WHUFC.com
Joint-Chairman David Sullivan has updated on the efforts being made ahead of
the promotion push
17.06.2011
It may be the close-season but things at West Ham United continue to move
forward at a positive pace. The eye-catching double arrival this week of
Kevin Nolan and Abdoulaye Faye underlined the club's commitment to a
successful Championship challenge. Heading into another weekend which will
be dominated by transfer discussions, Joint-Chairman David Sullivan said:
"We are very pleased with the business we have done so far since Sam
Allardyce's arrival. "I can assure supporters we are determined to make the
strongest possible push for promotion next season. We are working around the
clock to bring in the players Sam wants in time for the big kick-off against
Cardiff City on the opening weekend. "What is certain is that we only want
players prepared to give everything for the club and its fantastic fans."
Friday's publication of the new fixtures, including that opener against
Malky Mackay's Cardiff, has also whetted the appetite for an exciting
2011/12 campaign ahead. The club will prepare with an intriguing 30 July
home fixture against Spanish side Real Zaragoza and will finalise its
pre-season programme next week. West Ham United have also confirmed Demba Ba
has left to join Newcastle United, despite the club's best efforts to keep
him in east London. Ba rejected improved new contract terms - including a
lucrative £500,000 loyalty fee and significantly increased £50,000-per week
wages - to invoke a relegation exit clause and walk away less than five
months into his long-term contract. The striker scored seven goals in 12
league games after being given his Premier League chance at West Ham in
January, when other clubs were reluctant to take to take a risk on signing
him over his knee problems.
Moving on, West Ham United will continue to update fans via whufc.com and
twitter on the club's transfer targets with more new faces due in east
London to add to the proven Premier League quality offered by Nolan and
Faye. The best Academy talent will also remain and get every chance to
succeed.
Next week also sees the much-anticipated reveal of the club's new 2011/12
Macron home and away kits on Wednesday 22 June, while Allardyce has been
boosted by the official confirmation on Friday of his highly-rated No2 Neil
McDonald.
Both men have been in constant contact with the backroom and medical staff
ahead of pre-season getting under way in July.
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Newcastle make striker Demba Ba capture from West Ham
Page last updated at 16:00 GMT, Friday, 17 June 2011 17:00 UK
BBC.co.uk
Newcastle United have completed the signing of Senegal striker Demba Ba from
West Ham. The 26-year-old, who scored seven goals in 13 outings for the
Hammers in the second half of the 2010-11 campaign, has joined on a
three-year deal. Newcastle manager Alan Pardew said: "Demba made a great
impression at West Ham last season and is a great signing for the club. "He
has pace, excellent technical ability, is good in the air."
Pardew had made his intention to sign a striker clear this summer in his bid
to fill the void left following Andy Carroll's £35m move to Liverpool in
January. The Magpies boss added: "And, it goes without saying, [Demba] has
the ability to consistently find the back of the net. "Moreover he has a
great passion to play for Newcastle United." Ba's move to Tyneside has taken
place despite concerns over a knee injury that resulted in Stoke pulling out
of a deal to sign him before West Ham drafted him in. The former Hoffenheim
forward's goals could not save the Hammers from relegation from the Premier
League last season and he is understood to have moved on because of a
release clause in the three-year contract he signed with the Upton Park
outfit in January. Ba's transfer to St James's Park comes a day after
midfielder Kevin Nolan made the move in the opposite direction, from the
Magpies to Upton Park. The Senegal striker's arrival also provides Pardew
with his second signing of the summer following the capture of France
international midfielder Yohan Cabaye earlier this month. "Everything has
been sorted out and now I'm happy because I can start to focus on playing
and scoring goals for Newcastle," Ba stated. "This is a great club and a
very good team so to sign here was an easy choice to make. "I have spoken to
[winger] Hatem [Ben Arfa] about the club and he told me how happy he is here
and how big Newcastle are so I'm really happy and I can't wait to start
playing. "I know a lot of famous strikers have played here before and I will
do my best to win games for the club."
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McDonald signs on
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 17th June 2011
By: Staff Writer
Neil McDonald has been officially unveiled as Sam Allardyce's assistant
manager. The 45-year-old, who worked alongside Allardyce at Bolton and
Blackburn has, as expected, teamed up with big Sam once again. Speaking to
whufc.com tonight, McDonald revealed that plans for the new season were
already well under way. "I've had a look at the ground and the training
ground to see what's there and make preparations for pre-season," he said.
"I've been on the phone to the majority of the staff to see where they are
at and who they are and to introduce myself, so it's been all go. That's
just the start before coming down on 1 July; it'll be all systems go from
there."
McDonald enjoyed a playing career that spanned 15 years, making his name at
Newcastle and Everton before ending his career in the lower leagues. His
first coaching post - a dual role whilst still a player - came at Preston in
1997, from where he teamed up with Allardyce at the Reebok Stadium for the
first time in 2000. In 2005, McDonald became assistant to Iain Dowie at
Crystal Palace before taking his sole full-time managerial role to date at
Carlisle United a year later. However that was to end disappointingly, with
McDonald fired just a year into his job; the board citing 'no confidence'.
After leaving Carlisle, he spent a short time in Sweden as temporary manager
of Ostersunds FK before returning to England in November 2007 as assistant
to new Lincoln manager Peter Jackson.
McDonald was on the move again just three months later when he was appointed
second in command to Gary McAllister at Leeds United in February 2008. Three
years after leaving Bolton, he was reunited with Sam Allardyce at Blackburn
in December of the same year. Only last month, McDonald was set to become
the new manager of Bury - a job that eventually went to Richie Barker -
before being offered the chance to follow Allardyce to the Boleyn Ground.
Having grabbed the opportunity, it is a role that he already appears to be
relishing. "We've got to set targets as high as we possibly can and reach
them as soon as we possibly can, so everything will be well organised and up
and running by 1 July when all the players are back," he enthused. "It'll be
good to get to know all the players. To find the dynamics of the team over
the six weeks before the start of the season will be very interesting. We've
got lots to look forward to - and lots to get stuck into."
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Magpies wrap up Ba swoop
Striker seals switch to Tyneside
Last Updated: June 17, 2011 10:31pm
SSN
Newcastle have completed the signing of former West Ham frontman Demba Ba on
a three-year deal. The 26-year-old's move to St James' Park on a free
transfer was rubber-stamped this afternoon, the Premier League club have
confirmed. The arrival of Ba, who scored seven times in 13 appearances for
the Hammers during the second half of last season, comes 24 hours after
Magpies skipper Kevin Nolan headed for Upton Park in a deal believed to be
worth in the region of £4million. Manager Alan Pardew told Newcastle's
official website: "Demba made a great impression with West Ham last season
and is a great signing for this club. "He has pace, excellent technical
ability, is good in the air and, it goes without saying, has the ability to
consistently find the back of the net. "Moreover, he has a great passion to
play for Newcastle United."
Ba becomes Pardew's second signing of the summer following the capture of
French midfielder Yohan Cabaye. Newcastle beat off competition from a series
off other suitors to land the former Hoffenheim player as Pardew looks to
increase his options in attack. The player seemed to be heading for Stoke in
January until he failed a medical on a knee problem and was snapped up by
the Hammers. Despite his best efforts to keep the Londoners in the Premier
League, they were relegated at the end of last season, but not before he had
proved both his fitness and his prowess in front of goal.
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Are West Ham to Sign Gradel and Cork?
June 18th, 2011 - 3:44 am by S J Chandos
West Ham Till I Die
Sam Allardyce rightly went for experience in making his first two signings,
Faye and Nolan. However, if the reports presently circulating are to be
believed, his next signings could see him target two younger prospects.
It was reported yesterday that West Ham are to bid for Leeds Utd winger Max
Gradel. Gradel scored 19 Championship goals last season from the flanks and
is entering the final year of his current contract. At 23 years of age, the
Ivory Coast International is a good prospect and has been interesting
Hamburg and PSG, amongst others. Gradel is equally comfortable on either
flank and can also play effectively as a second striker.
Additionally, there was also a report this morning that West Ham are to
gazump Burnley in the signing of Chelski utility player, Jack Cork. Cork is
another decent prospect who, like so many prior Chelski Academy players,
has found it very tough to break through at Stamford Bridge. Cork is the
son of former Wimbledon player Alan Cork. He can play across the back line,
as well as a defensive midfield anchor. Last season, he enjoyed a
successful loan at Burnley, where he put in a number of assured
performances. Consequently, the 21 year old has amassed solid experience of
the Championship and would provide valuable cover in a number of positions.
Both players look like good signings, with the potential to possibly make
the transition to PL football. Max Gradel, as a goal scoring winger, could
be a particularly valuable acquisition. Especially as he can play on the
left flank, an area of the squad that needs to be addressed. In the case of
Jack Cork, I do wonder if he is better than the young defenders that we
already have, in Spence, Tomkins, Da Costa and Fry? However, he could have
a future as a holding midfielder, a position where we probably need to
secure cover, with the likely departure of Kovac and Spector this summer.
Finally, there was also an isolated report that Norwich City could be
interested in signing West Ham's veteran left sided player, Luis Boa Morte.
The report maintains that Boa Morte signed a new two year deal with the
Hammers last summer and is still under contract. As such, West Ham could
reasonably expect a fee for Boa Morte's move to Carrow Road. Personally, I
am not too confident about the reliability of this particular rumour, but I
thought it interesting and worthy of sharing, if only for its curiosity
value!
I sincerely hope that our restructured squad enables us to storm out of the
Championship next season. Those of us old enough to remember it, will know
just how enjoyable and exhilarating a run-away promotion campaign, like
1980-81, really was. Winning virtually every week and gaining promotion in
early April, if only! Although I do agree with those that argue that we
should not presume automatic promotion is assured next season. No, nothing
can be taken for granted on that score. Promotion must be earned by proving
our worthiness, beyond any doubt, over 46 very competitive matches.
Indeed, we have a pretty challenging start, with us facing Cardiff City,
Leeds Utd and Nottingham Forest in the first few games. But challenges, by
their very nature, are made to be met and overcome!
SJ. Chandos.
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Geoff Hurst: Allardyce must be given time
Published 23:00 17/06/11 By Mike Walters
The Mirror
West Ham legend Sir Geoff Hurst has begged East Enders to give new Hammers
manager Sam Allardyce a chance after the Hammers were handed a tough start.
Life in the Championship for the Hammers opens with a tricky home date
against Cardiff, who were beaten play-off finalists at Wembley in 2010 and
semi-finalists again last month. Then, Big Sam faces away-days at Doncaster
and Watford - both winnable on paper, but likely to provide the former
Bolton, Newcastle and Blackburn manager with an insight into the competitive
nature of football on branch lines off the main route of the Premier League
gravy train. And Hurst, who sensed a season of toil under Avram Grant at
Upton Park last term when a section of fans turned on the Israeli barely a
month into the campaign, admitted West Ham may have to forsake their purist
'Academy of Football' principles under Allardyce to bounce back at the first
attempt.
England's 1966 World Cup final hat-trick hero said: "It's a strange feeling
- normally you get excited about the fixtures coming out when you have just
gone up a division, not when you have just been relegated. "I just hope the
fans give Sam a chance. He may not be everybody's cup of tea, but he has
good experience and a good track record. "Maybe the overall concern with Sam
is how he achieved success with various teams. "He is perceived to use a
longer ball than the traditional way this club has played since Ron
Greenwood's day. "But we have got to give him a chance and remember the
objective is to get back in the Premier League. If that means a different
style of play which reflects the players at your disposal, so be it. "It is
a tough ask, but Sam understands players and he is very keen on the medical
side of the game - the science of keeping players fit and extracting maximum
performance from them. "He is terrific on that side of the game, and I wish
him good luck. I have met him a couple of times, he is a nice man and I hope
the supporters get behind him."
Grant was doomed from the moment it took West Ham five games to get off the
mark last season, and Hurst is anxious that bubble-blowers do not rush to
judge Allardyce, too. "Last year, some fans were turning against the manager
after just four games - that is just foolish," he said. "No West Ham fan
should be doing that, the club needs to be supported. "The huge mistake was
trying to recruit Martin O'Neill [to replace Grant] in mid-season and not
sealing the deal. From that moment, the players knew the club had no
confidence in the manager. "It was probably the right thing to do, but the
minute it becomes public and you don't land your target, it is the worst
thing you can do to a manager who is struggling. They were stuck with Grant
for another six months - it was a really poor decision. "West Ham did not go
down because they did not have the money for new players. We spent it on the
wrong players, and I am a bit disappointed about that."
For the first time, the npower Championship will kick off with two former
England managers among the contenders. Steve McClaren's first game in charge
of Nottingham Forest is a potential banana-skin at home to Barnsley, while
Leicester's Sven Goran Eriksson has been handed an M69 derby at Coventry for
starters.
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Nolan will lead us back to the Prem, says Gold
Published 16:07 17/06/11 By MirrorFootball
The Mirror
West Ham co-owner David Gold believes Kevin Nolan can help the Hammers back
into the top flight, starting with the season-opener against Cardiff. The
npower Championship fixtures for the 2011-12 season were announced this
morning, and new United boss Sam Allardyce has a tough-looking first game
against the play-off hardened Bluebirds on August 6. Spirits are currently
high at Upton Park, though, following the surprise signing of Newcastle
captain Nolan yesterday, and Gold feels he could be the catalyst behind an
instant Premier League return. "I think he is quality," he told Sky Sports
News. "The relationship he has with Sam from their time at Bolton is
important and I think he is captain material. "He has that determination,
that will and desire, which Sam has and the owners have. "I know the fans
are delighted with this signing, it's a coup of West Ham. "If we were in the
Premier League you'd expect us to be pursuing a player of this quality.
"This is the player we can build the squad around, this iconic player."
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Gold banks on Allardyce pulling power
Phil McNulty | 15:38 UK time, Friday, 17 June 2011
BBC.co.uk
West Ham United co-owner David Gold likened the mood around Upton Park after
relegation to "a death in the family" - now the grieving is over and the
rebirth is ready to begin under Sam Allardyce. Allardyce returns from
holiday to get behind his desk at West Ham's Chadwell Heath training
headquarters on Monday but Gold is convinced the road to recovery from the
drop into the Championship has already begun. The Hammers' hierarchy reacted
to relegation after defeat at Wigan Athletic by sacking manager Avram Grant
within minutes of the final whistle and Gold revealed the hard work started
after a short period of reflection.
Now he believes West Ham have put "a stake in the sand" by appointing
Allardyce and following up the manager's arrival by persuading Newcastle
United captain Kevin Nolan to sacrifice life in the Premier League for a
journey back to the top tier starting in Green Street. Gold, his co-owner
David Sullivan and chief executive Karren Brady received heavy criticism as
West Ham dropped out of the top flight - especially after a turbulent
January when Grant looked out of a job only to survive with dire
consequences. But there is no disguising the passion in Gold's voice and the
desire to make West Ham's stay in the Championship a brief one as he
enthuses about the two high-profile newcomers.
He told BBC Sport: "In football terms we were grieving after relegation and
that's allowed. Then it was important to get over that as quickly as
possible. We had the priority to bring in a new manager as quickly as
possible and we are thrilled that we have Sam Allardyce. "You are always
nervous until it is signed and sealed but now it is like a marriage. We are
committed to each other and committed to getting West Ham back in the
Premier League. "Sam is a Premier League manager. We have appointed him and
we have signed a top-class proven Premier League player in Kevin Nolan. This
is the impact Sam can have. Kevin Nolan knows him and his quality and was
happy to come and play for him again. "He is a manager who can attract
players. He has proved it before and he has done it again here. He played a
massive part in getting Kevin to Upton Park. Even if he doesn't bring in any
other players of that quality he has still achieved what I regard as the
coup of the transfer window with that deal. "For a number of reasons we had
to put a stake in the sand and show our commitment to the fans. We have done
it and it is important that our negotiations continue to keep our young
players, senior pros and also ensure we continue to work with our academy,
which is one of the best in the business. "It is important the fans get
behind us and Sam's appointment and Kevin's signing is a statement of our
intent. And Kevin has shown a statement of faith in signing for us. It shows
we mean business at West Ham United. "Many clubs haven't done any business
yet - and I'm confident we will pull off one or two more surprises before
the window closes. We are working our socks off."
Allardyce's appointment, while welcomed, was regarded in many areas as
coming five months too late. If he had arrived in January, when Grant was
starting to look like a lame duck, then West Ham's renewal might have been
able to start in the Premier League. Gold told me: "When you look back it
is, of course, with hindsight. When we were bottom of the table on that last
Sunday you ask could you have done more and the answer is obviously 'yes'.
"By the same token we still brought in extra players when this decision
could have been made. We felt we brought in three top class players in Wayne
Bridge, an England left-back, one of the most exciting young strikers around
in Demba Ba and a record goalscorer for the Republic of Ireland in Robbie
Keane. "We also had an England goalkeeper in Robert Green, an England
centre-back in Matthew Upson, an England midfield man in Scott Parker and an
England striker in Carlton Cole. That wasn't a bad side and we added three
quality players to it."
Now Gold is getting to grips with the reality of getting West Ham back into
the Premier League - and says spirits have soared in recent weeks and the
club is up for the fight. "When we went down the whole football club was
despondent," he said. "It was like a death in the family. It was painful,
painful and we couldn't see it coming. We believed we had done enough. You
lose staff and it is a very sad time. Let me promise you it is an horrendous
experience for a football club. "Now we don't say we are relegated we say we
are in the Championship. We've been relegated three times before at
Birmingham so we know what to do to get out of it. We ask ourselves: 'What
are we going to do about it?' And we now have a new manager in Sam and a
player of Kevin's calibre who can be our talisman. "One of the few redeeming
features of getting old is that you have been around the block and you have
experience that you can bring to bear on this situation. And we have
experience of what it takes to win promotion to the Premier League. "We are
in the Championship and with all due respect it is better than being in the
Conference. I believe we are going to be big players and big challengers in
the Championship. It is going to be so exciting and David Sullivan and
myself will do everything in our power to ensure we have put everything
possible in place so we keep our record of going straight back up after
relegation."
There is little doubt fences needed to be mended with disaffected, but still
fiercely loyal, West Ham fans and this is a process Gold also believes is
under way.
He said: "I went on to Twitter - whether that was a good idea or not I'm not
sure - but it is a good barometer of how the fans are feeling and you should
never underestimate them. Of course you get some who are not very
complimentary but there are thousands who are so knowledgeable and I get the
sense that they are fantastically supportive of what we have done in
bringing in Sam and then making a signing like Kevin Nolan. "You are allowed
the period of grief and cursing your luck as far as football is concerned
after what happened to us, but we have already started the hard work to get
West Ham back up to the Premier League. "Someone like Kevin Nolan hasn't
come to Upton Park to play in the Championship, he has come to help take
West Ham back up into the Premier League. That is what we all want here and
we will do our utmost to make it happen."
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West Ham swoop for Chelsea's England U21 international Cork
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER
Last updated at 10:42 PM on 17th June 2011
Daily Mail
West Ham are looking to pip Southampton, Burnley and Blackpool to Chelsea's
Jack Cork. The 21-year-old spent last season on loan at Turf Moor and was
expected to return their permanently in a £750,000 move. Ambitious
Championship rivals Southampton then showed their interest and looked to be
in the driving seat but now West Ham have stepped in and Cork is keen to
move across London and join Sam Allardyce's new-look squad. Allardyce was
disappointed to miss out on former Bolton defender Ricardo Gardner but
England U21 international Cork who can play in midfield or defence is a
positive acquisition.
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