Hammers confirm Retain List
WHUFC.com
West Ham United have issued their Retain List of players at the end of the 2014/15 season.
The Hammers have confirmed that senior professionals Carlton Cole, Guy Demel, Jussi Jaaskelainen and Nene will all leave the Club at the end of their contracts on 30 June.
Young professionals Kieran Bywater, Sean Maguire, Paul McCallum and Dan Potts will also depart the Boleyn Ground after not being offered new contracts.
Scholars Jerry Amoo and Kieran Bailey have been released, while Taylor Tombides will also be moving on.
Meanwhile, youngsters Kyle Knoyle, Djair Parfitt-Williams and Alex Pike have agreed their first professional deals with the Club and will sign contracts from 1 July.
The Club would like to thank all the departing players for their efforts and wish them well in their future careers
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Nene thanks Hammers fans
WHUFC.com
Nene has thanked the West Ham United fans for the support shown to him during his four months at the Boleyn Ground.
The Brazilian forward will be leaving the Club at the end of his contract on 30 June as he pursues top-flight football elsewhere.
He made eight Barclays Premier League appearances in claret and blue, and although he admits he hoped for more opportunities, he will leave London with fond memories.
Writing on his official Instagram account, the 33-year-old said: "My goal is to play for at least three more seasons at the top level and for that reason I need to go to another club.
"I thank the fans for their permanent support and wish the best success to my teammates and West Ham United."
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Cole says farewell
WHUFC.com
Carlton Cole has made 293 appearances for West Ham United over the past nine seasons, scoring 68 goals. The centre forward, who scored on his debut against Charlton Athletic in August 2006 and the opening goal in the 2012 Championship Play-Off final victory over Blackpool at Wembley, has played seven times for England during his time as a Hammer. Here, the 31-year-old says farewell to the Hammers in his own words.
Hello everyone,
I've been at West Ham United for quite a long time and I've enjoyed myself here, with all the ups and downs, the heartaches and everything that came along with it.
At the same time, I've grown from being a boy to a man here and everybody has treated me like a part of the family.
It is heart-warming to know that I have got such support and that I have done my fair share for the Club and been part of the history as well, which is very important for me.
I'm very happy to have been a part of it and, wherever my future may lie, West Ham will always have a special place in my heart.
It means a lot to me to have been at West Ham for so long. I wouldn't like to use the word hero, but I have played my part. A load of players have come and gone, but I've stayed around and enjoyed every minute of it.
If I could pick out my two most memorable moments, the Play-Off final and the two goals I scored when we beat Manchester United 4-0 in the League Cup in 2010 are the two that everybody says that I played a blinder in and it would be fair to say I agree with them.
I have enjoyed every game I have played for West Ham but all good things have to come to an end and I will be leaving.
When I think of West Ham United I think of a family football club which has embraced me and I've enjoyed every minute of it.
Thank you all.
Carlton Cole
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Lee looking to build on first team chance
WHUFC.com
Elliot Lee wants to build on his first team chance when West Ham United return to pre-season in late June.
The striker made his second Barclays Premier League appearance for the Hammers in last Sunday's 2-0 defeat at Newcastle and the experience has left him hungry for more.
St James' Park is a venue that holds special memories for the 20-year-old, with Lee having watched his father Rob in action for the Magpies there, so he was thrilled to follow in his footsteps.
"It was quite an experience for me, and an emotional one too," he explained. "I grew up watching my dad at Newcastle and the Club posted a picture on their Twitter of me pointing out where I used to sit in a box with the Shearer family.
"I was delighted to get on the pitch and I'd like to give a special mention to Ian Hendon. I've worked with him for quite a few years and he was pushing for me this year. I think he had a big hand in why I got on so thank you to him for that, but I'm disappointed that we didn't get a result.
"Most of my family actually went on holiday to Turkey the day before the game, but I'm sure they watched it out there. My brother and a few of his pals came along though, and I had text messages from some of my old friends up there saying don't score!
"It was a great experience - I made my debut at Old Trafford and I said then the second best place to come on would be St James' or Upton Park. It wasn't a great result for the team but we'll push on from here and go again next season."
Lee scored three goals in eleven games on loan at Luton Town before returning to the first team fold with the Hammers and he was happy to learn with the Hatters.
He added: "I went out on loan to toughen me up. I experienced playing men's football and that helped me this season. I came back and have been involved with the first team squad, so that's great.
"I want to push on from here. We've got the Europa League next year and hopefully I can be involved in that quite a lot.
"It's important not to get frustrated as a young player because you're competing with some very good players in the first team, so now I'm going to keep going in training and hopefully come back and really challenge for a first team place."
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Young Hammers set for Hong Kong Sevens
WHUFC.com
A young West Ham United team will head to Hong Kong for the HKFC Citibank Soccer Sevens tournament, which kicks-off on Saturday.
Mark Phillips and his Hammers squad jetted off to the far east earlier this week to prepare for his prestigious competition, which brings together elite teams from across Europe and Asia.
Sixteen teams will do battle in the main category, with West Ham drawn in a group alongside Chinese outfit Shanghai SIPG and local sides Kitchee and Hong Kong FC Captain's Select.
The group phase will be played out on the opening day, before the Sunday sees all 16 teams compete in Cup or Plate competitions, depending on their success in the initial round.
West Ham's squad includes several players who have impressed at U18 and U21 levels this term, with Jordan Brown and Djair Parfitt-Williams leading the line up front.
Also headed out to Hong Kong are goalkeeper Clarke Bogard, defenders Alex Pike and Josh Pask, midfielders Marcus Browne, Noha Sylvestre and forwards Jaanai Gordon, Oscar Borg and Grady Diangana.
U18s coach Mark Phillips is expecting his players to benefit greatly from the experience.
He told whufc.com: "It's an excellent tournament for the boys to end the season with. Ian Hendon has taken teams out there twice before and he's spoken highly of the competition.
"We're the youngest team there, with a few senior and U21s sides there, so it will provide the players with an invaluable experience.
"It's all a learning curve towards the first team, so dealing with that challenge, as well as the heat and humidity here will be great.
"I've watched clips from last year's tournament and there's a lot of athleticism, so we've brought a fit squad with a lot of attacking talent."
You can follow the Hammers' progress throughout the weekend here on whufc.com
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West Ham striker Carlton Cole to leave club in summer
BBC.co.uk
Striker Carlton Cole will leave West Ham this summer when his contract expires on 30 June.
The 31-year-old, who initially left the Hammers in 2013 before re-signing five months later, scored 68 goals in 293 appearances after first joining from Chelsea in 2006.
Veteran goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen, defender Guy Demel and midfielder Nene have also not been retained.
"It means a lot to me to have been at West Ham for so long," said Cole.
"I wouldn't like to use the word hero, but I have played my part.
"A load of players have come and gone, but I've stayed around and enjoyed every minute of it."
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Bielsa rumours have Twitter all of a flutter
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 29th May 2015
By: Staff Writer
Twitter was awash with rumours tonight that Marcelo Bielsa had agreed to join West Ham - only for it later to be revealed as a hoax from across the Channel.
The Marseille manager has been strongly linked with the vacant position at the Boleyn Ground - something that French fans appear to have taken umbrage to.
e-West Ham @e_westham
BREAKING: According to L'Equipe, Marcelo Bielsa is set to leave Marseille and become the next West Ham manager.
12:03 AM - 29 May 2015
For late on Thursday night rumours began circulating that respected French broadcaster L'Equipe had reported Bielsa was on his way to the Premier League having rejected the offer of a new contract from Marseille.
That had Hammers fans gossiping wildly at the prospect of the 59-year-old Argentine arriving in east London - only to discover some time later that the whole thing had been a hoax.
Get French Football @GFN_France
Absolutely nothing from L'Équipe or OM TV suggesting that Marcelo Bielsa has decided to join West Ham. Pure fabrication.
12:45 AM - 29 May 2015
Although contact is understood to have been made between West Ham and representatives of Bielsa, reports on Thursday morning suggested that he was close to agreeing a two-year contract extension with his current club.
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Benitez leaves Napoli, set to snub Hammers
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 28th May 2015
By: Staff Writer
West Ham managerial target Rafa Benitez has confirmed that he will leave Napoli at the end of the season.
However the Spanish boss, who has topped West Ham's wish-list for some considerable time looks set to snub the Hammers and re-join former club Real Madrid.
According to Real director Josep Pedrerol, Benitez will be unveiled as the successor to the recently-departed Carlo Ancelotti next Wednesday at 1pm.
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Aaron Cresswell named KUMB Readers' Player of the Year
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 28th May 2015
By: Staff Writer
Aaron Cresswell has been named West Ham United's Player of the Year by the readers of KUMB.com.
The full back - who was recently crowned Hammer of the Year - capped a superb season by taking the main award in tonight 18th annual KUMB Awards, staged at The Cow in Stratford Westfield.
And there was further good news for the full-back when he was named Best Signing, narrowly beating Diafra Sakho into second place.
The other player to pick up two awards on the night was one no longer with us - Jack Collison, who won the Most Missed award whilst also being named the KUMB Podcast Guest of the Year.
The full list of winners on the night - which was hosted by Chris Scull and James Longman from the KUMB Podcast and featured guests Jimmy Walker and Rufus Brevett (above) - were as follows:
KUMB Awards XVIII: The Winners
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Aaron Cresswell (44%)
YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Reece Burke (92%)
BEST SIGNING
Aaron Cresswell (45%)
MOST IMPROVED PLAYER
Stewart Downing (41%)
GOAL OF THE SEASON
15 September 2014: Enner Valencia vs Hull City a, 2-2 (61%)
MOST MEMORABLE MATCH
20 September 2014: West Ham Utd 3-1 Liverpool (36%)
MOST MISSED
Jack Collison (36%)
PODCAST GUEST OF THE YEAR
Jack Collison (20%)
WORST PLAYER
Kevin Nolan (31%)
WORST SIGNING
Mauro Zarate (63%)
GREATEST DISAPPOINTMENT
The post-Christmas slump in form (61%)
HACKETT OF THE YEAR
The thieves who stole Kenny Brown's medals (29%)
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Carlton Cole announces his departure from West Ham
Last Updated: 28/05/15 6:43pm
SSN
Carlton Cole has confirmed that he has been released by West Ham for a second time.
The 31-year-old striker was let go by the Hammers at the end of the 2013 season, only to return to Upton Park a few months later.
He scored three goals in 26 appearances in all competitions last season but will now be on the lookout for a new club.
He tweeted: "Looking forward to my next adventure. I have spoken to West Ham United and it has been decide not to extend my contract.
"I wish West Ham United all the best and I will look out for their progress in the future. Thanks for a great 9 years. it's been emotional."
Cole later wrote a letter saying goodbye to Hammers fans, published on their official website,
"I've been at West Ham United for quite a long time and I've enjoyed myself here, with all the ups and downs, the heartaches and everything that came along with it," he said.
"At the same time, I've grown from being a boy to a man here and everybody has treated me like a part of the family.
"It is heart-warming to know that I have got such support and that I have done my fair share for the club and been part of the history as well, which is very important for me.
"I'm very happy to have been a part of it and, wherever my future may lie, West Ham will always have a special place in my heart.
"It means a lot to me to have been at West Ham for so long. I wouldn't like to use the word hero, but I have played my part. A load of players have come and gone, but I've stayed around and enjoyed every minute of it."
Cole was close to leaving West Ham to join West Brom on Deadline Day in January but the move fell through at the last minute, much to his frustration.
"I was there doing the medical; then I was back home," he told The Fantasy Football Club. "It was disappointing as I was going to get some first-team football.
"At the time I was not happy about it, but it was one of those things and I had to get on with it."
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SHOULD THEY STAY OR SHOULD THEY GO: THE MIDFIELDERS
By Iain Dale 28 May 2015 at 08:00
West Ham Till I Die
Kevin Nolan
When Kevin Nolan joined us four years ago it was quite a move for him, as we had just been relegated. Since then he has scored thirty goals in 139 appearances, a much better strike rate than he had at Bolton. However, his form this year hasn't been so good and it's easy to assume that age has caught up with him. He's 33 in June. His contract is up and will not be renewed, I imagine. VERDICT: LET GO
Mark Noble
At the age of 28 Mark Noble is at the height of his powers, with more than 300 games behind him. It would be unthinkable for him to be sold, but stranger things have happened. A lot depends on the new manager, but for me he should be the new club captain. VERDICT: KEEP
Alex Song
At Christmas you'd have found it difficult to find anyone who wouldn't have wanted to keep Alex Song but his form since then has been average to say the least. He's certainly not worth the £100k a week he is said to command. He wants to stay in London so a new deal is obviously a possibility but I'd have thought unlikely. There's no doubt he's a quality player, and I have enjoyed watching him, but he is consistently inconsistent. VERDICT: HEART SAYS KEEP, HEAD SAYS FORGET ABOUT HIM
Cheikhou Kouyate
He's been a revelation, and he should be our key midfielder next season. It's handy that he can help out at centre back too. VERDICT: KEEP
Stewart Downing
A bit like Alex Song, he was excellent in the first half of the season but his form faded in the second half, especially when he wasn't playing at the top of a diamond. He scored six goals this season,a big improvement on his single goal in the previous season. But at 31 you have to wonder how much longer his pace will last. If we sold him now we'd recoup most of the £6 million we paid for him. VERDICT: SELL
Matt Jarvis
Matt Jarvis cost a whopping £10 million and has never really fulfilled his early potential. He's only scored 4 goals in 75 appearances, a pathetic return for a £10 million winger. One wonders if we'd recoup more than thirty per cent of that. VERDICT: SELL
Morgan Amalfitano
Amalfitano has done well despite not being given a huge number of games. His great asset is his ability to play out wide or through the centre. VERDICT: KEEP
Diego Poyet
With Kevin Nolan gone Diego Poyet might break through. He impressed whenever he played and certainly didn't ever let anyone down. I'd like to see more of him. VERDICT: KEEP
VERDICT
With Noble and Kouyate first choice players in a midfield three, we need a top class ballplaying midfielder and another defensive midfield player. I also think we need more speed on the wings.
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If Marcelo Bielsa did not exist it would probably be necessary to invent him
Barney Ronay
West Ham may be in the market for a new manager and would liven things up considerably by appointing the otherworldly Argentinian from Marseille
Friday 10 April 2015 13.11 BST Last modified on Saturday 11 April 2015 08.54 BST
There was a stir in the art world a few years back when the great "lost" American painter Nat Tate was dramatically rediscovered. Tate, the story goes, was a member of the New York scene of the 1950s, who ended up jumping to his death off the Staten Island ferry after visiting Europe and finding himself haunted by the genius of Braque and Picasso. The Tate retrospective opened in London with a speech by David Bowie and a tribute from Gore Vidal, who knew everybody, so naturally knew Tate too. Critics at the launch nodded sagely. Tate was obscure - they knew the name, of course - but perhaps it really was time for a re-evaluation of this strangely overlooked contemporary of Jackson Pollock and the mid-century greats who ... well ... didn't actually exist.
Tate, it soon emerged, was an amusing cut and paste hoax by the novelist William Boyd, in part inspired by his irritation with the hype over the "Young British Artists" of the times, many of whom were, as Boyd later noted, "not very good".
The reason for mentioning him here is simply that Tate sometimes pops into my head whenever the cultishly revered, relentlessly name-checked Argentinian football coach Marcelo Bielsa is mentioned in some unlikely passing context, as he was this week with the republishing of a leaked shortlist of candidates to replace Sam Allardyce at West Ham.
You can imagine the talk around the boardroom table on this one. OK, so who have we got then? Respected club legend? Slaven Bilic. Tick. Premier League veteran? Rafa Benítez. Got it. Right, all we're missing now is an eccentric idealist who values academic process above winning and who once wandered around for several days wearing a pair of shoes on which he'd drawn an outline of feet to illustrate some fine point of technique to his players.
Bielsa to West Ham: it's a compelling prospect. But then he's a compelling kind of guy, a seductive and in many ways very funny giant of the modern game. Certainly if Bielsa didn't exist it would probably be necessary to invent him, and there is no doubt his legend has been allowed to develop a slightly exaggerated, cartoonish edge: the manager as crackpot chess genius, nerd god, wandering the streets in his carpet slippers in search of some fleeting glimpse of the footballing absolute.
"There are 36 different forms of communicating through a pass," Bielsa once said, and you can already feel yourself nodding. Yes! More! So much so it is even possible to imagine, here in landlocked Premier League-land, Bielsa himself could turn out to be an elaborate hoax, an in-joke concocted by South American intellectuals at the expense of lonesome English tactical romantics everywhere.
Except, of course, unlike Nat Tate, Bielsa is real and currently working in France. This week, as the West Ham link flickered in the background, a video emerged of him addressing his Marseille team after their 0-0 draw with Lyon last month. It shows Bielsa giving a beautiful, slightly maniacal speech about collectivism and team endeavour that drew applause from his players and provides above all a reminder of his allure, the sense of someone oddly untouched and otherworldly, concerned solely with method and form.
And what methods they are. At Athletic Bilbao Bielsa produced an array of impenetrable diagrams, cool green Rothko squares decorated with gloops of colour, angry squiggles, cartoon hieroglyphs illustrating how his player should always be in motion. "Running is understanding, running is everything," he has said, and his teams do run, pushing forward always - defence is simply the first stage of attack - and resembling at times a kind of wired, luminous, footballing modern jazz.
In this sense Bielsa isn't Jack Kerouac, the star turn, the headline act. He is instead the Neal Cassady of modern football: the pure idealist, the guy who inspired the guys, and from whom so many managers have borrowed a little, from the more diffuse to to outright acolytes such as Pep Guardiola or Chile manager Jorge Sampaoli, who used to listen to Bielsa speeches on a walkman while he went out jogging.
So: West Ham then. It probably won't happen. But wouldn't it be great? Firstly for that rare thing, a genuine clash of cultures: football's great professorial puritan at work in its most cheerfully philistine league. Bielsa is a guaranteed provocation for those who like to see English football as an unmasker of artifice and pretension, and in which even Louis van Gaal - who could, frankly, dine out for ever just on that transformative Ajax team of the mid-1990s - was being fitted up earlier this season as another empty professor, another Josef Venglos, another Nat Tate.
In which case wait until they get a load of Bielsa, whose reputation as a modern great rests on intangible moments of tactical innovation, who doesn't win trophies and whose teams have often enjoyed intoxicating peaks matched with sudden dips, in part because he appears at times to be asking his players to do something impossible, to sustain some personal vision of sublime unceasing movement.
Bielsa to West Ham remains an unlikely dream. But take a step back and there is a case to be made here. West Ham's fans demand attacking, progressive football, which is pretty much all Bielsa is interested in. The current owners seem to want a long-term plan and Bielsa is all about plans. This is a club that has traditionally allowed its mangers to settle and which also isn't afraid of a certain academic intensity, from Malcolm Allison and the Cafe Cassettari set, with their tactical arguments over the squeeze ketchup bottle; to Ron Greenwood - in his own way a kind of homespun proto-Bielsa, - the tracksuit obsessive with his Hungarian fixation, his endless hours on the training pitch before eventually being dragged off in a daze still muttering about plans and formulae.
Above all it would simply be great fun and a deliciously counter-intuitive move for the league that doesn't think, the league that likes instead to bump along in a state of profitable stasis. And which is perhaps missing a little intellectual content to go with the generalised excitement, a different kind of passion beyond the familiar operetta.
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Jussi, Cole, Demel & Nene leave West Ham
Posted by Sean Whetstone on May 28, 2015 in Whispers
C AND H
West Ham have officially confirmed that first team squad players Carlton Cole, Guy Demel, Jussi Jaaskelainen and Nene will all leave the Club at the end of their contracts on 30th June.
The release of these senior players will free up around £125,000 per week of wages which is £6.5m per season off the wage bill. Although not mentioned Loanee Alex Song is expected to save another £75,000 per week in wages after his loan ended.
Young Academy players Kieran Bywater, Sean Maguire, Paul McCallum and Dan Potts will also depart the Boleyn Ground after not being offered new contracts. Hammers scholars Jerry Amoo and Kieran Bailey have been released, while Taylor Tombides will also be moving on.
Released Under 16 Academy players include Nathan Parsons, Tom Carlton, Keagan Cole, Nathan Douglas, Matthew Campbell, Billy Holmes and Louis Yuill. Yuill has joined Birmingham youth while Campbell has joined Millwall youth setup.
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Official: Hendo becomes O's manager
Posted by Sean Whetstone on May 29, 2015 in Whispers
C AND H
Leyton Orient have appointed West Ham first team coach Ian Hendon as their new manager.
Hendon, 43, who played more than 150 times for Orient, takes up his new role on 1 July.
"Orient is a Club that means a great deal to me - I hope that fans will remember the commitment I showed as a player, and know they can expect the same dedication from me as Head Coach," Hendo told www.leytonorient.com
"I've got a lot of experience of the lower leagues, having played at every level during my career and worked in League Two as player/manager, but having spent a few years working in the Premier League I have learnt a huge amount that will stand me in good stead for this new challenge."
"I hope to be able to bring some stability to the Club and help rebuild after the disappointment of last season. Promotion is the priority, but reconnecting with the fans is also important. Having met the President, I was impressed with his own long-term plans for the Club, and I can't wait to get started."
Hendo's Orient will be playing Teddy Sheringham's Stevenage in league division two after the O's was relegated this season.
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Lille midfielder interest by Hammers
Posted by Sean Whetstone on May 28, 2015 in Whispers
C AND H
According to reports in the media West Ham have enquired about £7m-rated Lille midfielder Idrissa Gueye.
The Senegalese international is also being tracked by Southampton and Crystal Palace but is wanted by several teams in France. Gueye, 25, made 39 appearances for Lille this season but was told last summer he could leave the French club.
Without a manager in place, Director of recruitment Tony Henry is thought to scouting a number of West Ham targets to hit the ground running in the Summer transfer market once a manager is finally appointed.
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Potts farewell to Hammers
Posted by Sean Whetstone on May 28, 2015 in Whispers
C AND H
West Ham youngster Danny Potts has penned an emotional farewell to the club, staff and Hammers fans following his release from the club he spent 12 years at:
"An extremely emotional & difficult day personally in which there is no creditable way to sum up what West Ham United has done for me over the past 12 years. From the staff & players to the fans that have supported me through dark times and the very best of times I will be forever grateful. The club has taught me so much not only as a player on the pitch but a person off it. I will never forget my time at West Ham and want to wish the club and the people associated nothing but the best for the forthcoming seasons & hopefully give the fans the success they deserve! I look forward to what challenges and opportunities await me and with that I am excited for what the future holds for myself. It's been an absolute privilege & honour to have been able to represent the club that means so much to me and there are no words that will justify it all! Thank You WHUFC!"
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West Ham U21 Relegated
Posted by Sean Whetstone on May 28, 2015 in Whispers
C AND H
West Ham have been relegated from the Barclays U21 Premier League division 1 after finishing rock bottom of the table.
The West Ham youngsters achieved just 5 wins and 17 points during their 22 games season. They now face a season in the U21 division 2.
The Barclays U21 Premier League replaced the Premier Reserve League at the start of the 2012/13 season. There are 24 clubs entered, of which 15 are from the Barclays Premier League and nine are from the Championship. The 24 clubs play in two 12-team divisions from the 2014/15 campaign. The teams in 11th and 12th in the division 1 will be relegated, while Division's top 2 will be promoted. West Ham finished in 12th place with a goal difference of -23 this season while fellow strugglers Fulham were also relegated on 22 points. Middlesborough and Reading have been promoted to division 1.
Head of player development Terry Westley is looking to completely rebuild the West Ham Academy in an attempt to get a return on the £4m the board invest each year. A large number players have been released in recent months and today saw another batch of players released who Westley believes can not make the grade, this included the son of his U21 manager, Dan Potts.
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Released West Ham players find clubs
Posted by Sean Whetstone on May 28, 2015 in Whispers
C AND H
According to a website dedicated to West Ham youth whufcyouth.wordpress.com many of today's Academy youth players released by the club have new clubs lined up.
Taylor Tombides looks like he is set to join Hull City, Danny Potts has been linked with a move to Luton Town, Sean Maguire has been linked with a move Accrington Stanley, Jerry Amoo is training with Reading and Kieran Bailey has joined Colchester.
Head of Player Development, Terry Westley continues to clear out the Academy built by Tony Carr and Nick Haycock. Westley took over the Academy last Summer with Steve Potts now in place as the Under 21 manager. It is understood Westley has been tasked by the board with getting a return on the £4m plus investment made into the Academy every year.
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Martin: 'Club needs grabbing by scruff of the neck'
Posted by Sean Whetstone on May 28, 2015 in Whispers
C AND H
Alvin Marin has delivered his verdict on the state of the club and reckons someone needs to take it by the scruff of the neck.
The talkSport presenter declared: "This is a very delicate and complex situation at West Ham. It's not open and shut.
"There are a lot of West Ham fans who were 50/50 whether they liked him or they didn't like him. (Sam Allardyce).
"When I'm asked about it, it's not just about was it right to make a change? It's what was the alternative? - If they didn't make a change, they had to offer him a new contract; what terms would it be on?"
"No one can argue that Allardyce doesn't have plenty of Premier League experience and a CV to do well at any club around a mid-table sort of level.
"However, West Ham now have the tools to be much more than that and they will be looking to progress domestically next season and to make the most of their gifted position in the Europa League.
"Someone needs to grab the club by the scruff of the neck and the board clearly didn't feel that Allardyce was worth the financial gambled, weighed against those pressures for the club to improve.
"Whether it turns out to be the right decision remains to be seen, but the new man coming in has a real opportunity to create something special by the time of the club's move to the Olympic Stadium."
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An open letter from Carlton Cole
Posted by Sean Whetstone on May 28, 2015 in Whispers
C AND H
Hello everyone,
I've been at West Ham United for quite a long time and I've enjoyed myself here, with all the ups and downs, the heartaches and everything that came along with it.
At the same time, I've grown from being a boy to a man here and everybody has treated me like a part of the family.
It is heart-warming to know that I have got such support and that I have done my fair share for the Club and been part of the history as well, which is very important for me.
I'm very happy to have been a part of it and, wherever my future may lie, West Ham will always have a special place in my heart.
It means a lot to me to have been at West Ham for so long. I wouldn't like to use the word hero, but I have played my part. A load of players have come and gone, but I've stayed around and enjoyed every minute of it.
If I could pick out my two most memorable moments, the Play-Off final and the two goals I scored when we beat Manchester United 4-0 in the League Cup in 2010 are the two that everybody says that I played a blinder in and it would be fair to say I agree with them.
I have enjoyed every game I have played for West Ham but all good things have to come to an end and I will be leaving.
When I think of West Ham United I think of a family football club which has embraced me and I've enjoyed every minute of it.
Thank you all.
Carlton Cole
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
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