Daily WHUFC News - 8th September 2017

Zabaleta: Our home form will be vital this season
WHUFC.com

Pablo Zabaleta knows just how important home form can be when it comes to enjoying a successful season. The full-back was part of the Manchester City sides which won the Premier League title in both 2012 and 2014, losing a grand total of one home match out of 38 in the process. While Zabaleta is experienced to know West Ham United will do well to emulate the Citizens' achievements, he knows the Hammers' London Stadium results will need to good if they are to climb away from the foot of the table. "Winning your home matches is always very important," said the No5, who was not on the pitch for a single home defeat all last season. "The points you collect at your own stadium will go a long way to showing how well you do in a season. "When we won the title twice with Manchester City, both times our home form was the reason we won the Premier League. We won 18 out of 19 home games in 2012, and lost just once in 2014. "Obviously, we are not going to match those records, but we do need to win more home games than we did last season if we are to achieve our targets this year."

The Argentinian will make his first home appearance in Claret and Blue on Monday evening – he appeared in Stratford for Manchester City last season – and has urged West Ham fans to get right behind Slaven Bilic's side when they take on Huddersfield Town. The newly-promoted Terriers have taken seven points from a possible nine and are yet to concede a goal, results and form that are in stark contrast to the Hammers' own opening efforts. For those reasons, Zabaleta has called for unity and vociferous support before and during Monday's game. "We are all looking forward to playing in front of our supporters for the first time at home, of course. We will have more than 50,000 fans cheering us on and they will give us a massive boost when we walk on to the pitch before kick-off.
"We have had great support at our away matches, but on Monday we will be at London Stadium, on our turf, and we need to use our home advantage to get the victory we need. "I played at London Stadium last season for Manchester City and I know it is a fantastic arena. The atmosphere and sound created by the fans are really loud and I can tell you that the players really feel it on the pitch."

*West Ham United host Huddersfield Town at London Stadium on Monday 11 September at 8pm. Standard Tickets are available now via the Ticket Exchange.

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New security search process in place at home matches
WHUFC.com

As part of our shared commitment to enhancing the matchday experience for supporters at London Stadium, West Ham United, working in partnership with Stadium Operators LS185, are pleased to announce that a new security search process will be in place this season, designed to improve security, reduce queuing times at turnstiles and alleviate congestion around the podium level.

Following feedback from fans, the new search operation - which will be in place for Monday's opening home Premier League game of the season against Huddersfield Town - will see search checkpoints stationed directly adjacent to the bridges leading on to the stadium island.

The process, used throughout London Stadium's summer of concerts and world athletics, has proved particularly successful in helping the flow of spectators to the stadium, and both West Ham United and LS185 are working together to ensure that the safety and security of our supporters is of paramount importance.

In order to allow easy access and cause minimal delays, it is recommended that supporters arrive at least one hour prior to kick-off and avoid bringing any bags to matches unless absolutely necessary. Large suitcases or luggage are not permitted in the stadium.

All bags will be searched and supporters may also be asked to remove jackets or coats in preparation for search. All approved bags are also subject to additional inspections within the Stadium. There will be an access lane at each checkpoint for supporters with accessibility needs.

These are not ticket check points, allowing supporters without tickets to gain access to the podium and visit the Stadium Store and Ticket Offices.

To further reduce queuing times at the search checkpoints, it is recommended that supporters access the stadium island via the bridges in closest proximity to their respective turnstile entrance. See our stadium map for an illustration of the following information:

Turnstile Entrance Closest Bridge
A, B, C 3
D 4
E, F, G 5
E, F, G, H, J 1
A, J, K 2
Please be assured that London Stadium's search policy is entirely for the safety and security of every supporter attending West Ham United matches.

Additionally at London Stadium this season, each entrance section on the podium will have one late turnstile open after kick-off. Any supporters who arrive late for the match are advised to head to the relevant entrance for their seat, where they will be directed to the late-opening turnstile.

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Newham to write-off £40m loan?
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 7th September 2017
By: Staff Writer

It has been claimed that Newham Council are preparing to write off the £40million loan given to West Ham United to assist with the move from Upton Park to Stratford.

According to an eagle-eyed Forest Gate resident, posting on forestgate.net, the Council - led by Hammers fan Sir Robin Wales - have already decided to drop the debt with immediate effect.

"Detail hidden in the draft accounts, due to be signed off by cabinet tonight, shows that the 'loan' made to help transform the 2012 Olympic stadium into West Ham United's new ground is being written off," wrote the concerned resident. "After just one season of operation as a football stadium the council is now 'writing off' that £40m investment.

"A line in the Draft Statement of Accounts 2016/17 refers to 'Impairment totalling £44.4m of a Long Term Debtor in one of the Council's group undertaking, Newham Legacy Investments Ltd'. The £40m being written off is double the amount of 'savings and efficiencies' being made this year.

"Residents were promised the investment would provide Newham with a share of the profits generated over the long term. It turned out be a gift to Messrs Sullivan and Gold. The money, borrowed by the council from the Treasury, will now have to be re-paid by local taxpayers."

Two years ago West Ham were forced to defend charges that they had effectively received state aid when they were accused of failing to follow protocol regarding the sum received from the public purse.

"West Ham United is confident that its agreement with the LLDC complies with all relevant UK and European legislation and categorically does not constitute state aid," said a club spokesman at the time.

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Sporting Lisbon to report West Ham to FIFA over William Carvalho saga
By Sky Sports News
Last Updated: 07/09/17 9:03am
SSN

Sporting Lisbon are to report West Ham to FIFA for alleged "illegal approaches" made to William Carvalho, say Sky sources. West Ham are currently pursuing legal action against Sporting's communications director, Nuno Saraiva, after he labelled Hammers co-owner David Sullivan a "liar" and a "parasite" and claimed that the Premier League side made no offers for the Portugal international. Sky Sports News revealed on Wednesday two emails appearing to show Sullivan offering just under £23m for Carvalho, before making a follow-up bid that included a 10 per cent sell-on clause and additional add-ons based on West Ham qualifying for the Champions League.
Sullivan also claimed last week that the offers were rejected before Sporting got back in touch with West Ham on Deadline Day and indicated a willingness to negotiate another deal, but there was not enough time. Saraiva previously said on Facebook: "No proposal arrived for the player William Carvalho. "Mr Sullivan has a duty to prove what he says. For this reason, Sporting Clube de Portugal challenge him to publicly show the proposals he says have been made, as well as the evidence that Sporting CP has received them."
Sky Sports News understands the 25-year-old wanted a move to the Premier League, but he had a £40m release clause in his contract and Sporting were initially keen for that figure to be met. Carvalho, who helped Portugal win Euro 2016, is a product of the Sporting academy and has scored 10 goals in 155 appearances since making his first-team debut in 2011.

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Here's your proof, says Sullivan
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 7th September 2017
By: Staff Writer

Sky Sports have published copies of emails said to be from David Sullivan confirming that the club DID make an official offer for Sporting midfielder William Carvalho. The emails, which you may see below, appear to provide evidence of a £25m bid payable in three tranches of £8.3m each over three years.

Sporting President Bruno de Carvalho had earlier challenged Sullivan to provide evidence of his claims, made in a statement issued on the club's website at the weekend.

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Leaked West Ham emails appear to prove William Carvalho offers
ALEX YOUNG
ES Sport

Two emails appear to prove West Ham did make offers for William Carvalho in light of denials from Sporting Lisbon. The Portuguese club's communications director, Nuno Saraiva, has claimed no bids were received from the Hammers for the midfielder, adding that "[co-chairman] Mr [David] Sullivan has a duty to prove what he says." David Sullivan Jr, son of the West ham co-chairman, confirmed on Twitter afterward that the club intends to take legal action against Saraiva.
Sky Sports have now obtained two emails, allegedly sent from Sullivan to Sporting, first offering £23million spread over three seasons before a second included a sell-on clause and potential add-ons should West Ham qualify for the Champions League. West Ham allege the Sporting rejected the outlined offers before returning late in the transfer window to accept the terms, leaving little time to complete a deal. Sullivan said earlier this week: "It is no secret that we made a club record bid for Sporting Lisbon's William Carvalho but unfortunately that offer was rejected a couple of weeks ago," he said. "Late last night Sporting Lisbon made contact to accept the original offer but unfortunately it was just too late in the day, and we simply did not have enough time to put the player through a medical.
"We were not prepared, as a club, to buy a player for that amount of money without him having gone through adequate medical checks."

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Five things you need to know about West Ham new boy Sead Haksabanovic
by James Beavis shareFacebook Twitter Pocket Pocket Pocket Addthis

Five things you need to know about West Ham new boy Sead Haksabanovic

While West Ham United signed well-known players such as Joe Hart, Pablo Zabaleta, Marko Arnautovic and Javier Hernandez during the summer transfer window, the addition of Sead Haksabanovic went slightly under the radar as he was a more low-profile buy. The Irons signed the winger on a five-year deal from Swedish side Halmstads BK in August, and even though he is 18 years of age he will hope to make a big impact for the east London outfit this season after some stand-out performances in Sweden.

The Montenegro wide-man, who Transfermarkt value at just £1.35million, played 72 minutes of the Hammers' 3-2 win against Swindon Town in their first EFL Trophy group game last month, and he will be hoping he can push for a spot in Slaven Bilic's first team squad sooner than he may have expected following the club's disastrous start to the Premier League campaign.

To boost West Ham supporters' knowledge of their new man, here are five things they need to know about Haksabanovic…

Debut

He may have only celebrated his 18th birthday in May, but Haksabanovic is relatively experienced for his age having made more than 70 first-team appearances in total. That record is largely due to the early faith that Halmstads BK showed in the teenager as they handed him his full Allsvenskan debut when he was just 15 years and 11 months old, as a substitute in a 3-0 loss to IFK Norrkoping in April 2015. It is a clear indication of how mature the player is both on and off the pitch, and he certainly wouldn't be fazed if he was thrown into the Irons' starting line-up in the near future.

Manchester United trial

When you make your debut at the age of 15 you are always going to attract curious glances from elsewhere, and it proved to be the case for Haksabanovic in August 2015 when one of the biggest clubs in world football – Manchester United – came calling. The Red Devils invited the teenage attacker to Old Trafford for a trial and he trained alongside the likes of Marcus Rashford and Timothy Fosu-Mensah before United decided against handing him a contract.

He has an eye for goal

Primarily playing as a left winger, Haksabanovic is required to bring a goal threat and he has certainly proven that he does exactly that during his short career to date. The 18-year-old scored eight goals in 30 league appearances to help Halmstads BK secure an immediate return to the Allsvenskan for the club in the 2016 campaign, before netting four in 18 outings in the top flight this year. Even though Halmstads won just two of those league games, the teenager showed that he isn't afraid to have a pop at goal after unleashing 50 shots in that period – only three players produced more.

Montenegro international

Even though he was born in Sweden and played for the nation at Under-17 and U-19 levels, Haksabanovic decided to switch his allegiance to Montenegro – the country his father was born in – earlier this year. Manager Ljubisa Tumbakovic wasted no time in calling the impressive 18-year-old into the full squad either, and the winger made his debut in the 4-1 2018 World Cup qualification win against Armenia in June before being named in the latest squad for the fixtures against Kazakhstan and Romania. The nation currently sit second in Group E and while they still have a chance of finishing top, they could also miss out on the top-two finish they require to at least secure a play-off fixture, with themselves, table-toppers Poland and third-placed Denmark currently separated by just three points.

He could be the new Payet

Much like Payet did for West Ham before things turned sour between him and the club last year, Haksabanovic loves to operate on the left-wing. The Irons will hope that the 18-year-old can go on to have a similar impact to the one the Frenchman did, especially as he is also comfortable with both feet and is effective at cutting inside from the left and getting a shot away at goal. While it will be difficult to be as influential as Payet was for the Hammers, the potential is certainly there.

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Paul Ince defends Slaven Bilic and blasts 'broadcasting' West Ham owners over "miserable" start to the season
Ince believes the Hammers' hierarchy have thrown boss Bilic under the bus over transfer market failings
The Mirror
BYADRIAN KAJUMBA
19:00, 7 SEP 2017

Paul Ince has slammed West Ham's board rather than Slaven Bilic after their "miserable" start to the season. Ince pointed the finger at the Hammers hierarchy for throwing Bilic under the bus over their summer signings but leapt to the defence of the east Londoners' boss. After failing to land William Carvalho from Sporting Lisbon, Hammers joint chairman David Sullivan said boss Bilic turned down the chance to sign highly-rated potential midfield alternatives Renato Sanches and Grzegorz Krychowiak who joined Swansea and West Brom instead. Sullivan's claims will intensify the spotlight on Bilic who is already feeling the heat after three straight league defeats to start the season. And former Hammers midfielder Ince said: "I really dislike the comments coming out from the owners. "They've been talking about how they wanted Renato Sanches, but Billic didn't as he was happy with his squad. "It's his team and it's down to him which players they sign. Whether or not the board wanted Sanches, that's something which should be kept behind closed doors. "It's totally unfair of the board to go broadcasting that – I'm not sure what they are playing at. When you see stuff like that, it's not really a surprise that the team are struggling. "I find it pretty miserable to see what's going on there at the moment. "It also makes you wonder whether he will get the axe if he doesn't pick up results pretty quickly. It looks that way to me. "If I was managing West Ham, and the board came out and spoke about me that way, I wouldn't be too pleased about it."
Ince left West Ham under a cloud in 1989 after being pictured in a Manchester United shirt before the move to Old Trafford was completed. He was abused whenever he faced them during the rest of his career but still considers himself "a West Ham lad." Of Bilic, Ince told Paddy Power News: "Slaven Bilic isn't the issue, and I'm glad he's still at the club. You can see just how much he cares about West Ham United. "He wants to do well but, most importantly, he wants the players to do well, and I know that the players love playing for him. "Last year, when there was all that talk about him leaving, it was actually the love of the players that kept him at the club – otherwise he'd be up the road, it's no coincidence."

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PHIL PARKES: "WEST HAM NEED TO BE MORE ADVENTUROUS TO TURN THEIR SEASON AROUND"
By DavidBlackmore 7 Sep 2017 at 17:00
WTID

Former West Ham goalkeeping legend Phil Parkes has urged manager Slaven Bilic to adopt a more daring approach to help snap the team out of their poor start to the season.

Before the international break, West Ham's record of three games, three defeats, meant they were bottom of the Premier League table. Writing in his column for Blowing Bubbles magazine, Parkes, a two-time FA Cup winner with West Ham and one of the Boys of 86, says one way to turn things around is to be more adventurous. "We seem to rely too much on the counter-attack as our one way of playing these days – I think the management urgently needs to get some flair in there and take risks," he said. "The formation and approach can become too predictable and he needs to adapt it game conditions. "Too often we look set up not to lose, rather than to win the game, which is foreign to me as a member of John Lyall's attack, attack, attack policy. We have to press teams a lot more."

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Revealed: Why West Ham starlet's loan move to Sheffield United collapsed at the last minute
The latest West Ham transfer news sees an explanation for Domingos Quina's collapsed move to Sheffield United
Football London
BYROB GUEST
17:30, 7 SEP 2017UPDATED17:44, 7 SEP 2017

The reason for West Ham youngster Domingos Quina's move to Championship side Sheffield United falling through on deadline day has been revealed. Quina looked set to complete a season-long loan move to Bramall Lane, only for it to collapse during the final stages of the move. With some suggesting that talks between both clubs stalled as the deadline neared, reports from Portugal claim that demands from the player's agent was actually the reason for the teenager's Championship move falling through.
According to Portuguese publication O Jogo, Quina's agent is believed to have requested more money so that his client could clinch a move to Chris Wilder's team.
Given that the move didn't go through, the 17-year-old will be hoping that Slaven Bilic gives him an opportunity to showcase his talents in the first team. After playing in the qualifying stages of the Europa League for the Hammers last season, Quina featured off the bench in the Hammers' 2-0 win at Cheltenham Town in the Carabao Cup last month. However, if chances in the first team remain limited, the opportunity to move to the Championship club could well arise again once the transfer window reopens.

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Commentators Worst Nightmare Could Make Hammers Debut
Submitted by nevillenixon on Thu, 07/09/2017 - 17:45
WestHamFas,org

Just around the time that 'Motty' has decided he only has one season left in him, not bad for a pensioner, a new breed of commentators might just have to begin getting to grips with getting their lips around how to pronounce West Ham's new wonder kid Sead Haksabanovic's name? It is phonetically pronounced sayad haskerbanovitch, but will do wonders for Paul Merson's mental development among others should they need to be commenting on future games featuring West Ham.

Injuries to Andre Ayew, Edmilison Fernadez and more importantly Manuel Lanzini mean that Hammers lack the spark to unlock Premier League defences without their new talisman nick named the little jewel. Robert Snodgrass had been panic purchased to try and cover the snake known as Dimitri Payet's departure, a role that should have instantly been given to Lanzini, that decision alone cost at least a £10 Million hit and still counting, ouch! but at least not on an Arsene 'he who knows best' scale at Arsenal.

Sead Haksabanovic is a boy who grew up playing in a man's game, comparisons with Manchester United's and now Everton's Wayne Rooney, except the whoring, hair loss and womanising, have already been made about Haksabanovic. Although relatively slight of frame he is a handful for opposition, and above all initially he will be an unknown quantity for midfielders and defenders to contend with, OK they can all look on You Tube, but as we all know You Tube is a very fickle beast when it comes to portraying the truth sometimes!

There is a gap that needs to be filled, the boy doesn't need molly coddling why not throw him in? After all he is not English so he must be good mustn't he? - Ed

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WEST HAM PAIR WILL NEED TO PLAY AN EXTRA WORLD CUP QUALIFIER
STE HOARE @Stehoare
ReadWestHam

West Ham duo Cheikhou Kouyate and Diafra Sakho must play an extra World Cup qualifying game in November after FIFA decided that a clash between South Africa and Senegal must be replayed after the referee who was in charge of the original tie between the two sides was found guilty of match fixing.

The original game, which took place in November 2016, was investigated when referee Joseph Lamptey inexplicably awarded South Africa a penalty for handball, even though the ball clearly hit Senegal defender Kalidou Koulibaly on the knee.

After a complaint by the Senegal Football Federation, Lamptey was guilty of fixing the game and as such, it will need to be replayed. The window in November was already set aside for international friendly games, in which the West Ham pair may not have had to play but with a competitive game now being scheduled, the pair are sure to make the trip to South Africa and both could end up playing a full 90 minutes for their country.

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Sam Allardyce SLAMS Ravel Morrison: He's the biggest waste of talent I ever worked with
FORMER England and West Ham boss Sam Allardyce has laid into flop Ravel Morrison.
Daily Star
By Peter Truman / Published 7th September 2017

The 24-year-old secured a move to Mexican club Atlas during the summer as his fall from grace continued. Morrison was once considered one of the hottest prospects in the country after being signed as a teenager by Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United. According to Rio Ferdinand, Fergie "thought he was the best player he had seen at that age".
A move to West Ham under Sam Allardyce was meant to breathe fresh life into the player with the hope he would finally realise his potential. But speaking on Sky Sports last night, Big Sam made a shocking admission about the midfielder. He explained: "He was that good but because of the mental side of his game and his life he couldn't produce that talent on a regular basis. "He was the biggest waste of talent I ever worked with. "We had three months where Ravel was the match-winner at West Ham every week. "Everybody raved about him and there was talk of a new contract and then all of a sudden it went the other way."
Loan periods to Birmingham City, QPR and Cardiff City could not get the best out of him, and he was eventually shipped off to Lazio. He failed to make an impact there and had a second unsuccessful loan period at QPR before heading to central America this summer.

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West Ham medical team to check Andre Ayew fitness ahead Huddersfield clash
Published on: 07 September 2017
Ghanasoccer.net

Midfielder Andre Ayew remains a doubt for West Ham United against Huddersfield Town on Monday night. The Ghana international picked up a thigh problem away on duty in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Congo at home last Friday. As a result, he missed the reverse fixture in Brazzaville on Tuesday which Ghana won 5-1 in their Group E clash. Ayew has returned to the Hammers and being assessed by the club's medical team to assess his situation. The 27-year-old has started in all three league matches so far but yet to regain his assertiveness.

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Sporting Lisbon to report West Ham to FIFA over alleged illegal approach of William Carvalho
The Hammers retained an interest in Carvalho throughout the summer window, but failed to land the anchorman
The Mirror
BYLIAM PRENDERVILLEJAMES WHALING
08:36, 7 SEP 2017

Sporting Lisbon will tell FIFA that West Ham made 'illegal approaches' for midfielder William Carvalho over the summer. The Hammers retained an interest in Carvalho throughout the summer window, but failed to land the anchorman as they looked to bolster their midfield. And now, Sporting are prepared to report the Irons over their interest in the 25-year-old. West Ham themselves are considering legal action against Sporting president Bruno de Carvalho, who claimed the club lied over making a late bid for the midfielder. David Gold and David Sullivan were also insulted by the Sporting chief, who labelled the West Ham owners the 'Dildo Brothers'. But two e-mails have been obtained by Sky Sports, suggesting formal offers were actually made at the start of August. The details of the bid are staggering however, with just £7.6m offered up front for the Euro 2016 winner. According to the e-mails, West Ham were willing to cough up just £23m in three payments until August 2019.
A follow-up bid appears to have been made, including an optimistic add-on of West Ham qualifying for the Champions League, and a 10 percent sell-on clause.
The e-mails also include a threat from West Ham to pull out of the deal to "borrow" a player from PSG - likely to have been midfielder Grzegorz Krychowiak who went on to join West Brom. It comes after De Carvalho called on West Ham fans to challenge the "Dildo Brothers" for what he described as "the truth" over the move for the midfielder. Speaking to Sporting TV in Portugal, he said: "Where is it? Proof? Now, approaches, for sure. I've had them for almost the whole squad: West Ham supporters call Mr. David Sullivan and his brother, the Dildo Brothers… "These messengers, these offended virgins, the president of West Ham… We must tell the truth!"

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ON THE ROAD TO EXCELLENCE
By Blind Hammer 7 Sep 2017 at 08:00
WTID

Blind Hammer reports from the Disabled Supporters Advisory Board.

It is pretty tough being a West Ham supporter at the moment.The season has started with anger, disappointment and turmoil. However THERE is ONE area at least, off pitch, where the club appear to be prospering. Since last year West Ham has massively stepped up their game in relation to how they serve their Disabled Supporters. This is a story worth telling.

Some organisations approach Disabled Access defensively. Some football clubs do the minimum they can to meet their legal obligations and deny they have responsibility to do more. The attitude reported to me from supporters of other clubs can be that people should be "grateful for what they get".

I am very glad to say that West Ham do not take this approach. In contrast they have engaged with supporters, forming a Disabled Supporters Advisory Board last year to receive advice, suggestions and yes criticism of the way the Club organise it services. There was plenty of feedback, both positive and negative, which the club received at it first meeting last year.

|In many organisation responding to this feedback alone would have formed an agenda for necessary improvements. Few would have criticised the club for not doing more.

However West Ham went the extra mile and commissioned an extensive Access Audit of the Stadium and its services from an independent specialist organisation. This Audit revealed over 100 areas for improvement. Now I have to stress that this is not a bad news story in any sense. This is a good news story. I have absolutely no doubt that many, if not most other PL clubs would have fared worse. There was no formal requirement for West Ham to spend money for an organisation to constructively criticise their services. The fact that they did so showed how serious they are to start on a genuine road to excellence.

At the Advisory Board on the 5th September the club reported how they had already responded to this audit by meeting 42 of the improvements suggested. In the next few weeks this will grow to over 50 improvement areas ticked off. There remain challenges to meeting all the suggested areas improvements but the club will produce an Action Plan to look at ways of meeting these.

Since receiving feedback from Disabled Supporters at the last Board meeting, West Ham have reorganised the way that they are providing support. This includes reviewing and changing the support they provide through the Accessibility Shuttle Bus service. This has now increased to 18 Coaches and accessing them is now through a permit available from the Accessibility Team. The dispensing of Commentary Headsets devices for Visually Impaired supporters has been rationalised. Now they will be provided and returned from Window 20 in the main ticket office. Extra Rest benches have been provided in the park to assist disabled supporters who find the walk to Stratford challenging. Negotiations have been opened with Westfield to allow supporters with mobility impairments to take an easier less strenuous walk to Stratford Station; hopefully these new arrangements will be trialled during the Bolton and Tottenham games. The club are about to commit to a significant upgrade to their Website which will include consultation and testing with myself and other visually impaired supporters to ensure we can all access the information on the site equally. Policing of Accessibility Toilets to prevent their abuse by non-disabled fans using them for smoking and so on at half time will be increased this season. There are other areas of improvement but space does not permit covering them here.

The Accessibility Staff at the club are to be supported with upgraded Accessibility training, including the commitment to train initially 15 staff in the use of British Sign Language so that they can more effectively assist Deaf Hammers who use sign language.

Perhaps one of the most important responses that the club has made it to collect and organise information on the range of support they provide for its Disable supporters. A problem used to, and probably continues to exist where Disabled Supporters do not know the supports that the club can offer. Some Disabled West Ham supporters may not attend games because they lack confidence that they could manage. If Disabled supporters do attend they may be experiencing unnecessary difficulty which the club could support them with.

To help redress this the club have produced an Access Statement which for the first time now collates together a summary of what Access Support is available to help a Disabled Supporter attend games. This is an evolving document which will necessarily change as further improvements are made with services. This will appear on the updated www.whufc.com website but I have uploaded it onto SendSpace so that anybody interested can read it now.

"The West Ham Access Statement": https://www.sendspace.com/pro/dl/uuiteb.

One of the benefits of moving to the London Stadium is that West Ham have doubled the numbers of Disabled Supporters attending their games. The increase in demand provided Challenges for the Accessibility Team but it appears that they are now being given the tools skills, resources and guidance to do their job.

COYI

David Griffith
Note. Who are the Disabled Supporters Advisory Board? The Board is made up of 16 Disabled Supporters with a range of impairments, alongside key staff from West Ham, including Karen Brady, Tara Warren, Executive Director, and Joe Lyons, CEO, West Ham United Foundation, and staff representatives from the West Ham Accessibility Team. For a fuller description of the Board, how it was selected and a link to the minutes of the first meeting see my previous post

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Remarkable details of West Ham's offers for William Carvalho 'revealed' - including Champions League add-on
E-mails have emerged suggesting the Hammers did in fact make bids for the Portugal midfielder
The Mirror
BYLIAM PRENDERVILLE
06:42, 7 SEP 2017

The staggering details of West Ham's offers for Sporting Lisbon midfielder William Carvalho appear to have been revealed. The Hammers are considering legal action against Sporting president Bruno de Carvalho, who claimed the club lied over making a late bid for the midfielder. David Gold and David Sullivan were also insulted by the Sporting chief, who labelled the West Ham owners the "Dildo Brothers". But two e-mails have been obtained by Sky Sports, suggesting formal offers were actually made at the start of August. The details of the bid are staggering however, with just £7.6m offered up front for the Euro 2016 winner.

Follow
Sky Sports News ✔ @SkySportsNews
BREAKING: @SkySportsNews reveals the emails sent by @WestHamUtd to @Sporting_CP that appear to prove offers for William Carvalho. #ssn
10:05 PM - Sep 6, 2017
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According to the e-mails, West Ham were willing to cough up just £23m in three payments until August 2019. A follow-up bid appears to have been made, including an optimistic add-on of West Ham qualifying for the Champions League, and a 10 percent sell-on clause. The e-mails also include a threat from West Ham to pull out of the deal to "borrow" a player from PSG - likely to have been midfielder Grzegorz Krychowiak who went on to join West Brom. It comes after De Carvalho called on West Ham fans to challenge the "Dildo Brothers" for what he described as "the truth" over the move for the midfielder. Speaking to Sporting TV in Portugal, he said: "Where is it? Proof? Now, approaches, for sure. I've had them for almost the whole squad: West Ham supporters call Mr. David Sullivan and his brother, the Dildo Brothers… "These messengers, these offended virgins, the president of West Ham… We must tell the truth!"

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West Ham could face further home disruption as UK Athletics plan to use London Stadium in bid for 2022 European Athletics Championships
West Ham have been forced to play their first three matches away from home
Their London Stadium is returning to football mode after World Championships
By Charles Sale for the Daily Mail
PUBLISHED: 22:31, 6 September 2017 | UPDATED: 22:44, 6 September 2017

West Ham, who are bottom of the Premier League after three defeats away from home while the London Stadium was returning to football mode after the World Athletics Championships, are possibly facing a worse scenario in 2022. UK Athletics chief executive Niels de Vos told the Sport Industry Breakfast event he intends to take advantage of a clause in their tenancy agreement allowing the hosting of a major event every five years by probably bidding for the European Athletics Championships in 2022. So, with the 2022-23 season expected to start early because of the World Cup in Qatar in December 2022, another nightmare scenario is facing the Hammers. The capacity attendances throughout the recent athletics championships would make London hot favourites to win a Euro bid. West Ham are not going to welcome another August disruption — calling the 2017 championships a 'once in a generation' occasion.

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War of words escalates between West Ham and Sporting Lisbon after emails bidding for William Carvalho revealed
By talkSPORT - @talkSPORT
Wednesday, September 6, 2017

The war of words between West Ham and Sporting Lisbon has escalated following the breakdown of a transfer move for Portugal midfielder William Carvalho.
Sporting president Bruno de Carvalho on Wednesday referred to West Ham owners David Sullivan and David Gold as the 'dildo brothers' in an interview with Sporting TV, according to Portuguese newspaper Record. The Hammers' proposed £23million deal for the Portugal midfielder broke down before the transfer window closed last week. Sporting claimed West Ham had never submitted an official bid for Carvalho, leading the Hammers to vow to sue the Portuguese club.
And now Sporting director De Carvalho has hit out at Sullivan and Gold, while Sky Sports News claimed to have obtained emails that prove West Ham did indeed bid for Portugal star Carvalho. "Instead of spouting off, West Ham's offer should be shown. Where is it? What proof is there," De Carvalho said on Sporting TV.
"What has happened here? The chairman (Sullivan) is very happy with the coach (Slaven Bilic), who was the person who wanted William. "The man wanted to give the coach the player he wanted as much as I want to give a Christmas gift to my enemy. I did not want to give you anything! "West Ham supporters call Mr David Sullivan and his brother the dildo brothers."
Sullivan and Gold are not related but are long-standing business partners. Sporting's latest derogatory remarks aimed at West Ham follow their communications director accusing Sullivan of being a "liar" and "parasite" in a Facebook post. No sooner had Sporting director De Carvalho called out West Ham to produce proof of their offer on Wednesday though, than Sky Sports obtained emails apparently showing precisely that. The emails Sky Sports published detail an offer of 25million euros to be paid in three instalments across 24 months for the 25-year-old.
West Ham have previously confirmed their intention to launch legal action against Sporting for claiming the Premier League club did not submit any transfer offer for Carvalho. Writing via his personal Twitter account on Sunday, owner's son David Sullivan Junior said: "West Ham are commencing legal proceedings against the communications director of Sporting Lisbon as a written offer for the player was made. "To Bruno de Carvalho the president of Sporting Lisbon. To say we never made an offer is nonsense and serious libel."

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