WHUFC.com
Avram Grant has spoken to the press ahead of Wednesday's Carling Cup semi-final second leg
25.01.2011
Avram Grant has held his pre-match press conference ahead of Wednesday's Carling Cup semi-final second leg at Birmingham City. The West Ham United manager discussed how much he is looking forward to the game and trying to steer the Hammers to Wembley for the first time in 30 years, as well as the club's perfect record in knockout competitions this term. Grant also spoke warmly about new signing Gary O'Neil and other possible transfer targets, as well as the potential move to the London 2012 Olympic Stadium.
Avram on the Carling Cup semi-final second leg…
Except for Obinna and Piquionne, who are suspended, we will have a meeting after training and see who is available and who is not. We are in a semi-final, so whoever plays, our target is very clear. I think it is most important what it means to the club to be in Wembley again after such a long time. It is good for us and good for the players' confidence. Mo st importantly, it is good for the supporters to be there. If I may say, we deserve it because our way to this game was very good. The first game [against Oxford United] we won in the last minute and in the second we won away at Sunderland and played very good. Then, against Stoke we showed a lot of character and the game against Manchester United is the only game that they lost and we played brilliant.
If there is such a thing as deserve then we deserve it, but I know that nobody will give us presents. I know it is very important both to us and to Birmingham.
Avram on West Ham United's perfect cup record this season…
It is a good record [six wins out of six] and we've played some good football too. All the games were high-quality games and we scored a lot of goals and won. We want to continue with this and get to the final. By the football side, I cannot say there is a big difference [between the way we have played in the cups and the Barclays Premier League]. I don't know why but we have been more efficient in the cups. If you saw our last game against Everton we deserved to be 3-0 up at half-time. In the cup, we have used our chances better. I think that was the difference. I also think the players are more relaxed in this competition.
Avram on the atmosphere at St Andrews…
At the end of the day it's a game on the pitch. Our supporters helped us in the first leg because we were with ten players and they supported us, but we are used to playing away games. Avram on Frederic Piquionne being suspended for being sent-off at Everton after receiving a second yellow card for excessive celebation… I am very upset about this because I don't understand the logic of this rule. I am trying to understand it but unfortunately I don't. The most happy moment for any player is when he scores a goal - even more if you score a few minutes before the end. You go and celebrate with the supporters and the supporters are the team, not just any person. If you ask me, I would encourage you to celebrate with the supporters before any other people but this is the rule. I respect any rules, but I think they need to be a little bit more logical. I don't like it, but what can I do?
Avram on signing Gary O'Neil…
Valon Behrami needed to leave for other reasons so Gary O'Neil has come instead of him. He's a good player, experienced and played in the Premier League. He is very energetic and I'm sure he can be a good player for us. When you have January, you want to sign players on 1 January but we couldn't do it before and also other deals. Now it is the last week of the window, so it is not specially for the semi-final, even though I am happy that he can help us tomorrow. He is a player that I always thought about, but we had players in this position like Valon Behrami. When we knew that Behrami couldn't play, Gary was the best option and he will be good for us.
Avram on Demba Ba…
First, I liked his comments because I like it very much when players want to come and join our club. I think he is doing the right thing. We are a good club and he can help us. It's almost done, so I want to speak about him when everything is done. I will tell you what he can bring when everything is done. It's just paperwork. He is a player who has played 21 games this season and he could not have played if he had a medical problem.
Avram on Valon Behrami…
The deal is nearly done. I think he will join Fiorentina if everything is done. It is just formalities and, of course, money!
Avram on other possible targets…
I don't want to speak about other deals. We have many names linked to us and most of them are not true. We have one or two more targets that we want to do and we will talk about them when we do the deals. There is no use speaking about this now because then you will start to ask me about thousands of names.
I feel that we need to do it and I want to do it because it will be good for us, but I never have 100 per cent confidence that a deal will be done in football!
We started this a long time ago - not in January. We have a very good scouting system and good people there. All my staff are involved in this. If we think about any player, we watch him and see if he can be good for us and then we look at the financial issues and see if we can bring him in or not. I am not involved in the financial situation - only about the budget. It will be around two more players!
Avram on the Olympic Stadium…
I don't know so much about the situation. I just know that the stadium is in our area and that the people in our area deserve the stadium and it belongs to them. I don't see any other possibility in this situation because the situation is very clear and we are just waiting to see what will happen. I think it would be good. I'm not so involved about this but I always think a decision like this is better sooner rather than later because then there are other influences and other things. I think they know all the information now and can take the decision but I don't know what's happened there.
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West Ham sign Gary O'Neil from Middlesbrough
BBC.co.uk
West Ham have completed the signing of midfielder Gary O'Neil from Championship side Middlesbrough. The 27-year-old has agreed a two-and-a-half-year contract with the Hammers after the clubs agreed an undisclosed fee for the ex-Portsmouth star. O'Neil, who joined the Teessiders from Portsmouth for £5m in 2007, will boost West Ham's battle against relegation. He will be available to play in the Carling Cup semi-final, second leg against Birmingham on Wednesday. O'Neil follows David Wheater out of the Riverside, with the defender joining Bolton last week. Middlesbrough, who are just above the Championship relegation zone, have been forced to sell players following their failure to return to the Premier League after being relegated in 2009. O'Neil could team up with Demba Ba at Upton Park after the Hoffenheim striker claimed he was joining the Londoners on loan until the end of the season.
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O'Neil jets in
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 25th January 2011
By: Staff Writer
Gary O'Neil has completed his move from Middlesbrough to West Ham United. The 27-year-old midfielder has joined the Hammers in a permanent move, the cost of which is thought to be around £1.5million. Talking on whufc.com after his move was confirmed this morning, the London-born former Portsmouth player said: "I am really pleased to sign; it all happened very quickly. I played at the weekend and didn't know anything was going to happen. There was also a big rush to do it quickly when they realised I wasn't cup-tied. "It is nice to be back in the Premier League and play at the top level, which everyone wants to do. I am London born so it is good to come home. It is always a bit nerve-wracking going to a new club but I should settle in quickly. "I did my schoolboy stuff here for a couple of years when I was 13-14 and trained on a Tuesday and Thursday under Tony [Carr's] staff. It helped me a lot in my career before I went to Portsmouth."
As well as Tony Carr, O'Neil is familiar with a number of West Ham's current staff, some of whom he worked alongside at Portsmouth - the club who sold him to Middlesbrough for £5million in 2007. "I know Avram, Grovesy and Colesy," he continued. "It is a great side with top players but they just suffered from a tough start. I know we have enough quality to get out of it. I have been in a couple of relegation battles, including at Portsmouth, so hopefully that experience will help."
As we revealed exclusively here on KUMB yesterday, O'Neil is set to make his debut in the Carling Cup semi final at Birmingham tomorrow night.
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Duo set for Birmingham debut
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 24th January 2011
By: Staff Writer
Demba Ba and Gary O'Neil could make their West Ham debuts in Wednesday night's Carling Cup semi final, second leg clash with Birmingham. West Ham are hoping to push both signings through - Ba on loan, O'Neil on a permanent deal - in time to beat the registration deadline for Wednesday night's tie, into which the Hammers take a slender 2-1 lead.
Ba confirmed on his personal website earlier today that he had agreed to join West Ham on loan from Hoffenheim until the end of the season, whilst O'Neil is on his way to London after his current club, struggling Championship side Middlesbrough, agreed to part company with a player who cost them £5million three years ago.
Both players are eligible to feature for the Hammers against Birmingham as neither have played in a previous round of the ompetition. Although Middlesbrough played in two rounds of the Carling Cup this year - a 2-1 win at Chesterfield and a 2-1 defeat at Millwall in the following round - O'Neil featured in neither.
The former English under-21 captain is however ineligible for the FA Cup, having played in Middlesbrough's 2-1 shock third round defeat at Burton Albion.
The arrival of two attacking players will prove a huge boost to Avram Grant, who is without Frederic Piquionne and Victor Obinna (both suspended) for Wednesday night's game. With Carlton Cole also a serious doubt, Grant currently has only youngsters Zavon Hines, Freddie Sears and Zavon Hines at his disposal as attacking options.
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More legal wrangles threaten OS move
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 25th January 2011
By: Staff Writer
Yesterday it was Tessa Sanderson; today it's Leyton Orient supremo Barry Hearn who is threatening to destroy the Olympic Stadium bidding process.
Hearn, whose club are currently languishing in the lower half of League One has hit out at the process which he claims could signal the end of his 130-year-old club, whilst threatening to lobby for a judicial review. "We're only 750 yards from the edge of the Olympic Park, while West Ham are four miles away and Tottenham seven miles round the North Circular - yet nobody has bothered to ask little old Leyton Orient for their views," he said. "Never mind that we're the second oldest Football League club in London, with a mere 130 years of history - we've become the lost tribe of East London, the elephant in the room nobody dares to mention. "But we're not going to go away quietly. Leyton Orient may live in the shadow of two Premier League giants, but we've a right to be heard, especially when those giants could kill us off. "I can't believe the legacy of London's 2012 Olympic bid was supposed to include one of the country's oldest clubs being railroaded out of existence. We may be a little club, but we're flag-bearers for our community, proud of our reputation as London's second favourite club and deserve to be heard. "Nobody has come forward and said, 'This is how we are going to help Leyton Orient' once the Olympic circus has packed up its big top and the show has left town."
Just last week Hearn - who recently backed the Tottenham bid, having ruled out a move for Orient due to the post-games presence of the running track - called for the stadium to be demolished after the 2012 games. "The only way forward for this stadium is to knock it down, take away the athletics track and build a proper stadium," he said. " They've messed up big time; there's no room for an athletics track in this stadium, there is no demand for an athletics track with a 60,000 seater stadium, it's a total white elephant."
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O'Neil seals Hammers switch
Boro midfielder on the move
By Graeme Bailey - Follow me on Twitter @graemebailey Last updated: 25th January 2011
SSN
West Ham United have completed the signing of Middlesbrough's Gary O'Neil for an undisclosed fee. Boro agreed terms with The Hammers on Monday, and he has wasted little time in passing a medical and finalising his move. O'Neil has penned a two-and-a-half-year deal at Upton Park, and could be in line to make his debut in their Carling Cup semi-final second-leg at Birmingham City on Wednesday as he is not cup-tied. The fee is undisclosed, although it is understood to be up to £1.2million for the 27-year-old.
Pleased
"I am really pleased to sign. It all happened very quickly. I played for Middlesbrough at the weekend and didn't know anything was going to happen. It has all gathered pace since then," O'Neil told West Ham's official website. "There was also a big rush to do it quickly when they realised I wasn't cup-tied. "I enjoyed my time at Middlesbrough, the fans and staff were really good but it has been a difficult time on the pitch. It is nice to be back in the Premier League and play at the top level, which everyone wants to do. I am London born so it is good to come home. "It is great that the club have such a massive game to look forward to. I haven't trained yet with the team so it is up to the manager of course if he wants to use me. "I will take it one step at a time but it is a big game and it could be a case of straight in at the deep end if involved. "I've watched the team a lot this season. I know Avram, Grovesy and Colesy from Portsmouth. It is a great side with top players but they just suffered from a tough start. I know we have enough quality to get out of it. I have been in a couple of relegation battles, including at Portsmouth, so hopefully that experience will help. "It is always a bit nerve-wracking going to a new club but I should settle in quickly. I did my schoolboy stuff here for a couple of years when I was 13-14 and trained on a Tuesday and Thursday under Tony's staff. It was quite good and it helped me a lot in my career before I went to Portsmouth."
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Viola set to seal Behrami deal
Hammers midfielder flies to Italy to complete signing
Last updated: 25th January 2011
SSN
Fiorentina are set to complete the signing of midfielder Valon Behrami from West Ham. The Italian side have reportedly agreed to pay the Hammers around €5million (£4.3m) for the Switzerland international, who has flown to Italy with a view to signing with the Serie A club until 2014. The 25-year-old midfielder expressed his desire to leave West Ham this month and the Premier League strugglers were willing to let him go as they need to offload players given the 25-man squad rule. Fiorentina made an approach to sign Behrami before negotiations stalled, but the two parties reopened talks and are set to tie up a deal.
Behrami initially moved to Italy to join Genoa in 2003 and spent a season on loan at Verona before being signed by Lazio in 2005. West Ham made a £5million swoop for Behrami in 2008 on a five-year contract and the wide-man went on to score four goals in 54 Premier League starts for the Hammers.
The potential arrival of Behrami could see former Italy midfielder Cristiano Zanetti complete a move from Fiorentina to Brescia.
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Victorino to snub England
Uruguayan heading for Brazil
By Graeme Bailey - Follow me on Twitter @graemebailey Last updated: 25th January 2011
SSN
Uruguayan star Mauricio Victorino is ready to shun Premier League interest and move to Brazil. The Universidad de Chile stopper was recently the subject of a loan bid from Blackpool. Newcastle, Blackburn and West Ham also showed an interest, but the central defender now looks bound for Brazil. Victorino admits the lure of a long-term deal has been the main factor and he has agreed a four-year deal with Cruzeiro. "For my part the decision is made," he told La Nacion. "I have to think with my head and it is going to be a four-year contract."
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Hammers swoop for O'Neill
The Sun
Published: Today
WEST HAM have completed the £1.5million signing of Middlesbrough midfielder Gary O'Neil. The former Portsmouth star has penned a 2½-year contract with the Hammers. He said: "I am really pleased. It all happened very quickly. "It is nice to be back in the Premier League and play at the top level, which everyone wants to do. "I am London-born so it is good to come home."
O'Neil could make his West Ham debut against Birmingham in the Carling Cup semi-final on Thursday. He added: "It is great that the club have such a massive game to look forward to. "I haven't trained yet with the team so it is up to the manager of course if he wants to use me. "I will take it one step at a time but it is a big game and it could be a case of straight in at the deep end if involved. "I've watched the team a lot this season. I know Avram, Grovesy and Colesy from Portsmouth."
West Ham sit bottom of the Premier League but O'Neil is confident they can escape relegation. He said: "It is a great side with top players but they just suffered from a tough start. I know we have enough quality to get out of it. "I have been in a couple of relegation battles, including at Portsmouth, so hopefully that experience will help."
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Hammers eager to add Diouf to double coup
Published 23:00 24/01/11 By Alan Nixon
The Mirror
West Ham want to rush through a move for Blackburn Rovers bad boy El Hadji Diouf. The Senegalese star could be off to the Hammers in the next 24 hours – even in time for the Carling Cup semi – if a deal is struck at all ends. Diouf thought he could leave Rovers for nothing despite having 18 months left on his contract. He was an unused sub in their win over West Brom on Sunday. However Blackburn want a fee for Diouf, especially as boss Steve Kean is running into problems recruiting players for his thin squad. Kean may let Diouf leave sooner if he can land Sebastian Larsson from Birmingham now rather than wait to take him in the summer on a free transfer. The Rovers chief said: "We have put in an offer for Larsson, but now we are told he is not available."
Kean is set to snap up young Brazilian striker Roniele Gomes dos Santos from Sao Paolo, with the 19-year-old due to arrive at Ewood Park in the next few days. Hammers boss Avram Grant has also added Middlesbrough right winger Gary O'Neil to his squad for a bargain £1.5million. O'Neil was made available by hard-up Boro, who are trying to raise cash and lighten the load of their massive payroll. And to complete a busy day at Upton Park, the Hammers also tied up the loan signing of Hoffenheim striker Demba Ba.
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West Ham sign O'Neil, Ba snag
January 25, 2011
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By Harry Harris, Football Correspondent
ESPN
West Ham's high profile signing of £7 million-rated striker Demba Ba from Hoffenheim has hit a snag after he failed two medicals - but Gary O'Neil has now completed his move from Middlesbrough. A row over Ba's insurance is holding up the deal, ESPNsoccernet can reveal, and it might prove to be a stumbling block for the transfer to go through. It is thought that no player has ever come to English football having failed two medicals, but the Hammers, bottom of the league, need to take a calculated risk to help boost their survival hopes.
The problem could leave the Hammers looking at alternative strikers with only days left before the window closes. A renewed bid for Tottenham's Robbie Keane and also a move for Stoke City striker Tuncay Sanli may be fast-tracked. Ba also failed a medical at Stoke and as a consequence his transfer fell through, and although Stoke wanted a loan deal the player travelled to Upton Park to agree terms.
Ba's fitness concerns also showed up when he had his tests with the Hammers, but the club considered it worth the "gamble" to take him on loan. Now the transfer is subject to a satisfactory agreement between the two clubs on his insurance policy and who covers the costs. Hoffenheim also want a £500,000 loan fee for the forward. An insider told ESPNsoccernet: "Ba has failed the medical, which means any club signing him is gambling. "The problem is that his club [Hoffenheim] want West Ham to insure him against permanent retirement, and no company will insure his bad knee for that."
Meanwhile, O'Neil's £1.5 million move from Middlesborough has gone through and he will make his debut in the Carling Cup semi-final at Birmingham on Wednesday night after the club gained clarification from the Football league that he is eligible.
O'Neil spent two years with West Ham as a youngster and admits it feels he has "come home''.
He told West Ham's official website: "I'm really pleased to sign. It all happened very quickly. I played for Middlesbrough at the weekend and didn't know anything was going to happen. It has all gathered pace since then.
"There was also a big rush to do it quickly when they realised I wasn't cup-tied. I enjoyed my time at Middlesbrough, the fans and staff were really good but it has been a difficult time on the pitch.
"It is nice to be back in the Premier League and play at the top level, which everyone wants to do. I am London born so it is good to come home. It is great that the club have such a massive game to look forward to.
"I haven't trained yet with the team so it is up to the manager of course if he wants to use me. I will take it one step at a time but it is a big game and it could be a case of straight in at the deep end if involved.''
O'Neil's arrival follows that of Wayne Bridge, who joined on loan from Manchester City earlier this month.
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Transfer Updates
Posted by Billy Blagg 1 hour, 59 minutes ago
ESPN
With a bit of movement in the transfer window involving West Ham, I thought I'd keep an update blog running as we watch the Hammers once more plot a Great Escape (TM Patent Pending). Rumours that Steve McQueen was seen parking his bike in the car park at the Boleyn, can almost certainly be discounted.
Gary O'Neill
From the official website, comes the news that the club have announced the signing of midfielder Gary O'Neil. The 27-year-old arrives on a two-and-a-half year contract from Middlesbrough for an undisclosed fee. The players describes his move as "coming home", having been brought up in London and having spent two years learning his trade with Tony Carr and his staff in the Hammers Academy in his early teens .
O'Neil is also well known to Avram Grant and coaches Paul Groves and David Coles from his time at Portsmouth and also played alongside Scott Parker and Carlton Cole in his England Under-21 days. After a late-night medical and signing his paperwork on Tuesday morning, the player will be eligible for Wednesday night's Carling Cup semi-final return at Birmingham City.
He said: "I am really pleased to sign. It all happened very quickly. I played for Middlesbrough at the weekend and didn't know anything was going to happen. It has all gathered pace since then. There was also a big rush to do it quickly when they realised I wasn't cup-tied."
I hate to get everyone paranoid but are we sure he's not cup-tied? I mean, don't forget....
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Sexual assault case against West Ham defender Manuel da Costa begins in London
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER
Last updated at 12:12 PM on 25th January 2011
Daily Mail
West Ham defender Manuel da Costa arrived at court today for the start of his trial over sexual assault allegations. Da Costa was charged following an alleged incident in an east London nightclub. He appeared at Redbridge Magistrates' Court charged with sexual assault and common assault on a woman.
The 24-year-old, of Wards Wharf Approach, Newham, east London, was arrested in October and bailed by police pending further inquiries. Scotland Yard said allegations had been made by a woman in her early 20s at an east London police station in the early hours of October 17. The alleged incident had happened shortly before.
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O'Neil confident of survival
Midfielder relishing Hammers switch
Last updated: 25th January 2011
SSN
West Ham new boy Gary O'Neil is confident they are good enough to avoid relegation from the Premier League. O'Neil has joined West Ham on a two-and-a-half-year deal after leaving Middlesbrough to become the Hammers' third signing of the transfer window following the arrivals of Wayne Bridge and Demba Ba. Former Portsmouth man O'Neil admits West Ham face a battle to stay up with the club currently bottom of the table, but he remains optimistic they can climb clear of trouble. "I think that is one of the first things you think of when you think you are coming here and I do think they have a good chance of staying in the Premier League, definitely," O'Neil told Sky Sports News. "They have got a fantastic squad and if you put teams down on paper they shouldn't be anywhere near where they are in the league. "We have got a lot of work to do in the next four months, but I am desperate to try and help repay the manager and staff for showing faith in bringing me in and hopefully we can climb the table."
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Cole returns to ease West Ham striker crisis
Published 15:39 25/01/11 By MirrorFootball
The Mirror
Gary O'Neil will go straight into the West Ham squad for tomorrow's Carling Cup semi-final second leg against Birmingham after completing his move from Middlesbrough. Manager Avram Grant is without suspended strikers Victor Obinna and Frederic Piquionne, and West Ham were unable to complete the loan signing of Demba Ba from Hoffenheim in time. But Carlton Cole is expected to be fit to start up front after missing the draw at Everton. On-loan Manchester City defender Wayne Bridge is also available because he is not cup tied.
Team (from): Green, Boffin, Faubert, Jacobsen, Bridge, Tomkins, Reid, Gabbidon, Upson, Spector, Hines, Parker, Noble, Kovac, O'Neil, Boa Morte, Cole, McCarthy, Sears, Nouble.
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Agent: Hamburg can forget about keeping Van Nistelrooy
TalkSport
By Ian Cruise
Tuesday, January 25
Ruud van Nistelrooy will quit Hamburg this summer – and that could spark a Premier League bidding war. Real Madrid wanted to take the Dutchman back to the Bernabeu in the January transfer window, but the Bundesliga club refused to allow him to leave. The Spanish giants offered €2million for the Dutchman, plus the offer of a friendly between the two clubs, and the decision to reject the bid has angered the former Manchester United star and he now looks certain to leave Germany in the summer. His agent Rodger Linse insisted in a German newspaper interview: "You can rule out a contract extension with Hamburg, that is no longer an option. "We can't understand why they will not let him rejoin Real Madrid. It's very, very painful." Van Nistelrooy's insistence on leaving could lead to a return to England, with West Ham, Newcastle, Blackburn and Birmingham all likely to be keen to talk to him.
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BIRMINGHAM v West Ham: Ineligible Bentley ruled out of Carling Cup semi-final
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER Last updated at 3:13 PM on 25th January 2011
Daily Mail
Birmingham will be without on-loan winger David Bentley for Wednesday evening's Carling Cup semi-final second leg clash with West Ham at St. Andrew's.
Bentley is ineligible as he has already played in the competition for his parent club, Tottenham, this season. Sebastian Larsson is set to replace Bentley as City look to overturn a 2-1 first leg deficit. Blues boss Alex McLeish has no fresh injury concerns with James McFadden (knee) and Scott Dann (hamstring) long-term casualties.
Team (from): Foster, Carr, Johnson, Ridgewell, Murphy, Larsson, Ferguson, Mutch, Fahey, Hleb, Derbyshire, Taylor, Jerome, Gardner, Bowyer, Zigic, Jiranek, Phillips, Parnaby, Beausejour.
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Sky suspend Andy Burton as shamed Andy Gray and Richard Keys face calls to be axed
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER
Last updated at 1:39 PM on 25th January 2011
Daily Mail
Andy Burton is the latest casualty of the Sky Sports sexism scandal after the reporter was suspended for his role in the second batch of leaked footage.
The reporter now faces uncertainty over his future with the broadcasters along with Richard Keys and Andy Gray, whose positions look untenable as their own network made fresh revelations about their sexist conduct. Like Keys and Gray, who were pulled from Monday night's coverage of Chelsea win at Bolton, Burton has stood down from his broadcasting duties for Wednesday's Carling Cup semi-final second leg between Birmingham and West Ham.
SKY SPORTS STATEMENT
I have spoken directly to both Richard Keys and Andy Gray this morning. It has been made clear to each of them that their comments were totally unacceptable. Those views are inexcusable, entirely inconsistent with our ethos as a business and employer, and will rightly offend many of our customers, our people, and the wider public. They are inexcusable from anyone at Sky, regardless of their role or seniority. We have dealt with this matter by taking immediate disciplinary action. As with any employee it would not be right to go into detail on those proceedings. However, they have been clearly warned about their behaviour and reminded of their responsibilities. In addition, Richard and Andy will not be involved in any way with tonight's live Monday Night Football.
Barney Francis,
Managing Director of Sky Sports
The new footage - recorded on Saturday before Wolves played Liverpool - shows Gray in conversation with Burton, who describes Massey as a 'bit of a looker' in reference to comments made by another member of the production team. Burton begins: 'He says she is all right. Now I don't know if I should trust his judgment on that. Gray replies: "Nah, I wouldn't. I definitely wouldn't."
A crew member then refers to her again and Gray is heard saying: 'I can see her from here. What do women know about the offside rule?'
A strongly worded statement from Sky Sports managing director Barney Francis had already shown how seriously the network were taking the initial fall-out from Gray and Key's off-air conversation, which was picked up by microphones and leaked to the Mail on Sunday. As well as making more disparaging remarks about Massey, Keys said: 'Did you hear charming Karren Brady this morning complaining about sexism. Do me a favour, love.'
Beleaguered pair Keys and Gray were already fighting to keep their jobs following unacceptable comments about assistant referee Sian Massey and West Ham vice-chairman Karren Brady, which created a storm of protest even before sister channel Sky News provided more damning evidence. A Sky Sports spokesman said on Monday night: 'They have not been sacked. Sky News are entitled to broadcast what they want and we don't interfere. Their material is being treated as part of the same issue about which we have already made our position very clear.' Francis said: 'I have spoken directly to both Richard Keys and Andy Gray. It has been made clear to each of them that their comments were totally unacceptable. They are inexcusable from anyone at Sky, regardless of their role or seniority.'
Keys telephoned Massey yesterday to make a personal apology and she is understood to be more relaxed than anyone else caught up in the maelstrom.
The furore saw Sky having to disband their usual Isleworth-based studio operation for last night's show and a new team was sent at the last minute to Bolton, where the programme was presented by David Jones instead of Keys, while Jamie Redknapp and Eidur Gudjohnsen were brought in as pundits.
There was also heavy attention to ensure every microphone feed around the ground was monitored as Sky also did for the coverage of Blackburn v West Bromwich on Sunday.
The decision to take disciplinary action against Sky's leading football figures was discussed between Francis and the station's chief executive Jeremy Darroch. And the hugely negative publicity for the network will not impress overlord Rupert Murdoch, who is in London in the wake of the phone-tapping scandal enveloping his News of the World newspaper.
Gray is one of those suing over the alleged phone-tapping. Gray and Keys would not be due to appear on air again until Tuesday week at the earliest, when West Bromwich face Wigan. Massey will be back in action on Tuesday night, running the line in the League Two match between Crewe and Bradford. The widespread furore against the self-styled kings of Sky Sports football shows no sign of abating. Lord Ouseley, chair of football's equality and inclusion campaign Kick It Out, said: 'This indicates a lack of understanding by individuals who are at the forefront of sports broadcasting, who are revered and respected by many and hints at wider issues about sexism in society.'
Brady said the comments 'made her blood boil'. She added: 'What really upsets me is the fact only females in our industry are judged by their gender. And that is categorically wrong. 'I'm genuinely disappointed. It never would have occurred to me that they had those views, whether public or private. 'It almost makes it worse that they're speaking off air, because they would never have had the brass neck to say it publicly. I have heard it and I don't believe it is just banter.'
Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish opened his press conference yesterday by asking the Sky Sports representative if he objected to the presence of a female journalist.
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