are £110million in debt, he says he could break the bank
in wages to sign a star player. Real Madrid striker Ruud van Nistelrooy has
been linked with a move to Upton Park, having fallen down the pecking order
at the Bernabeu, although the Hammers are not thought to be the
sharp-shooter's only suitor. Sullivan did not mention the player who has
been offered the contract, although the club are known to have a goalscoring
forward at the top of their wish-list. "We've offered £100,000-a-week to a
player today and we are still not sure we are going to get him," he said.
"That was a very special player. There's no transfer fee involved and he's
got the choice of almost every club in Europe. He has played at the highest
level. "He's down to three clubs and West Ham are the only English club
still in the hunt for him. Whether we get him is another thing. "We can
carry one exceptional player, who would make a difference on that wage, but
generally we have to bring the wages down and in the summer we would hope to
sign younger players on a fraction of those wages. "We have looked at a few
players in the Championship but the reality is that it is no good if they
make the grade in 12 months' time, we need them to make the grade now. "We
have a crisis and you have to have a different strategy to what our
long-term strategy will be."
West Ham are currently 16th in the Premier League with 19 points from 21
games and Sullivan admits himself and fellow co-owner David Gold are
currently focused on the short-term plight of the club. "We are trying to
sign players because unfortunately we have come in very, very late and we
have got a very unbalanced squad," he added."We are particularly short of
strikers and they are the hardest and most difficult position to fill.
That's the short-term objective. "We have guaranteed that we will not sell a
player in the transfer window and we are looking at targets. We are doing
our best for West Ham but at the moment we are drawing blanks."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
We'll pay Ruud 100k a week
The Sun
By PAT SHEEHAN
Published: Today

WEST HAM last night made a sensational swoop for Real Madrid striker Ruud
van Nistelrooy. New Hammers owners David Gold and David Sullivan have
offered the ex-Manchester United star £100,000-a-week to fire them out of
their Premier League relegation dogfight. Dutchman Van Nistelrooy, 33, has
been told by Real president Florentino Perez he will not play for them again
this season. Sullivan said: "We've offered £100,000-a-week to a player and
we are still not sure we are going to get him. "It's a very special player.
He's got the choice of almost every club in Europe. He has played at the
highest level. "He's down to three clubs and West Ham are the only English
club still in the hunt for him."
Stoke have been battling to sign Van on a 2½-year deal. But the Hammers' new
owners are desperate to make a statement of intent despite the club's
£110million debt. Sullivan added: "We can carry one exceptional player who
would make a difference on that wage. "But generally we have to bring the
wages down and in the summer we would hope to sign younger players on a
fraction of those wages. "We're in a crisis and you have to have a different
strategy to what your long-term strategy will be."
Dutchman Van Nistelrooy wants to go to the World Cup but knows he will need
regular first-team football to achieve his aim. Real want around £2m but
could be persuaded to drop their demand to get Van Nistelrooy off their wage
bill. A successful bid for Van Nistelrooy could end the Londoners' interest
in Blackburn striker Benni McCarthy. West Ham had tabled a £1.25m bid but
Rovers have demanded at least double that. A senior Blackburn source said:
"We would rather keep Benni here - but if we are going to sell him it will
be for a lot more than £1.25m."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
English owners are Gold dust
The Sun
HARRY REDKNAPP - Columnist

WEST HAM have maybe landed two of the best signings possible in the transfer
window. It's brilliant news for the club, the fans and the whole of football
that David Sullivan and David Gold have bought half the club with an option
to take over completely in four years. It may sound like a cliched script
from EastEnders but to have West Ham back in the hands of people from the
area will be a major boost to them and also makes a stand in the game as a
whole. Foreign players have taken over on the pitch, more and more foreign
managers are running the biggest clubs but at least a stand is being made in
the boardroom. I liked it when Sullivan opened his heart and declared: "We
are not the King of Saudi Arabia or a Russian like Roman Abramovich. We are
British."
Sullivan went on to say he believes his former club Birmingham really should
belong to someone from the second city. But it doesn't. That saddens me. We
are seeing a tide of owners from abroad snapping up clubs which once stood
for the town and were in the hands of local people. My club Tottenham has a
British chairman and that makes communication so much easier between
dressing room and the directors. The people above me understand the English
game, the fans, how it's not just a hard business of numbers and that
people's affections are involved too. This is not some jingoistic rant.
Foreign footballers have given us so much. But no one wants the very essence
of the British game eroded completely and a balance must be struck. Which is
what might just have happened in E13 and it is encouraging to see a Union
Jack fluttering in the Premier League.
David Gold was born just a few dozen yards from the Boleyn Ground. Sullivan
was brought up in Hornchurch, nowadays the heartland of Hammers territory. I
believe they will steadily turn West Ham around. They have already made a
great start by backing the manager Gianfranco Zola. Too often we witness
takeovers and, for some inexplicable reason, a perfectly good manager gets
the boot.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham court Ruud van Nistelrooy with £100,000 a week
Gary Jacob, George Caulkin
The Times

West Ham United have made an audacious move to sign Ruud van Nistelrooy,
offering to meet the forward's £100,000-a-week wages at Real Madrid. The
size of the offer comes as a surprise after David Sullivan, the club's new
joint-chairman, made great play of the perceived excessive spending of the
previous regime. Van Nistelrooy has played only four times this season for
Real, where his contract ends this summer, and wants regular first-team
football to have a chance of securing a place in Holland's squad for the
World Cup finals in South Africa.

He would need considerable persuading to join the club and would prefer a
move to Tottenham Hotspur, who are also interested in the player, but want
Real to continue to pay some of his wages. "We've offered £100,000 a week to
a player today and we are still not sure we are going to get him," Sullivan
said. "That was a very special player. He's got the choice of almost every
club in Europe. He has played at the highest level. He's down to three clubs
and West Ham are the only English club still in the hunt for him. Whether we
get him is another thing.

"We can carry one exceptional player, who would make a difference on that
wage, but generally we have to bring the wages down and in the summer we
would hope to sign younger players on a fraction of those wages."

Blackburn Rovers have told West Ham that Benni McCarthy will cost £4 million
after rejecting a £1.25 million bid for the South Africa striker. West Ham
are also keen on taking Benjani Mwaruwari on loan from Manchester City, who
may resist because they have loaned out Jô to Galatasaray for the rest of
the season.

Aston Villa will resist West Ham's attempt to sign Luke Young, the right
back.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham shows days of leech-like football owners are numbered
The Times
Tony Cascarino

The takeover of West Ham United by David Sullivan and David Gold is a big
moment for the Barclays Premier League, whether you're a fan of the club or
not. It could mark the start of a new set of takeovers by owners who are
realistic and sensible, instead of the dreamers or leeches that have gone
before.

I expect there'll be a rash of takeovers in the coming years as existing
owners try to get out of football after discovering it isn't the cash cow
they expected. Sullivan talking about West Ham having a 110 million GBP debt
and Portsmouth's plight are wake-up calls for the game. The level of debt is
so horrifying that the Premier League must act by increasing its regulation
of clubs' finances.

A tighter grip on clubs' balance sheets by the authorities – and Uefa are
doing their bit by trying to exclude clubs that are heavily in debt from the
Champions League – is surely the way forward. Portsmouth's mess is all the
excuse the Premier League need to get more involved

Portsmouth's misfortune and West Ham's flirtation with disaster could do for
football what the credit crunch has done to the financial industry – force
tighter regulation and more careful borrowing after years of irresponsible
behaviour. Salaries of 70-80,000 GBP a week at clubs such as Portsmouth and
West Ham? Madness. Portsmouth and West Ham owing so much after all the
talent they've sold? Unbelievable.

I love gambling but I know that you never risk everything. You don't put all
your assets on the line. But this is what Premier League clubs seem to have
been doing, mortgaging themselves to the hilt or overspending to the limit
and beyond. At stadiums across the country it's been football on the pitch
and Russian roulette in the boardroom.

Given the amount of television money handed to clubs just for being in the
Premier League, it's ridiculous that they should get themselves into such
deep trouble. Clubs have been careless and over-confident. Their owners must
be held to account. And it's not just aspiring clubs the size of West Ham,
Portsmouth or Hull City – giants such as Manchester United and Liverpool
have been revealed to be heavily in debt and financially-stretched.

The big clubs will be safe in the end, of course. There will always be
someone ready to bail out or buy a Manchester United or Liverpool. I reckon
they'll both have new owners within a couple of years. But the likes of
Portsmouth? It wouldn't surprise me if they went into administration soon
and lost nine points automatically, sealing their relegation. Maybe then
other clubs would sit up and take serious notice. Football obviously didn't
learn from the decline and fall of Leeds United. Perhaps the game needs
another reminder of the perils of overspending.

Going forward, I still expect the biggest stars to attract massive and
growing wages, but the Premier League will be more like American sports,
where the elite players earn ten times what the rank and file get. Clubs
will still pay out 100,000 GBP a week to the household names, but they won't
be shelling out 50,000 GBP a week to players who are relatively ordinary.
Squad sizes will be smaller – why does any club need 35 professionals? And
youth players will be given more of a chance. Football will still be
lucrative, but it'll be more realistic and accountable.

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Blackburn ace set for deadline beating West Ham move
Published 23:00 21/01/10 By Alan Nixon
The Mirror

Benni McCarthy will tell Blackburn he wants to leave - and is keen to head
for new-look West Ham in a deadline deal. South African striker McCarthy is
fed up with his role at Sam Allardyce's club and wants Rovers to sell him to
the Hammers, despite rival interest from Turkish giants Galatasaray.
McCarthy was left on the bench for the Carling Cup semi-final with Aston
Villa and plans to make a quick exit - with Hammers keen and the Turks even
ready to fly him to Istanbul today. The much-travelled forward would rather
head for London, but he will have to stamp his feet hard as Blackburn are
digging in for close to their £3million valuation. Hammers wheeler-dealing
supremo David Sulivan has offered £1.5m and will have to increase the offer.
However ,McCarthy's insistence that he leaves may force a compromise.
Allardyce has admitted McCarthy would be better off leaving, but the money
men want the maximum fee to fund a bid for a replacement - with Stoke's
James Beattie and even Egyptian misfit Mido on their wish list. Blackburn
old boy Beattie would cost close to £3m, so Rovers want every last penny
from the McCarthy sale to make the in-and-out switch happen in the next few
days.

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Hammers return for knife victim Davenport
Published 23:00 21/01/10 By Mirror Football
The Mirror

Calum Davenport was back in training yesterday - five months after being
stabbed in the legs at his mother's house. The 27-year-old West Ham defender
was attacked in Bedford in the early hours of August 22 and was found
outside the home in a pool of blood. And his scars were clearly visible as
he made his return to action at the Hammers training ground as they prepare
for the Premier League trip to Portsmouth on Tuesday night.

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West Ham and Birmingham in transfer fight for AC Milan star
Published 23:00 21/01/10 By Darren Lewis
The Mirror

Birmingham and West Ham are believed to have enquired about taking unsettled
AC Milan striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar on loan. The former Ajax marksman has
spent the season on the bench at the San Siro, with just three goals since
moving to the club last summer from Real Madrid. Huntelaar also spent just
one season in Spain and is desperate for a club where he can gain regular
first-team football and make it into the Holland squad for the World Cup.
His agent, Arnold Oosterveer, said: "He wants to play more. I can confirm
the interest of some English clubs but I will not name names out of respect
for them. "Huntelaar just wants to play more, whether in England, Germany,
Italy or Spain.
"In football, anything is possible. Everything can change in just a few
days. We'll see what happens from here until the end of the winter market."

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West Ham offer Van Nistelrooy £100,000 a week
Published 23:00 21/01/10 By Darren Lewis
The Mirror

West Ham have launched a £100,000-a-week bid for Ruud van Nistelrooy in an
attempt to beat the drop. New owners David Sullivan and David Gold revealed
this week that the Hammers are more than £100million in debt. But they are
terrified that relegation will leave their recent investment in tatters and
are prepared to go to extraordinary lengths to stay in the Premier League.
Sullivan would not name the player he was trying to sign but has already
been linked with the Real Madrid star and said: "We've offered
£100,000-a-week to a player today and we are still not sure we are going to
get him. That was a very special player. "There's no transfer fee involved
and he's got the choice of almost every club in Europe. He has played at the
highest level. "He's down to three clubs and West Ham are the only English
club still in the hunt for him. Whether we get him is another thing. "We can
carry one exceptional player, who would make a difference on that wage, but
generally we have to bring the wages down and in the summer we would hope to
sign younger players on a fraction of those wages."
Sullivan also told BBC Radio Five Live that his club needs an injection of
special talent now before it is too late. "We have looked at a few players
in the Championship but the reality is that it is no good if they make the
grade in 12 months time, we need them to make the grade now. "We have a
crisis and you have to have a different strategy to what our long-term
strategy will be."
West Ham are 16th in the league but level on points with Hull who are in the
relegation zone and Sullivan knows that because the deal for the club
dragged on, he has come in at a difficult stage in the transfer signing
window. He added: "We are trying to sign players because unfortunately we
have come in very, very late and we have got a very unbalanced squad. "We
are particularly short of strikers and they are the hardest and most
difficult position to fill. That's the short-term objective. "We have
guaranteed that we will not sell a player in the transfer window and we are
looking at targets. We are doing our best for West Ham but at the moment we
are drawing blanks."

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Icelandic stake a drag for West Ham's new owners David Sullivan and David
Gold
It's called Pareto's Principle, although it's probably a term not used that
often at Upton Park.
Telegraph.co.uk
By Jason Burt
Published: 7:00AM GMT 22 Jan 2010

Pareto? Isn't he one of the right-backs West Ham's technical director
Gianluca Nani was looking at? Andrew Bernhardt, the club's chairman until
David Sullivan's takeover, is probably aware of it given his background with
Straumur, where he headed the bank's debt finance division. And, as Sullivan
outlined, there's a lot of debt at West Ham.

The principle is simple and it's alternatively known as the 80/20 rule. In
other words, 80 per cent of your business comes from 20 per cent of your
clients. Therefore, it goes, concentrate on that 20 per cent. Pareto first
applied it to land — when he observed that in Italy, 80 per cent of the
country was owned by 20 per cent of the people. The law of the vital few.

Sport on television What's this got to do with West Ham? Well, although
Sullivan and David Gold have taken over, they own only 50 per cent. The rest
lies with Straumur, itself a failed company, which had financed Icelandic
businessman Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson's takeover.

Why has Straumur kept half? After all, there was an offer from Malaysian
entrepreneur Tony Fernandes to buy 100 per cent and end their involvement?
It could then have concentrated on turning itself into the "independent
asset management company" it wants to be following the meltdown of the
Icelandic economy. To work the business it knows.

Straumur will argue that it makes better sense — and potentially a better
return for its shareholders – to hold on. But what has it got back? It's
believed to be only a couple of million pounds even though Bernhardt, one of
its top bankers, spent a lot of time dealing with West Ham's troubles.

To apply Pareto's principle, wouldn't Straumur have done better to have cut
its losses — and concentrate not only on the businesses it understands but
on the ones that will help it recover? It doesn't help Sullivan to have
Straumur still involved. And it doesn't help West Ham either.

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David Sullivan's West Ham United entrance a lesson in camouflage
Telegraph.co.uk
By David Edbrooke
Published: 6:30AM GMT 22 Jan 2010

How best to deliver an understated media address after buying a Premier
League football club?

Do you A: dress down or B: try to blend into the background.

David Gold plots £40m West Ham takeoverIt's a difficult dilemma, and one
that David Sullivan, the shy, retiring porn magnate and new co-owner of West
Ham was doubtless pondering until the small hours this week. Having taken
time to consider his tactics, it's clear he chose option 'B' and for that he
must be applauded. His plan worked to perfection, with only several hundred
photographers from the world's media capturing his every move, instead of
thousands, as he had probably first feared. Wearing a velvet claret jacket
in your local Tesco Express would, without doubt, glean several glances from
distracted shoppers. But wearing one inside Upton Park would be akin to a
canny badger darting across the camera during filming of little-known
Sixties television programme Spot the Wildlife, knowing full well that most
viewers had black and white TV sets.
Clearly, Sullivan knew that inside Upton Park, colour-coded as it is in the
famous claret (and blue), he would go virtually unseen, just as long as he
was enveloped in that matching jacket. The tricky bit would be announcing
his arrival at the ground in little more than a whisper. For this he would
need an equally understated mode of transport.
He knew what to do. He'd turn up in a sparkling blue Rolls Royce. Who would
ever know it was him? With the Rolls' blacked-out windows and cultured
exhaust note, no one would see or hear him coming. And even if the assorted
members of Her Majesty's press somehow got wind of his arrival, he'd throw
them off course by quickly diving out of a side door while the car kept
moving. The paparazzi would continue to follow the car, obviously assuming
he was the one driving it. They'd never suspect a chauffeur was at the
steering wheel. Genius.

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Hull City and West Ham join chase for Rangers striker Kris Boyd
By Mark Wilson Last updated at 12:46 AM on 22nd January 2010
Daily Mail

Hull City and West Ham United could join the growing Premiership race for
Kris Boyd - with Aston Villa and Birmingham City already keen on landing the
Rangers striker. Boyd is understood to have visited Villa Park for Wednesday
night's Carling Cup semi-final win over Blackburn Rovers, with preliminary
discussions taking place over a possible precontract offer for a summer
switch. Birmingham boss Alex McLeish, who has a transfer war chest after new
owner Carson Yeung promised him £40million to spend on the Premier League
high-fliers, is closely monitoring the situation, while Hull and West Ham,
another club with new owners following David Sullivan and David Gold's
recent buyout, are also understood to be considering making moves towards
making Boyd a Bosman acquisition. The 26-year-old is taking time to consider
his options after Rangers made an £18,000-per-week offer to retain his
services beyond the end of the season. The Ibrox favourite is currently
sidelined after undergoing hernia surgery and will not return to action
until mid-February at the earliest. Like Boyd, Nacho Novo is out of contract
at the end of the season and has been offered a new deal. The Spanish
striker's priority is to remain with Rangers and he has already rejected an
approach from Greek club Larissa. He admitted yesterday, however, that it
would be 'exciting' if Celta Vigo firmed up reported interest in his
services. 'I was contacted with an offer from Greece but, economically, it
was not enough,' said Novo. 'I appreciate their interest but, frankly, I
wasn't going to go there. 'The only way I would abandon Rangers was if there
was a dizzying offer - firstly for football reasons and, secondly, economic
reasons. 'My priority, however, is to stay with Rangers. I owe this club
almost everything as a footballer. 'I know nothing of Celta. What has been
written has not come from me. 'I would say, though, that if there was
something real from Celta, I would be excited about it. 'However, the club
haven't contacted either me or my representative yet.'

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Cagliari president Cellino in new blast over West Ham failure
22.01.10 | tribalfootball.com

Cagliari president Massimo Cellino has continued his attack on English
football after failing in his bid to buyout West Ham United this week.
Cellino saw his offer to buy out the Hammers rejected in favour of the
Sullivan-Gold partnership that only snapped up 50 per cent of the club.
"They asked me for a certificate proving I wasn't a crook, but I should've
asked for theirs!" he snapped in the Corriere dello Sport. "They didn't want
me there and I am just stunned. The newspapers wrote nasty things and then I
discovered the new West Ham director general works for The Sun..." He added:
"In England they don't know how to run football. In Italy we really
shouldn't be ashamed, as in London I found less transparency and on top of
that we're more efficient. "I have seen many things in the Lega Calcio, but
compared to what I saw here in the last few days, they looked like child's
play."

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West Ham to bid for Villa fullback Young
22.01.10 | tribalfootball.com

West Ham United are interested in Aston Villa fullback Luke Young. The
Daily Mail says West Ham are keen to take Villa's former England
international Young to Upton Park.
Young remains highly-rated by Villa boss Martin O'Neill after the way he has
fought back into his first team this season.

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