From the Boardroom - David Sullivan
WHUFC.com
Hello everyone,
I would like to start by wishing Teddy Sheringham all the very best of luck
in his new role as manager of Stevenage, which he will take up later this
summer. We appointed Teddy as our new attacking coach last summer with a
view to improving our forward play, and I must say he took to the part-time
role with real enthusiasm and commitment. With the likes of Diafra Sakho and
Enner Valencia joining us and working regularly with a man of Teddy's
calibre, we know he will have helped improve their game. While we are
disappointed to be losing Teddy's services, we are happy to have played a
part in developing his coaching skills and will be watching closely as he
embarks on his managerial career at Stevenage.
As I wrote jointly with David Gold in our programme column for the
disappointing defeat by Everton at the weekend, we have not hit the heights
we managed over the first half of the campaign since Christmas, but we have
one final opportunity to impress when we got to Newcastle United this
weekend. Our opponents are in a difficult position and will undoubtedly be
doing everything they can to get themselves out of danger, but we have to
seize on any weaknesses or nervousness in their play and finish the season
on a winning note.
Yet again, we will be followed by more than 3,000 fans and, on behalf of the
Board, I would like to take one last opportunity to thank you for your
loyal, passionate and unwavering support throughout the 2014/15 campaign. We
have had some tough times since Christmas but, for every home match and
wherever we have travelled, you have been there in your thousands, cheering
the team on.
This week, the first of our valued Season Ticket Holders have begun
attending appointments at our fabulous Reservation Centre in Stratford,
picking their seats at the new Stadium. The feedback we have received from
those who have already chosen their seats has been overwhelmingly positive.
The staff at the Reservation Centre are knowledgeable and professional,
while the graphics and videos available to help fans make their minds up are
truly special. We are looking forward to meeting as many of our Season
Ticket Holders as possible, alongside the two additional friends and family
members each of you can bring along to your appointment, and encourage you
to group together to make the most of your matchday experience at our
exceptional new home. Before we move to the new Stadium, we first have our
Final Season at the Boleyn Ground to enjoy, including what we hope will be
an exciting European campaign.
We go to St James' Park knowing we are in with a good chance of finishing
top of the Premier League Fair Play League. If we things go our way, we
could well have UEFA Europa League football to look forward to. European
football will mean an early start to the new season, but we will be prepared
and what better way to say goodbye to our historic home?
All that remains for me to say is to wish all those travelling to Newcastle
this weekend a safe and enjoyable trip.
Let's finish the season with a win.
Come on you Irons!
David Sullivan
Joint-Chairman
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Sheringham to become Stevenage boss
WHUFC.com
West Ham United can confirm that Teddy Sheringham will become manager of
League Two club Stevenage this summer. Sheringham has spent the 2014/15
season as the Hammers' part-time attacking coach, working with first team
and Development Squad players on their forward play.
The former West Ham and England striker, who also scored 30 goals in 87
games for the Club at the tail-end of a glittering playing career, will move
to the Lamex Stadium when his contract with the Hammers expires at the end
of the current campaign. West Ham United would like to thank Teddy for his
hard work and commitment over the previous nine months and wish him every
success in his future managerial career.
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Former Player Blog - Tony Cottee
WHUFC.com
Hello everyone,
I want to start by talking about young defender Reece Burke, who has
recently made his Premier League debut for West Ham United. I am absolutely
thrilled for any kid who comes through the Academy, I really am, because
being an Academy graduate myself I think we are long overdue. I remember
Mark Noble, James Tomkins and Jack Collison all coming through at about the
same time, but believe it or not that was nine or ten years ago. Although
couple of lads have sampled the first team in recent years, we haven't
really had anyone who has come through and become a regular off the back of
it. Reece has got a long way to go, but he has made a great start to his
career with a couple of clean sheets. I know we had a setback against
Everton, but I think he has done really well and I hope he stays in the team
because it's good for everyone. The Club has always prided itself on the
Academy and saying how good it is, but there is no good saying how good it
is if players aren't coming through. We need to compete and get those
players coming through.
It's good for the team and the squad as well, to get local lads in there.
Mark Noble is a great example because you can say to a teenager that they
could go through the system and become the next Mark Noble. I think that's
great, so I wish Reece all the best and my message to him is 'Keep up the
good work'. I must admit I am a little bit worried about the game on Sunday
because Newcastle are fighting for their lives. It's either Newcastle or
Hull who will go down, but Newcastle know that if they win they will
definitely stay up. It's important to finish the season with a good result
and I think a draw is a good result. It's always a tough place to go to
anyway, Newcastle, and it's important that we go there with the right
attitude. There will be 50,000 screaming Geordies going hell for leather to
stay in the Premier League, but our away support has always been fantastic
and they are the real fans, who travel week-in and week-out. We haven't won
away in the league this year, so it would be nice to give something back.
We can't worry about Newcastle. That's their fault for being so poor in the
last part of the season and if they get relegated, that's not down to us. We
need to give 100 per cent effort and reward the fans, go and applaud them at
the end of the game and thank them for their wonderful support, as always.
Safe trip to everyone traveling to St James' Park, and to all of you, enjoy
the summer!
Come on you Irons!
TC
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Burke's ready for another test
WHUFC.com
Reece Burke is unfazed by the prospect of playing in front of 50,000 fans at
Newcastle United this weekend in what is a crucial game for the Geordies.
The 18-year-old defender has tackled everything that has been thrown at him
with aplomb since being thrust into the first team picture over the last
month and wants to help West Ham United end the season on a high. He is
likely to start a Barclays Premier League game for the fourth time after
James Collins suffered a leg injury last week and says he is ready. "I'm
pretty excited at the prospect of playing there," he explained. "Ginge came
off at the weekend, so it could be my chance again but I'll find out in the
next few days. "I want to prepare well and finish off with a win in the last
game of the season. "It's been great to play at a few of these grounds. I'm
really excited by Saturday's game. It's a big one for them and obviously we
want to win as well, because we've got goals and targets to achieve. "We
want to get to the 50 point mark. We're looking for a win, and so are they,
so the contest is going to be good. "We'll approach the game the same way we
always do [whatever position they're in]. Playing against Benteke and Lukaku
in the last couple of weeks has been a great experience. "I've been watching
the games back and there are a few things I need to work on, looking at it,
but it's all about experience for me as a young lad coming through.
Hopefully it'll make me better."
Coming off the bench against Everton last Saturday added to his experience
as he had to get up to the speed of the contest straight away.
He added: "Before the game I was told by a few of the physios to be ready,
then early on in the game Ginge was struggling. Coming on is different to
starting a game - it's harder to come on to the pitch and match the tempo
straight away. "As the game goes on, there's more tempo than sitting on the
bench. There's a lot going on, so going from the watching the game mindset
to being ready is key otherwise you will go onto the pitch sloppy."
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Teddy Sheringham: Stevenage name ex-England striker as boss
BBC.co.uk
Stevenage have appointed former England striker Teddy Sheringham as manager
to replace the outgoing Graham Westley. Westley's final game in charge was
Boro's League Two play-off semi-final defeat by Southend and his contact at
Broadhall Way ends on 31 May. It is 49-year-old Sheringham's first
managerial job, having been West Ham attacking coach under manager Sam
Allardyce for the last 12 months. The ex-Tottenham and Manchester United
forward will take over "in the summer". Sheringham - the oldest goalscorer
and outfield player in Premier League history - had a 25-year playing
career, which began at Millwall before spells at Nottingham Forest and
Spurs.
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Stevenage appoint West Ham's Sheringham as manager
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 21st May 2015
By: Staff Writer
Stevenage FC have confirmed that West Ham United's attacking coach Teddy
Sheringham is their new manager. The 49-year-old officially joins The Boro
this summer, although he was unveiled as their new man at a press conference
this lunchtime [Thursday]. "To say I am excited is an understatement," he
said. "I am really looking forward to next season."
Sheringham spent a year at West Ham in a part-time coaching role, but was
always a popular figure with the supporters on match day at the Boleyn
Ground. He had previously spent three seasons as a player with the Hammers,
between 2004-07. The former striker had also been linked with the Portsmouth
job prior to accepting the Stevenage role.
He is likely to be followed out of West Ham by Sam Allardyce's assistant
manager Neil McDonald and first team coach Neil Hendon, who have been linked
with the vacant managerial posts at Blackpool and Orient respectively.
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Neil McDonald set for Blackpool talks
KUMb.com
Filed: Thursday, 21st May 2015
By: Staff Writer
West Ham United assistant manager Neil McDonald is set for talks with League
One side Blackpool, with view to their vacant managerial post. The
49-year-old, who was appointed as Sam Allardyce's assistant in June 2011 has
been searching for a managerial position since last summer. Although he
rejected the opportunity to join League Two side Carlisle back in January in
order to continue his partnership with Allardyce, KUMB understands that
Wallsend-born McDonald has already held preliminary discussions with
Blackpool. The Tangerines have been managerless since Lee Clark resigned
following their relegation from the Championship earlier this month, with a
record low tally of 26 points from 46 games. McDonald's potential departure
means that all of Allardyce's top-ranking coaches are now lined up for
positions elsewhere next season. With attacking coach Teddy Sheringham
confirmed as the new manager of Stevenage, first team coach Ian Hendon is
also understood to be close to securing the vacant managerial position at
Leyton Orient. The Os sacked Italian boss Fabio Liverani last week following
their relegation from League One and 43-year-old Hendon is perceived as an
ideal candidate, as he spent part of his playing career at Brisbane Road in
the 1990s.
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Slaven Bilic sacked by Besiktas
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 21st May 2015
By: Staff Writer
It has been confirmed that Slaven Bilic has now been fired by current club
Besiktas. We revealed earlier how Bilic was on the verge of the sack having
failed to make a serious challenge for the Super Lig title. And shortly
after midday [Thursday], it was confirmed by Hurriyet Daily News that the
46-year-old has indeed been told he can leave at the end of the current
campaign. Bilic is understood to have been fired following a four-hour Board
meeting, during which it was decided that he should remain in charge for
Besiktas' remaining two games this season before leaving. Beşiktaş chairman
Fikret Orman told Hürriyet: "We will part on good terms. The new manager
will be a name nobody can dispute. He will be the architect of our future
success to take us to the next level in our new stadium." Bilic, speaking
after last weekend's surprise defeat at home to Torku Konyaspor admitted
that he was surprised at the club's position with view to his future.
"My intention was to stay here," he said. "Now I don't know if this is
possible. I don't see myself being given a chance to manage Beşiktaş next
season."
* Bilic is already the new favourite with the bookies to replace Sam
Allardyce.
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SAM. METAPHORICALLY SPEAKING.
By David Hautzig 21 May 2015 at 09:10
West Ham Till I Die
While I'm going to assume most of you have been able to glean my feelings on
Sam from my reports, I've resisted taking a stand on the matter until now.
Not that journalistic integrity is of any importance to me since I'm not a
journalist, I still wanted to "report" on the matches without being seen as
anti or pro Sam. But now that the hopeful turned infuriating season has
almost left us and the silly season will take its place, I want to have me
say on the matter.
I like metaphors. They are, after all, a very easy and convenient way to
make a point. And I have not one, but two for ya.
Número uno. Before I met my wife, I made some.how shall I say it..crappy
decisions on women. The common theme with each lousy relationship was that I
stayed in them long past their sell by date. While all of my good friends,
two of whom were clinical psychologists, were telling me I was bonkers for
staying with someone that made me miserable I stuck with it. Why? Because at
the time, for whatever reason, the idea of being single was far worse to me
than the reality of staying with someone I didn't like. And to that end, I
have to wonder if the people who advocate giving Sam a new deal actually
want him to stay or are afraid of him leaving? Those two notions are very
different from each other, with the latter being patently unhealthy.
Número Dos. Maybe you know this, and maybe you don't. I'm in the wine and
craft spirits business. I spend my days driving from wine shops to
restaurants and back again with a car full of yummy, alcoholic beverages. As
much as I like my retail customers, it's restaurants where I get my jollies.
And my enjoyment of food and restaurants isn't limited to my work. I've been
fortunate enough to dine at some pretty stunning places, both in New York
and in London. Le Bernardin, Bouley, Union Square Cafe, Gramercy Tavern and
Eleven Madison Park over here. Gordon Ramsay, Petrus, Maze, Chez Bruce and
The Square over there. Let's pretend that West Ham is a restaurant and Sam
is the chef. He's a very competent cook who consistently puts out solid
food, all while keeping the costs at a percentage the owners are very happy
with. And to top it off, the staff like him. But now the owners want to step
it up by going for a prized Michelin Star. As solid and predicable as Sam
is, they have serious questions as to whether Sam is the chef to lead them
on their quest. And so they decide to make a change.
Neither of these metaphors are rock solid, particularly the second one. My
mate, the ever reliable ExWHUemployee, challenged the second one by pointing
out that changing chefs and the entire theme of the restaurant could also
alienate many loyal customers who are happy with the stuff they are
consuming. Understood. With any change, there is an element of risk. The key
is making the kind of change that both offers the opportunity to improve, as
well as minimizes the risk.
Sean did a great piece yesterday laying out all of the names linked with us.
Some fill me with excitement, others terror. Bielsa scares me because his
requirement to run a full marathon every match might cause problems, not to
mention cardiac arrest. Bilic has somehow become a legend despite his brief
time at Upton Park, but doing well in Turkey may not equate to doing well
here. I think Rafa is a bit overrated. Give him the 10th best side in the
country and he will have them fourth. Give him the 2nd best side and he will
have them fourth. And both scenarios would be very expensive. After spending
something like 200 million pounds at Liverpool, he told the media he needed
more funds for players. Klopp has only gotten a mention because he's going
to be unemployed the same time Sam could be, although I wouldn't kick him
off the touch line for eating crackers. To be honest, Klopp would be wise to
look at us as an English version of Dortmund, the kind of place that he
could build in his own image.
To say that Sam Allardyce is a bad manager is, quite frankly, absurd. You
may not like him or his football, but that doesn't make him the imposter
some make him out to be. We've lived through Glenn Roeder and Moron Grant.
We know bad managers as well as anyone. Virtually every neutral pundit
thinks we would be mad to let him walk. And until recently, the pragmatic
notion of keeping Sam was acceptable to me. But I've been a sports fan for a
long time, and I have never seen a coach/manager divide a set of fans like
Sam. In fact, I don't think I've ever seen one talked about as much as Sam.
For that reason alone it might be imperative we make a change. Which is
unfortunate on some level. Where did it all go so wrong? I remember
screaming with delight watching Sam jump into Neil McDonald's arms two years
ago after Maiga put us up 3-1 over Chelsea. I remember laughing heartily as
Russell Brand planted a wet one on Sam's cheek after we beat Citeh. This was
his real opportunity to leave a positive legacy, not just on a club but on
himself. But hubris and animosity got in his way. One day, maybe while
sipping a nice Burgundy with his pal Fergie, he will look back and realize
he could have made it work and he had only himself to blame for it falling
apart.
Which leads me to the final name that has made the rounds, David Moyes. To
my somewhat risk averse way of thinking, he provides what we need. A fresh
look at things all the while being as safe a pair of hands as Allardyce.
I've read many a tweet and comment that oppose the idea almost as fervently
as they oppose Sam, saying it's no more than a sideways move. Yet for all we
know his edict while at Everton was to play a style that made the Toffees
hard to beat, and that if asked he could switch things up. And it's not like
Van Gaal has had an easy time at Man U, leading me to believe Moyes was
given a raw deal at Old Trafford. Until recently I thought him joining us
was pretty close to a dead cert. Tony Henry is on board, he has a release
clause to join an EPL team if asked, Etc. But after his interview with Sid
Lowe in The Guardian it's more dead in the water than nailed on. Which I'm
very disappointed about. I think David Moyes has a lot to say about what
kind of manager he is.
I hope he changes his mind and let's West Ham United hand him the
microphone.
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THE WEST HAM MANAGERIAL MERRY GO ROUND
By Sean Whetstone 20 May 2015 at 16:28
West Ham Till I Die
It has been a strange week as speculation about Sam Allardyce and his
possible replacement reaches fever pitch ahead of Sunday's game against
Newcastle. Yesterday the Telegraph claimed that the West Ham board will call
a meeting with Sam Allardyce on Bank Holiday Monday 25th May less than 24
hours after the full whistle of the season. Sources close to the board claim
that Karren Brady remains his sole supporter in the board room.
Big Sam
Matt Law claims Allardyce will be gone by the end of that meeting and says
Sam will be flying out for holidays on Tuesday regardless of the meeting
outcome.
The Daily Mirror claim he has been contacting utility companies giving final
meter readings for his London flat as he prepares to leave West Ham. They
add that Allardyce has begun the process of moving out of his 40th floor
Canary Wharf apartment ahead of what is expected to be his departure next
week following the final game of the season.
According to Ken Dyer in the London Evening Standard Allardyce will move out
of his Canary Wharf rented apartment on Friday. Dyer quotes a club source as
saying: "The apartment has been sold. Sam should have moved out last week
but was given an extension. It would be a mistake to read too much into
this."
Another hint of the possible outcome of the meeting is that West Ham have
given permission League 2 Stevenage permission to speak to Teddy Sheringham
about the soon to be vacant manager position. The CEO of Stevenage is the
former West Ham commercial director Barry Webber. Today, Stevenage
officially confirmed they are looking to appoint Teddy as their new manager.
Meanwhile the West Ham managerial short list race of candidates hots up.
Rafa Benitez
Primary candidate Rafa Benitez has refused to commit his future to Napoli
after crashing out of the Europa semi final and getting banned for a league
game for calling 'All Italian football s**t'. It is understood that Rafa has
retained a family home in the UK and his family frequently spend time in the
UK. This week Rafa became the odds on bookies favourite at 4/5 to succeed
Allardyce with some media outlets claiming he agreed a deal in principle
worth £3m per year with the Hammers.
In recent days Benitez has been linked to Real Madrid and his odds were
drastically slashed from 16/1 to 4/1 after Sky's Spanish football expert
Guillem Balague says Real Madrid have sounded out both Jurgen Klopp and Rafa
Benitez to see if they would be interested in taking over from Carlo
Ancelotti. There is also credible information that Napoli have offered a
massive pay rise to Benitez for him to stay at the helm. He is thought to
currently earn £2.92m at Napoli so they would well price us out the market
for his services.
Meanwhile Benitez has also been linked to a return to Liverpool and an
unlikely move to Manchester City. Liverpool fans chartered a plane to
display a banners saying 'Rodgers out Rafa In' during a recent game in May.
David Moyes
Joint second favourite in the bookies list remains David Moyes, despite him
appearing to count himself out of a move away from Real Sociedad. "There's
always speculation, but I'm here to do the job," Moyes told The Guardian.
"I'm going to be here. I want to try to get everything in place so we can be
at our best for the start of next season.
I don't think we need masses and masses, but there are improvements I'd like
to make, things I want to change. Small things that will help. And if we do
that. "I'll be here. I'm not going anywhere."
His words have not stopped him being linked with the Sunderland manager's
job in the past 24 hours and Darren Lewis from the Daily Mirror suggests
this morning that West Ham might be able to lure Moyes away suggesting "West
Ham have not given up on landing David Moyes as a replacement for Sam
Allardyce."
Slaven Bilic
The other joint second favourite is Slaven Bilic priced at 4/1 by many
bookies. The former Hammer revealed he expects Besiktas to let him leave
this summer after taking charge in the summer of 2013. He told TV cameras :
"My intention was to stay here. Now I don't know if this is possible. The
responsibility for the defeats is all mine, I am going to sit down with the
management. But I know how football works, especially in Turkey. I don't see
myself being given a chance to manage Besiktas next season". The Croatian,
who has also managed Lokomotiv Moscow, Hajduk Split and the Croatian
national team, spent eighteen months as a Hammer before moving on to Everton
in 1997.
Besiktas have released a statement on their website this afternoon denying
rumours that head coach Slaven Bilic has been sacked.
The statement read: "Rumours that Besiktas have sacked Slaven Bilic are
false, the board will hold a board meeting today."
Jurgen Klopp
Reports on social media claimed yesterday Klopp will sign a three-year deal
with Real Madrid worth 8 million euros per year. The report has since been
discredited but the manager was photographed in Turkey earlier this week
when it is claimed he held talks with Fenerbahce. Yesterday the Daily
Express reported that former Chelsea man Michael Ballack has backed Jurgen
Klopp to be working in the Premier League next season suggesting Machester
City or Liverpool would be a good fit.
According to The Mirror, West Ham's hierarchy made an audacious approach to
try and lure Klopp to the Hammers next season, after he announced his
resignation as Borussia Dortmund head coach and will leave the Bundesliga
club at the end of the season. Sources close to the club say he hasn't
rejected an approach but equally he hasn't openly engaged in talks. Klopp
will only talk to potential clubs at the end of the season.
Michael Laudrup
Seen as a plan B by many if other primary managerial targets turn West Ham
down. The man himself seemed to distance himself away from a move to the
Hammers yesterday after being quoted in the media.
He told Spanish newspaper Marca: "It's a time when many rumours appear, but
there is nothing concrete. I am in the process of renewing [my contract]
with Lekhwiya, they want me here. I will decide it in two weeks."I am not
going to accept an offer from a mid-table club in England or Spain. They are
experiences that I have already lived and, at this stage of my life as a
coach, I look for new things. If a big club comes [calling], I will not say
no to them, but I would like to try [coaching] in the United States if not
given the opportunity."
Marcelo Bielsa
Back in March the Daily Mirror claimed that Marcelo Bielsa was on West Ham's
radar. He has been labelled "the best coach on the planet" by Pep Guardiola
and his attacking philosophy would bring a new edge to the Premier League.
Bielsa is has been doing well in charge of Marseille this season, but his
contract situation in France beyond this season remains unclear. The rumours
have resurfaced in the last few days but his lack of English language and
experience of the Premier League would make him a bigger gamble for the
board.
Frank de Boer
De Boer is another name who claimed to have been targeted by the Hammers in
recent days. De Boer is currently in charge of Ajax, and this is the first
season since 2010 in which he has claimed no silverware. Four successive
Eredivisie titles have been won in his reign - something never done before
in the Netherlands - whilst he also claimed the Johan Cruijff Shield in
2013. De Boer is a young, progressive manager who plays attacking, stylish
football. He has a proven record of bringing youth players through into the
first-team set-up, and has experience of the European football.
Eddie Howe
Eddie Howe's success in getting Bournemouth promoted to the Premier League
has made the thirty-seven year old one of the hottest managerial prospect
around.
He is thought to be another name in a backup list of potential managerial
candidates.
A club source recently told Claret and Hugh "We have two lists of candidates
- and he is top of List two. It may just be too early but he is among the
runners for certain."
Bournemouth would be reluctant to give up their manager in their first
season in the big time.
Mark Warburton
Outgoing Brentford manager Mark Warburton is another surprise candidate to
be linked by the media. Warburton will leave Brentford at the end of the
season, despite leading them into the play-offs this year. He could be
another manager on list two but would be seen as a massive gamble. Bookies
still believe he has a chance and he is priced joint fifth favourite with
Eddie How at 20/1.
Carlo Ancelotti
Possibly my favourite rumour has been Real Madrid's Ancelotti based comments
he made about West Ham four years ago. In 2011 Ancelotti said: 'I would
coach West Ham - why not? It's a challenge to manage a team in the
Championship.The atmosphere at West Ham is amazing. It doesn't matter if you
manage a top team or a smaller team.
It's more important to work. I was happy to train in the second division
when I was learning. When you manage, you don't think about the money. It
has never been a motivation for me."
However somethings are stranger than fiction. I understand Ancelotti was
approached by a text message but no reply was received.
The others
Steve McLaren was briefly linked to the West Ham manager job by ESPN earlier
this month but West Ham insiders quickly dismissed the suggestion saying
there had been no contact and he was not on a list. Glenn Hoddle was also
ruled out by Hammers chiefs despite being linked to West Ham for some time.
Harry Redknapp is another name far from any list with neither side keen to
rekindle days gone by. Today the Sun reported a new name, claiming Werder
Bremen's Ukrainian coach Viktor Skrypnyk was on the wanted list but again
this was quickly dismissed by sources close to West Ham as rubbish.
Other names mentioned to be in manager frame without much foundation are
Juande Ramos Unai Emery Aitor Karamka Gus Poyet Brendan Rodgers Dieter
Hecking Neil Lennon and Roberto Di Matteo
Are you still keeping up? Well we should all know in less than 144 hours.
What will the papers, websites, blogs and forums have to write about next?
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Bilic is new bookies favourite
Posted by Sean Whetstone on May 21, 2015 in Whispers
C AND H
Two bookmakers, Paddy Power and Bet Victor have installed former Hammer
Slaven Bilic as the new favourite to become the 15th manager of West Ham.
Bilic odds have shortened to 5/2 with Paddy Power after the announcement
today he will leave Beşiktaş at the end of the season.
Meanwhile Benitez has become the red hot odds on favourite to become the
next Real Madrid manager over night with Paddy Power only offering 1/7 (odds
on) to land the job. This afternoon Betfair announced 'We've suspended
betting on the next Real Madrid Manager market after heavy backing for
Benitez'
Another West Ham target Jurgen Klopp has dropped out to 7/2 to manage Real
Madrid despite reports in Germany earlier this week he had agreed a 8.5m
Euro per season deal with Real.
Current Real manager Carlo Ancelotti is widely expected to depart this
summer after failing to retain the Champions League or regain the La Liga
title. Ancelotti is reported to have agreed to leave Real Madrid and has
emerged as favourite to take charge of AC Milan next season.
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Sky prioritise Newcastle v West Ham
Posted by Sean Whetstone on May 21, 2015 in Whispers
C AND H
On Monday Newcastle v West Ham was confirmed as one of the live TV matches
to be shown on Sunday. Hull v Manchester United and Chelsea v Sunderland
were also confirmed as live games. Sky have now taken the unusual step of
switching their priority between the other two matches. Originally Hull was
named as the featured relegation match, showing live on their main Sky
Sports 1 channel, with build-up from 2pm. Newcastle v West Ham were named as
the secondary game to be shown on Sky Sports 3, with coverage only starting
at 2.55pm, five minutes before kick-off. Sky have now flipped the coverage
and made St. James' Park their featured match.
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Sakho hits back at web critics
Posted by Sean Whetstone on May 21, 2015 in Whispers
C AND H
Sakho has hit back at a Senegalese news website who dared to criticise him
for suggesting Adrian was a worthy winner of Hammer of the year. "He has
always been great from the very start of the season," Sakho told WHUFC.com
afte Adrian missed out on Hammer of the year "As I always say I think he is
the one that deserves the trophy of the best player at the club, with all
that he's done since the start of the season."
The french language website Sport Senegal covered his website comments
saying "Diafra Sakho contests the vote of supporters. Known for not having
his tongue in his pocket, Sakho has once again proved that he did not mince
words. Comments that obviously did not fail to offend Aaron Cresswell."
Sakho took to Instragram as his right of reply to put the record straight.
"Post information just to make bad a player with his teammates is really bad
on the part of the Senegalese news websites. I am an honest person and if I
have something to tell my teammates I did not need to go through media
interposes."
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Sheringham leaves West Ham
Posted by Sean Whetstone on May 21, 2015 in Whispers
C AND H
Stevenage FC have officially confirmed that West Ham attacking coach Teddy
Sheringham will take over as as Manager in the summer.
The 49 year old was appointed Hammer's attacking coach on a part-time basis
back in May 2014. Stevenage has close ties with West Ham because it's Chief
Executive, Barry Webber was commercial Director at West Ham until last
year.
Asked about the influence of Allardyce's situation, Sheringham said: 'It has
probably helped. 'If Sam had been told four months ago that he was staying
in the job he probably would have sorted his backroom staff to stay. The
longer it has gone on, the uncertainty has left things very open. This
chance has come about and it felt right.If Sam had asked me four months ago
I probably would have stayed another year and seen where it had taken me.'
Sheringham will need a UEFA B license to manage the the league two side but
he will have 12 weeks to enroll on a UEFA B license approved course to
comply with football league regulations.
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Bilic departure confirmed
Posted by Sean Whetstone on May 21, 2015 in Whispers
C AND H
Besiktas president Fikret Orman has today confirmed that head coach Slaven
Bilic will leave at the end of the season. "We will part on good terms, the
new manager will be a name nobody can dispute. He will be the architect of
our future success to take us to the next level in our new stadium," Orman
told the Hürriyet. Bilic will remain in charge for the Istanbul derby
against Galatasaray on Sunday and also the final game of the season against
Gençlerbirliği. Bilic odds as next West Ham manager with bookmakers have
shortened in recent days after rumours that favourite Rafa Benitez will turn
down the Hammers in favor of Real Madrid. Sky Bet currently have Benitez are
3/1 while Bilic is priced at 7/2. Rival bookmakers Bet Victor have Benitez
and Bilic as joint favourites at 5/2. Benitez was an odds on favorite until
a few days ago. David Moyes has now slipped out as much as 10/1 with some
bookies.
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Sullivan defends Biesla
Posted by Sean Whetstone on May 21, 2015 in Whispers
C AND H
Chairman's son Jack Sullivan has rushed to defend Marcelo Bielsa on social
media after a West Ham fan claimed the Marseilles boss was the wrong man for
the Irons manager's job. Adam Leatherbarrow tweeted David Gold and the
Sullivan boys stating 'Bielsa is the wrong man for our club. Big no no. Try
Carlo Ancellotti' Young Jack replied 'Belisa is a great manger in my
[Opinion], [Did] very well at Marseille!!'
When the tweet was highlighted by other fans as to who might replace
Allardyce this summer, Sullivan junior moved quickly to pour cold water on
the rumour mill, insisting he was just speaking his own mind. The youngster
simply added: "Don't read into it. My opinion."
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Ian Hendon linked with Leyton Orient
Posted by Sean Whetstone on May 21, 2015 in Whispers
C AND H
Hammers first team coach Ian Hendon has been to the vacant manager post at
Leyton Orient.
The O's sacked Italian boss Fabio Liverani last week, following their
relegation from League One. Former Italy international Liverani became
Orient's fourth manager of the season in December when he replaced
compatriot Mauro Milanese.
Former Leyton Orient defender Matt Lockwood has urged O's owner Francesco
Becchetti to appoint a manager who has experience in England.
Hendon played for Tottenham, Barnet and Leyton Orient and had spells
managing Barnet and Dover Athletic as well assistant manager of Gillingham
before he joined West Ham in 2011.
Hendon has become the latest of Sam's backroom boys to be linked with an
exist from West Ham. Attacking coach Teddy Sheringham will soon be confirmed
as manager of League 2 Stevenage while assistant manager Neil McDonald has
been linked with the Blackpool job.
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"You know McDonald would be useless"
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on May 21, 2015 in Whispers
C AND H
Speculation that Neil McDonald could be on his way to Blackpool has not gone
down well with fans of the newly relegated Championship outfit. With Sam
Allardyce seemingly on his way out of Upton Park, the backroom team seems to
be splintering with Teddy Sheringham set to be named as manager of Stevenage
Town. And there is a new buzz on the grapevince that Leyton Orient are keen
to speak with Ian Hndon although as yet no permission has been given by the
Irons, However, on www,fansonline.net one Blackpool supporter made his
feelings clear on the McDonald link saying: You know just by his face and
the size of the big lummox he'd be useless. He's been on easy street for 15
years, earning probably 20k a week, as Big SAMs assistant. He'd have no fire
in his belly. You can tell he's been coasting by the size of him. "
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McDonald linked with Blackpool
Posted by Sean Whetstone on May 21, 2015 in Whispers
C AND H
West Ham Assistant Manager McDonald has been linked with the Blackpool
manager job recently vacated by Lee Clark. The forty-nine year-old was
linked with a vacant job at Carlisle United recently but chose to remain
loyal to the Sam Allardyce, however this time it could be different
considering Allardyce is likely to be out of a job by Tuesday. McDonald has
worked alongside Big Sam at Bolton and Blackburn as well as at West Ham. He
had a successful spell as manager of Carlisle seven years ago before being
sacked just one game into the new season for non-footballing reasons never
fully explained. Allardyce himself previously managed Blackpool between
1994-1996 achieving a 43% win ratio. West Ham attacking coach Teddy
Sheringham is set to unveiled as the new manger of Stevenage at 1.30pm press
conference today.
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Report: Chelsea and Manchester City want West Ham loanee Alex Song
John Verrall
HITC
West Ham United had been wanting to sign Alex Song, but they reportedly face
competition from Chelsea and Manchester City. Chelsea and Manchester City
are both interested in signing Alex Song, according to the Daily Star. Song,
who has been made available for transfer by Barcelona, is apparently of
interest to the Premier League giants due to his home-grown status. Song
first arrived in English football at the age of 17, when he was snapped up
by Arsenal, and he would help both the Blues and City to fill their quota
for the Champions League.
The duo's interest is bad news for West Ham United, as the London side had
wanted to sign Song in the summer transfer window. Song has impressed on a
loan spell at the Boleyn Ground this season and the Hammers intended on
making his stay a more permanent one. With Chelsea and City both able to
offer the Cameroonian international Champions League football, they face a
battle to keep him, though. The Hammers have fallen away after a great start
to the campaign and it may be that their failure to make it into Europe
costs them the opportunity of keeping Song.
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3 REASONS DEPARTING BESIKTAS BOSS IS A GOOD WEST HAM FIT
Bilic took a step towards becoming the Hammers boss in announcing Turkish
departure
21 May 2015
Ladbrokes.com
West Ham fans want Sam Allardyce out and Slaven Bilic in and, after the
latter announced he will be leaving the Turkish club at the end of the
season, that dream took another step to becoming a reality.
The Hammers are widely expected to wave goodbye to Allardyce if not at the
final whistle of their final game against Newcastle on Sunday, which they
are 7/2 to win, then pretty soon afterwards.
The man favoured to take the reins is former Irons defender Bilic, who
stoked the fires of managerial rumour by first stating he was ready to hold
talks over any potential vacancy with the east Londoners, then announcing
his imminent departure from his current club.
As manager of Besiktas since 2013, Bilic has won over half of the 90 games
he has taken charge of and this season looks set to guide them to a
third-place finish in the Super Lig, behind long-standing powerhouses
Galatasaray and Fenerbahce.
Although the fans may yearn for his appointment, is there any reason other
than his popularity that make him a good fit for the claret and blue club?
Here's three:
1) Nous on the road
No side has been better than Besiktas on the road during the Turkish
domestic season this term, with the Black Eagles winning 12 of the 16 away
games they have played in the league to date.
Although their third-ranked attack obviously catches the eye when playing
away from home, it is a rock-solid defence that helps Bilic claim so many
points in opposition stadiums.
The Istanbul club have kept seven clean sheets in their away games this
season and have conceded just 11 goals in that time, which would be a
welcome change for the Hammers if the Croat were to bring that tight ship to
east London.
West Ham have hovered just above the relegation zone in terms of away
results during the current campaign, have conceded 27 goals in their 18
games and managed just two clean sheets.
2) Fortress building
While their exemplary record away from home takes the headlines, Besiktas'
home form under Bilic this season has been nothing to turn the nose up
either.
Only three teams have arrived at the club's Olympic Stadium and come away
with all three points, while only five draws indicates that the former
Croatian manager will strive for positive results, music to the ears of
expectant Hammers fans.
3) Fan affiliation
It cannot be ignored. Clearly the West Ham fans want one of their supposed
"own" in charge of their club, making Allardyce's services obsolete despite
the stellar job he has done to turn the club into a more aesthetically
pleasing unit on the board's request.
No matter what the former Bolton man does, it seems, will be appreciated by
the majority of Irons but, with a man they adore in charge, their may well
be a chance for the club to push on with all sections holding a mutual
respect for each other.
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Friday, May 22
Thursday, May 21
Daily WHUFC News - 21st May 2015
Cole hopes for final flourish
WHUFC.com
Carlton Cole says he would love to extend his nine-year stay with West Ham United beyond the summer, but admits that might be beyond his control. Whether Saturday's game against Everton proves to be his final run out at the Boleyn Ground in claret and blue or not, the 31-year-old is proud of the impact he has made during his time at the Club. With Sunday's season closer at Newcastle United to come, Cole is determined to help the Hammers end the campaign with a bang. He said: "I haven't been playing regularly, so I just tried to feel my way around the pitch on Saturday. I thought I did well against their two centre backs and I just needed a few knockdowns to help out the midfielders. "I've been through this emotion before, so I don't know what to think at the moment, whether I'm going or staying. I'm just taking it as it comes at the moment because you never know what's coming in football. "Of course I'd like to stay, but this is how things go in football. If I don't, I don't, If I do and I'm still here, I'll be performing to the best of my ability." "I've got a lot of emotions about this club. I've been here for quite a while and am vastly experienced here. I've got a connection with the fans, a connection with the backroom staff and everything. "You could say I'm part of the furniture, but if I'm not here next year I'll wish West Ham good luck and I'll have to carry on with my life."
There is the possibility that the Hammers could qualify for the UEFA Europa League too – something that Cole would love to be a part of.
He added: "Of course it would be nice if I could play in Europe with the Club next year. West Ham deserve to be in Europe, it's a good outfit here especially as we'll be moving into the bigger Stadium as well. "I'm not sure what the fair play league is saying, but it looks like we'll be up there to go into that. You never know with what's going on so we'll wait and see where it takes us."
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Oxford leads England U17 to World Cup
WHUFC.com
Reece Oxford captained England to a place at the FIFA U17 World Cup finals by steering the Young Lions to a penalty shootout victory over Spain in a play-off fixture on Tuesday. With Europe having six places in the finals in Chile, the four semi-finalists in the UEFA U17 European Championship qualified automatically. After England were knocked out of the tournament at the quarter-final stage by Russia at the weekend, they faced a tense play-off against Spain. The 80 minutes yielded no goals, so penalties were required to decide which team would make the journey to South America in the autumn. It was England who showed a nervelessness from the spot, with Oxford netting his own penalty in a 5-3 victory.
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Jenkinson called up for Euro finals
WHUFC.com
Carl Jenkinson has been included in the provisional 27-man squad for England U21s campaign at the European U21 Championship in the Czech Republic next month. The 23-year-old, at West Ham on a season's loan from Arsenal, will aim to round off a successful couple of years in the U21 set-up by tasting success in the finals, which take place between 17-30 June. Should he be selected in the final 23, Jenkinson will meet up with the England squad on 2 June, for warm-up matches against the Republic of Ireland and Belarus prior to jetting out to the tournament,
There, England will face group games against Portugal on 18 June, Sweden on 21 June and Italy on 24 June. The top two in the group will then face a semi-final on 27 June, with the final taking place three days later. Gareth Southgate's men will be targeting a first success at the U21 Euros since 1984. The Young Lions were last finalists in 2009, when a Mesut Ozil-inspired Germany saw them off in the title-deciding game.
Jenkinson himself has ten U21 caps since making his debut at that level in 2013, having previously represented Finland at youth levels.
He also has one senior cap to his name, coming in a November 2012 friendly against Sweden. Meanwhile, Cheikhou Kouyate has been called up for Senegal's Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Burundi. Senegal begin their qualification campaign on 13 June with the home game against the central African nation, with Namibia and Niger making up the rest of their group. The finals will take place in Gabon in 2017.
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Local schools set for Premier League finals
WHUFC.com
Two sets of school teams will represent West Ham United at the eighth annual Premier League Schools Tournament after beating off fierce competition from other local schools.
St Edwards School will enter in the U11 mixed competition while Brampton Manor Academy will compete in the U13 division for girls.
The Premier League Schools Tournament is all about increasing participation in football for boys and girls, and offers schools nationwide the chance to team up with their local Premier League club. Each of the 20 Premier League clubs stage their own regional competition to select a school to represent them in the finals, which will be held at White Hart Lane on Thursday.
St Edwards School had a bumpy road to the Premier League National Finals. Playing their qualifying tournament in Newham, they were placed in a tough group but they progressed unbeaten to the Semi- Finals where they played last year's winners of this heat Whitebridge Junior School from Loughton. It was a hard fought game which ended in a draw but St Edwards kept their nerve in the penalty shootout which they won 2-1
This meant they progressed to the West Ham United Club Finals Day. After some tough games they found themselves in the Final lining up to face Thameside Primary School from Grays, who had the honour of representing West Ham at the Etihad last season. With a minute to go Thameside were leading 1-0 but a last minute equaliser took the Final to a nerve wrecking penalty shootout. The experience of having faced penalties in their Semi- Final win proved to be the difference for St Edwards's as they held their nerve to win 2-1.
Meanwhile, Brampton Manor Academy has worked with West Ham Foundation for the last two years, working alongside them on their Woman and Girls Programme delivering weekly sessions throughout the school years. Brampton Manor have entered West Ham United Foundation's Club qualifying tournament in the previous three years, losing out last year in the Final to Sydney Russell School. This season, Brampton Manor won the local tournament at Chobham Academy in February, beating Eastbury School in the Final on penalties after drawing 0-0 and finally realised their dream of making it to the Finals at White Hart Lane.
Captain Skye Pinches represents West Ham United Ladies at U13 level, whilst several other members of the team represent local football teams. Skye said "It is a dream to represent the Club I play for and have supported all my life. To show our talents in May against all the other Clubs will be a great memory for life".
An expected 1,000 spectators will fill the seats at White Hart Lane to see the Premier League Schools Tournament champions crowned and presented with a replica Premier League trophy.
All the students participating on the day will receive an authentic Premier League experience - wearing their Premier League club kit, using the Tottenham Hotspur dressing rooms, and walking out of the tunnel to the Premier League anthem, and even having their matches refereed by Premier League match officials.
The Schools Tournament will feature on a special episode of BBC Match of the Day Kickabout airing on 23 May at 7:40am and will then be available to watch on the BBC iPlayer
You can follow news on Twitter with hashtag #plschools.
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Teddy Sheringham: Stevenage set to appoint ex-England striker
BBC.co.uk
Stevenage are set to appoint Teddy Sheringham to replace outgoing manager Graham Westley after confirming they are talking to the ex-England striker. Westley's final game in charge was Boro's League Two play-off semi-final defeat by Southend and his contact at Broadhall Way ends on 31 May. It is 49-year-old Sheringham's first managerial job, having been West Ham attacking coach for the last 12 months.
The former Tottenham and Manchester United forward won 51 England caps. Sheringham, the oldest goalscorer and outfield player in Premier League history, had a 25-year playing career, which began at Millwall before spells at Nottingham Forest and Spurs. He spent four years at Manchester United, scoring an injury-time equaliser in their Champions League final victory over Bayern Munich in 1999. After returning to Tottenham, spells at Portsmouth, West Ham and Colchester followed before he retired aged 42 at the end of the 2007-08 season. Sheringham will come in to replace Westley, whose third spell as Boro manager is set to come to an end.
After spending three years in charge between 2003 and 2006, he returned to Boro in 2008 following a stint at Rushden & Diamonds, and led the club from the Conference into League One. He left for a brief unsuccessful spell at Preston, and returned to Broadhall Way in March 2013, but could not prevent his side being relegated from the third tier last season. Westley led Stevenage to the League Two play-offs this season, losing 4-2 on aggregate to Southend, and chairman Phil Wallace confirmed the 47-year-old would be leaving at the end of his contract. "Despite the utmost respect and appreciation I have for everything he's done for Stevenage FC, sometimes you have to accept that a business needs to change to refresh itself and evolve," he told the club website. "Sometimes that means management, sometimes it means owners and sometimes it means both."
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Sam's home vacated, but don't read anything into it
KUMb.com
Filed: Wednesday, 20th May 2015
By: Staff Writer
The Canary Wharf residence that Sam Allardyce has called home for the last few years will be vacated this weekend.
By the time West Ham kick off against Newcastle at James Park on Sunday afternoon Allardyce is expected to have moved out of his London home, leading to yet more speculation that the manager is on his way out of the club following Sunday's final game of the season at Newcastle.
However a spokesman for West Ham told the Standard's Ken Dyer today that the move had no bearing on Big Sam's future. "The apartment has been sold," they said. "Sam should have moved out last week but was given an extension. It would be a mistake to read too much into this."
Yesterday another national tabloid revealed that Allardyce had been contacting utility companies to arrange final meter readings ahead of his move. The 60-year-old is set to go on holiday next week, after tying up any loose ends at the club.
Allardyce - and more specifically, his wife Lynne - have been unhappy living in the capital for some time, KUMB understands. The favourite to replace him at the end of the season remains Rafa Benitez, despite the Napoli coach having apparently rejected the opportunity to return to London.
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We've waited a long, long time for this
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 20th May 2015
By: Staff Writer
Hull boss Steve Bruce might be forced to eat his words this weekend, should West Ham fail to do his current club Hull City a favour at Newcastle on Sunday afternoon. Twelve years ago in 2002/03, with West Ham on the cusp of relegation, Bruce - then manager of Birmingham City - admitted that he had waited "a long, long time" for the opportunity to gain revenge on the Hammers for denying his then-Manchester United side the Premiership title in the mid '90s.
"I remember losing the league title by drawing at West Ham," he said. "It's still in the back of my memory. I remember how delirious they all were, delighted at the way they denied us. I remember the way they were all whooping away. "They were all there really giving us the big high-fives down the tunnel just after we had lost the league. "I don't bear grudges but I've waited a long, long time for Sunday. I'm looking forward to it immensely. There is a bias in the media towards West Ham, the glamour club from London, and we live with that."
In order to stand a chance of avoiding relegation, Hull must beat Manchester United and hope that Newcastle fail to beat West Ham. Should both win, Sunderland need to take at least a point at Arsenal tonight or at Chelsea on Sunday to be safe.
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Mags ban social media ahead of Sunday's clash
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 20th May 2015
By: Staff Writer
Newcastle boss John Carver has banned his players from using social media in the run-up to this Sunday's do-or-die clash with West Ham at St James' Park.
Carver, whose side have taken just ONE point from their last TEN matches revealed he has imposed the 'media blackout' on his players ahead of a game they simply cannot afford to lose.
"I've had a chat with the guys and said try and stay off social media, stay off Twitter, keep off the internet," he said. "If you take your eye off the ball you get punished, and we've got to keep our focus sharp.
"It's still in our hands, and if you want it enough then you can do something about it."
As things stand should Newcastle fail to beat the Hammers on Sunday afternoon, a win for Hull at home to Manchester United would result in the Magpies falling through the trap door for the second time in the last six years.
And regardless of whether or not Newcastle manage to avoid the drop, their supporters have announced plans to stage a sit-in at St James' immediately after the game in protest at owner Mike Ashley's running of the club.
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West Ham considering Werder Bremen coach Viktor Skrypnyk as Sam Allardyce nears exit
08:56, 20 MAY 2015
BY ADRIAN KAJUMBA
The Ukrainian is a surprise new name in the frame, given the Hammers' preference for a boss with Premier League experience, after transforming Bremen's season
The Mirror
Werder Bremen coach Viktor Skrypnyk has been added to the list of managers being considered by West Ham in their search for a successor to Sam Allardyce. Ukrainian Skrypnyk is a surprise new name in the frame, given the Hammers' preference for a boss with Premier League experience, after transforming Bremen's season. Bremen were bottom of the league when Skrypnyk, 45, took over in October. But they have charged up the table under their former player and go into the final day of the Bundesliga season with a slim chance of claiming a Europa League place. Bremen will put up a fight to keep hold of their little-known but emerging boss. However they could also have to fend off Sunderland who are also considering Skrypnyk as a contender to replace Dick Advocaat if he leaves the Stadium of Light at the end of the season.
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David Moyes on West Ham's radar again with Sam Allardyce set to leave this summer
22:30, 19 MAY 2015
BY DARREN LEWIS
The Scot has stated he is staying with Spain's Real Sociedad for next season but the ambitious Hammers believe they can lure him away
The Mirror
West Ham have not given up on landing David Moyes as a replacement for Sam Allardyce. The Irons have had the Real Sociedad boss as their top target for some time with Big Sam set to leave when his contract expires at the end of the season. Former Everton and Manchester United manager Moyes signed an 18-month deal with the La Liga side last November, and has taken them from the relegation zone into mid-table. The Scot insisted earlier this month that he is staying in Spain amid interest from the Premier League. But the ambitious Hammers still believe they can tempt him away if they are unable to agree a new deal with Allardyce. The east Londoners are willing to once again make substantial funds available for new signings this summer as they bid to force their way up the table. Hammers chairman David Gold told fans on Twitter: "We will bring in at least five new players in the summer window."
Those recruits will include at least one new striker, as the club feel injuries and a lack of firepower cost them a place in the top eight. Napoli's ex-Liverpool and Chelsea boss Rafa Benitez has turned down interest from West Ham - because he believes he has a chance of succeeding Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid.
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West Ham boss Sam Allardyce contacts utility companies as he prepares to leave Upton Park
20:00, 19 MAY 2015
BY ADRIAN KAJUMBA
The Hammers boss has seen speculation continue to swirl with regards his future and the trip to Newcastle on Sunday is expected to be his final game
The Mirror
Sam Allardyce has been contacting utility companies giving final meter readings for his London flat as he prepares to leave West Ham.
Mirror Sport understands Allardyce has begun the process of moving out of his 40th floor Canary Wharf apartment ahead of what is expected to be his departure next week following the final game of the season. Hammers boss Allardyce's contract is up this summer and he has already set the wheels in motion to end his stay in his rented accommodation and removal companies have been contacted. Allardyce is due for talks with the board on Monday, once West Ham wrap up their campaign at Newcastle on Sunday. Allardyce looks resigned to his fate and the Hammers have not given up on landing David Moyes as his replacement. West Ham have had the Real Sociedad boss as their top target for some time. He signed an 18-month deal with Sociedad last November and has taken the club from the relegation zone into mid-table and the Scot insisted earlier this month that he was staying in Spain amid interest from he Premier League. But the ambitious east Londoners still believe they can tempt him away and are willing to once again make substantial funds available for new signings this summer as they bid to force their way even further up the table. Hammers chairman David Gold told fans on Twitter: "We will bring in at least five new players in the summer window." Those new players will include at least one new striker as the club feel injuries and their lack of firepower has cost them a place in the top eight.
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Hammers wait on OFFICIAL Rafa word
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on May 20, 2015 in Whispers
C AND H
West Ham have again made it clear that they have had no OFFICIAL word from Rafa Benitez that he is out of the running to become the club's next manager.
Whilst various media outlets have been reporting an Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio's view that he has turned the club down, a top Irons insider said: "That's all very premature and there seems to be a lot of weight being attached to it although it's not clear why.
"We have heard nothing and we would perhaps expect to ahead of a reporter.!
"Yesterday Jurgen Klopp was taking over t Real but there's been no official word on that or anything else. We won't be doing anything at all until we hear officially."
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Bilic not sacked say Besiktas
Posted by Sean Whetstone on May 20, 2015 in Whispers
C AND H
Besiktas have released a statement on their website this afternoon denying rumours that head coach Slaven Bilic has been sacked. The statement read: "Rumours that Besiktas have sacked Slaven Bilic are false, the board will hold a board meeting today." Reports in the Turkish press claimed that Besiktas had parted ways with Bilic however, the Croatian manager still has a year left on his contract.
Bilic did reveal on TV this week that he expects the board to fire him following the 1-0 defeat against Konyaspor. Besiktas crashed out of the title race following the loss against Koynaspor at the Osmanlı stadium in Ankara. The Istanbul based team take on Galatasaray on Sunday and Bilic will be in charge unless the board decide otherwise following their meeting.
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Gold: There is no money to be made from Europa
Posted by Sean Whetstone on May 20, 2015 in Whispers
C AND H
West Ham Co Chairman David has claimed there is no money to be from the Europa league until you reach the quarter finals.
Speaking via his twitter account Gold said "There is no money to be made from the Europa Cup unless you reach the 1/4 finals. PS. making money is not a sin. dg"
Interestingly UEFA has recently announced it will increase the financial rewards from playing in the Europa League by announcing prize money for the tournament will increase by 65 percent.
At the moment, clubs in the Champions League earn an average of 4 1/2 times as much as those playing in the Europa League, but in the future UEFA will fix the ratio at 3.3:1. Solidarity payments to those clubs who fail to qualify for the group stages will also rise significantly.
This is the current prize fund in Euros for the Europa league this season but this is set to increase by 65% this coming season that West Ham are likely to qualify for.
UEFA Europa League Prize Money Distribution 2014/2015
#NO Stages Earnings
1 First Qualifying round €120,000
2 Second Qualifying round €130,000
3 Third Qualifying round €140,000
4 Play-off round elimination €150,000
5 Base fee for group stage €1,300,000
6 Group match victory €200,000
7 Group match draw €100,000
8 Group winners €400,000
9 Group runners-up €200,000
10 Round of 32 €200,000
11 Round of 16 €350,000
12 Quarter-finals €450,000
13 Semi-finals €1,000,000
14 Losing finalist €2,500,000
15 Winners €5,000,000
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Irons join hunt for 'the new Zinedine Zidane'
Posted by Sean Whetstone on May 20, 2015 in Whispers
C AND H
Yoann Gourcuff has attracted interest from "at least 10" clubs as he nears the end of his Lyon contract, according to his representative. The 28-year-old playmaker has 31 France caps and will become be a free agent at the end of this season. The player has been dubbed "the new Zinedine Zidane"
Gourcuff's lawyer Didier Poulmaire told Le Parisien: "At least 10. "Very few players of Yoann's talent become free agents. In the context of financial fair play, it is an enormous opportunity. I have had interest from very big clubs."
He was named as France Football magazine's French player of the year for 2009 and joined Lyon in August 2010, but injuries have sidelined him for around half of the club's games since. Gourcuff made 19 appearances for Lyon this season, scoring three times and providing five assists. He is also a set piece specialist.
French website StarAfrica.Fr claim that West Ham have expressed an interest in the Lyon playmaker.
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Gold set on Europa League
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on May 20, 2015 in Whispers
C AND H
David Gold has assured the fans that West Ham will be taking the Fair Play route into Europe and that the club welcome the opportunity to compete in the early stages of the Europa Cup.
The club's co chairman – having listened to the debate among the fans on whether it's a good idea or not said: "We believe we owe it to our fans to take up the opportunity if it presents itself. We see it very much as an opportunity rather than a distraction. "
The Fair Play League is very tightly balanced with England having been guaranteed a place in the Europa League through it next season.
Barring an eventful final day at Newcastle the Hammers will be in Europe next term as Sam Allardyce takes charge of what looks certain to be his last game at Irons boss.
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Allardyce moves out of London flat
Posted by Sean Whetstone on May 20, 2015 in Whispers
C AND H
According to Ken Dyer in the London Evening Standard Sam Allardyce will move out of his Canary Wharf apartment on Friday, increasing speculation that his time at West Ham has come to an end.
Allardyce is due to go on holiday on Tuesday immediately following a board meeting on Monday reinforcing expectations that he will not be offered a new contract by West Ham.
However, a club source said: "The apartment has been sold. Sam should have moved out last week but was given an extension. It would be a mistake to read too much into this."
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Hammers deny manager link
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on May 20, 2015 in Whispers
C AND H
West Ham have denied that 45 year old Werder Bremen's Ukrainian coach Viktor Skrypnyk is on their wanted list to replace Sam Allardyce.
According to The Sun, Skrypnyk is now very much in the frame but a source inside the club denied the interest to ClaretandHugh this morning. The club are still waiting to see the outcome of the ,Real Madrid managerial hunt in which Rafa Benitez appears to be involved before making their next move. Jurgen Klopp was yesterday reported to have been offered a three year contract at the Bernebeu but this morning there are claims that these were rogue reports.
That may let Benitez back into the running and we were told: "Rafa remains our number one choice and we will do nothing until we discover what is happening in Madrid.
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REPORT: Allardyce contacts removal firms
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on May 20, 2015 in Whispers
C AND H
Sam Allardyce has reportedly been contacting utility companies giving final meter readings for his London flat as he prepares to leave West Ham.
Mirror Sport reports Allardyce has begun the process of moving out of his 40th floor Canary Wharf apartment ahead of an expected departure next week following the final game of the season.
According to the report the 60 year old manager has already set the wheels in motion to end his stay in his rented accommodation and removal companies have been contacted.
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The Ex-Files: Craig Forrest
Wednesday, 20th May 2015 12:46 by Blair Ferguson
Twtf.co.uk
In the 18th part of our regular series, The Ex-Files, Blair Ferguson caught up with giant Town and Canada goalkeeping legend Craig Forrest.
Craig Forrest is one of those players you look at and wonder how he ever managed to make his way into professional football.
Born in British Columbia, Canada, where the main sports were ice hockey and lacrosse, it seemed unlikely that he would make such an impact at a football club so far away from the place of his birth.
It was indirectly through playing lacrosse that the chance came for his first foray into football and the start of his journey to England.
"I was playing in the U13 Canadian Championship lacrosse tournament in Ontario and four or five of the lacrosse guys played in the football team which was a pretty strong side at that age," he explained.
"One of the players – he wasn't a goalkeeper in lacrosse but an outfield player – was the keeper for the football team. He couldn't get back for this tournament because his family was going to do an RV trip across Canada.
"So the team was short and they asked me if I was willing to give it a try even though I'd never done it before. And I did and I was terrible!
"But I enjoyed it at the same time and was intrigued by it and wanted to stay with it and they were happy to keep me on as a back-up when the other guy eventually came back.
"So I worked specifically with a goalkeeper trainer from that age quite heavily and things went well, to the point that when I was 15 I was in the provincial team, and when I was 16 I moved to England."
Until that time Forrest's only other sport was judo, which he thinks helped with "throwing himself about and hitting the deck", and it was the fortuitous meeting with a one-time Town youth player which saw football take him to England.
"I got really good advice from people in British Columbia, primarily a guy called Phil Trenter, who was actually from Ipswich and had moved over to Vancouver," Forrest recalled.
"Phil was great in saying that you need to get over there when you're 16 because you have potential and you want to be signed on potential, because if you go later then you have to be the finished deal which you probably won't be if you stay in Canada.
"So I left school a year early and moved to England and had a trial at Ipswich. I had a trial with West Brom set up and a trial with Dundee United, but I went to Ipswich first and after a couple of weeks they signed me."
Despite speaking the same language, his 1984 move to England was still a culture shock for Forrest, who paid his own way to Ipswich in accordance with the agreement with Town chief scout Ron Gray who set up his trial.
Once signed by Town a period of adjustment began. With communications technology not what they are now, Forrest's mum had to get a job just to pay for the $2 a minute phone calls to her son.
Something which struck the aspirant goalkeeper was the difference in attitude towards young players in England compared to how they were treated in Canada.
The man known as 'Stacks' said: "It was just the way at that age you are playing because it's fun and although you still enjoyed it and it was fun it was also very serious.
"It was a business, you needed to perform, you needed to show up, you needed to be punctual, you needed to be disciplined and all of these things that went along with it.
"Unlike in England where people are generally more honest to the youngsters, here they are always very positive and blowing smoke up people and as a decent athlete everyone is always fairly complimentary.
"You get to that position where you probably aren't the best in town and you're going to get told straight up in England that if you screw around you're gone fairly quickly.
"I think the first time I was ever told that was by Charlie Woods," he said laughing before preparing his finest impression for the former Town coach.
"'Lads you're going to be on the next plane home if you don't get it together!' So it became very serious and that was a little scary at 16."
Forrest heeded Woods's warnings and started to make his way towards the first team via a short loan spell at Colchester in the 1987/88 season where he achieved his goal of playing professional football in England, eventually going on to make 11 appearances for the U's.
Next, at the start of the 1988/89 campaign, came the opportunity to become Ipswich's number one ahead of previous incumbent Jon Hallworth, who was sold to Oldham later in the season. Forrest explains his reaction to finding out the news whilst back in Canada.
"I was feeling pretty good about myself and went home in the summer and got a call from Ipswich when I was in Vancouver that they intended to start me at the start of the season so to be ready.
"So I basically shit myself all summer long, which was fine! But when the Stoke game came along [on the first day of the season] it went really well, not so much the game but the preparation for it in the dressing and the great atmosphere and getting to play at that level, it was terrific.
"You're anticipating it and you're quite nervous, they've made a big decision, so you don't want to let anybody down and these sorts of things are going through your mind."
Even before making that first appearance at Stoke, which ended in a 1-1 draw, Forrest was aware he was stepping into a team that was coming off the back of a glorious era for Town and he outlines the pressure he felt at the club.
"When I arrived at Ipswich they were in the First Division and not many years off winning the UEFA Cup and the FA Cup," he said.
"I came in at a time after the golden generation and Ipswich fans had really high expectations and those expectations were very difficult to live up to because the players had been sold off.
"So those were tough times and it was a tough club to go to at that time because when I got in the first team we were in the second tier with the expectation that we should always be winning and be in the top flight.
"It was different than going to a club that had no history of winning major tournaments, Ipswich were the real deal."
That debut at the Victoria Ground was handed to him by then-boss John Duncan, who he says was "very supportive" and gave him "a lot of belief", but it was his successor John Lyall who he considers to be the best manager he ever worked under.
The former West Ham boss led the Blues to the old Second Division championship in 1991/92 with Forrest ever-present in goal.
He said: "To get back in the top flight where Ipswich deserved to be as a club was great. I would say he was the best manager I ever had. He read the game better than anyone I'd ever seen before.
"Just the way he saw the game as it developed, John Lyall was so far ahead of his day in the way he achieved success with what he had to work with. He just found a way.
"Sometimes he would come in the dressing room and guys would be like 'We should be doing this, why aren't we doing this?' and he would calmly come in, pour his cup of tea and then tell us how we were going to win the game and often he would find a way.
"Even when we went to Manchester United, we drew 1-1 and 0-0. I'm fairly sure in the 0-0 game we didn't even play a striker, he knew that they attacked from the flanks.
"He played Chris Kiwomya in a wide position so we had no strikers and we just stifled them and they ran out of ideas.
"It was amazing that he would come up with ideas and tactics that would actually work and it was the first time I'd seen someone try different things, because it was pretty static at the time with everyone playing 4-4-2, but he changed things round and confused some teams.
"He was terrific and was the major reason that we were promoted. We stayed in the Premier League for three years and they should of never let him go because he managed to keep us up."
Forrest's final boss at Ipswich was George Burley, a manager he thinks learnt a lot at the start of his time in charge as the Blues crashed out of the Premier League.
Talking about this stage of his Town career meant the inevitable discussion of the March 1995 9-0 defeat at Manchester United with some surprising relief on the day for Forrest.
"I enjoyed working under George Burley too, obviously a legendary player at Ipswich, but when he first arrived as manager I think he learnt a lot when he was there with us.
"Going down the road I think he learnt so much and became a great manager. But when he first came to us, like the Man U 9-0, the pre-match talk was 'They wont expect us to attack'. Well yeah, I guess they didn't!
"But after a few years I don't think he would get beaten 9-0 again, he just learned a lot over that period of time as anybody would.
"That game was tough, it keeps coming up especially when the day comes round. I did actually think when the game was being played that it was 10! So I was actually pretty happy they didn't hit double figures.
"It was difficult but as a goalkeeper if you play long enough you're going to get games like that and it's very humbling."
Despite the record-breaking defeat Forrest is adamant that given the opportunity he would go through it all again just to play in the top flight.
"I loved playing in the Premier League and if I had the chance tomorrow to go back to Old Trafford and get beaten 9-0 I would absolutely take that opportunity.
"The stadiums and the atmospheres were amazing and playing at that top level was always my goal, to play in arguably the best league in the world."
Late in his time at Town Forrest had the pleasure of witnessing the rise of a young Richard Wright. You get the impression that Forrest always knew Wright would be the man to replace him.
"A problem for me was going to play international football because somebody comes in, like Richard for instance. I was off playing for Canada and Richard comes in and I get back and they say 'The kid's done well, so we're leaving him in'.
"I understand that, it's a risk that I took and it can cost you and it's just how things work out sometimes.
"I had a really good relationship with Richard, I knew him when he was around 12-years-old and first started showing up at the club. He was the best 12-year-old goalkeeper I'd ever seen!
"I think he could have played in the first team and got through it quite easily at 13-years-old, he was unbelievable, unbelievable.
"I said at the time that this kid will play for England, no question about it and I'm just surprised that he didn't play more. He was a great kid and has a great family now."
With Forrest by now consigned to the bench, in March 1997 the opportunity came for him to join a star-studded Chelsea on loan and he got to experience a feeling he thinks all top keepers have when playing behind a team of stars.
"Mick McGiven – John Lyall's right-hand man – was at Chelsea at the time working as a coach and they had a couple of injuries and they needed some cover.
"Richard Wright was in the first team and Ipswich said that if I wanted to go there on loan then I could.
"It was great, it was amazing. In the first five-a-side I had Vialli was playing, Zola, Franck Leboeuf, player-manager Ruud Gullit, they were a real international team, it was insane and incredibly memorable.
"I would say that playing with that team was the only time in my career when I was behind a team and thought 'How can we possibly lose!'.
"That was the only time I felt that, I thought 'Now I know what it's like to be Iker Casillas or Peter Schmeichel!'. It's a totally different feeling.
"How can we possible lose this game!?" he laughed "Really? We are unbelievably good so we shouldn't lose!"
While he says that he would have stayed at Ipswich for his entire career if he could have, he enjoyed playing for his other clubs.
The opportunity to move to Chelsea on a permanent basis was offered, but the Ipswich board priced Forrest out of a move.
He explains: "Just at the end of my loan spell at Chelsea I had to go to Jamaica to play for Canada and the keepers were still injured and the week after I was coming back they had the FA Cup final.
"Gullit said 'We'll play you in that game and then talk to Ipswich and get the deal done and you can play in the FA Cup final against Middlesbrough'. There was no transfer window back then.
"But Ipswich tried to play hard ball and held them to ransom and Chelsea said 'We won't be held to ransom over the FA Cup final' and I didn't get to play in it.
"Not that I deserved to play in because I didn't play any of the other rounds, but after 13 years at Ipswich I thought 'Really guys? You could have helped me out there a little bit'.
"I spoke to Gullit after the FA Cup final and it was still their intention to bring me in and then one of his countrymen Ed de Goey became available and he saw him in South Africa or something like that and next thing you know I'd missed the boat."
London was still Forrest's destination despite the switch to Chelsea breaking down with the 6ft 5in tall keeper joining West Ham the following July.
"I was disappointed because of how well it went at Chelsea," he added. "But that's the way it works out.
"West Ham was a different opportunity and a club with a different feel from Ipswich because it was in London, it was just different.
"It was a great five years and I really enjoyed it, we had a great run and finished in the top 10 every year so there were no issues there and Upton Park was a fortress for us.
"We didn't have to worry about driving past the Boleyn pub on the corner of Green Street where they would jump on players' cars very often. That was the biggest worry!
"We had terrific characters like John Moncur, Neil Ruddock, Stuart Pearce, Nigel Winterburn, John Hartson, Rio Ferdinand, Frank Lampard, Michael Carrick, Glen Johnson, Joe Cole, it was unbelievable the young talent that club had.
"If they could only have kept them together, it would have been something special."
He continued: "Harry Redknapp had a great eye for players. He had no problem bringing in Paolo Di Canio, Neil Ruddock, Julian Dicks, John Hartson and the list goes on of tough characters to deal with.
"He had a knack of doing that which was very interesting, just be able to put a team together and knowing the pieces he needed to put them together."
Forrest enjoyed his time at West Ham but in 2001, while he was negotiating a contract extension, he discovered he had testicular cancer, which would ultimately end his career.
"It was a difficult time, I'm not going to lie," he said. "From a footballing point of view at least I was 35 and I'd been playing for a long time, I didn't want to retire and was sort of forced into it a little bit.
"Prior to getting testicular cancer I was negotiating a one-year extension at West Ham and me and my agent thought we could get a two-year deal because I was only 35.
"This was ongoing and there was no pressure or hurry but then I got testicular cancer and went away.
"When I came back we said that under the circumstances we wanted a two-year deal but I'd accept a one-year deal and prove I can play again and take it from there.
"But they said 'No, the deal isn't on the table any more, we're going to release you'."
This news came as a shock to Forrest who still thought he had more to offer and he felt let down by West Ham because they made it difficult for him to go anywhere else, as he explains.
"I felt disappointed because they backed me into a corner where all of a sudden I was damaged goods.
"Managers wanted to take a chance on me but nobody really wanted to because if something went wrong the warning signs were there and the chairman would go 'You brought in this guy, he just had cancer, what are you doing?' .
"So it put everybody in a difficult position so I wasn't feeling particularly great and I still hadn't gotten over the chemo treatment and the effects of that so I decided to retire."
Having returned to Canada there was an opportunity to make a comeback aged 39 with the fledgling Toronto FC MLS franchise in 2007, and although he attended a trial it was only to see if he could play at a professional level with no real intention of signing for the club.
In addition to his club career, Forrest featured and was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player in Canadian football's greatest success when he and future Town skipper Jason De Vos lifted – with a small amount of struggle – the 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup, which also got them an invitation to the Copa America.
"It's a big trophy!" he said laughing. "All cups should be massive and weigh about 200lbs!"
"In the programme they had us ranked 12th out of the twelve teams! We thought that was pretty funny and we didn't care.
"That was a great tournament and that also got us in the Confederations Cup in Japan, which was amazing.
"It also got us invited to the Copa America which was unbelievable and I was really looking forward to that, but it was in Columbia and at that time there was a lot of violence and drug cartels threatening to kill everybody and threatening to kill players.
"So our government withdrew us from that tournament so we didn't get to play in that.
"At that time I wasn't sure if we should go because it was really bad. I'd been in South and Central America before and been in positions where I didn't feel the authorities were completely in control of what was going on and I understood why we didn't go.
"But Honduras jumped in our spot, they were like 'It's worse in Honduras than it is there!'. I think they did quite well actually!"
As one of Canada's greatest ever footballers Forrest - he won 56 full caps - it was recently announced that he is to be inducted into the Canada Sports Hall of Fame, making him one of only five footballers ever to have been afforded the honour, which is a source of immense pride for a man who loved playing for his country.
"I heard they'd been talking about it and there are only five footballers in the Canada Sports Hall of Fame, two of them are women, so football doesn't get a lot of talk here.
"It was an honour because people recognised me in a culture where football isn't as important as ice hockey.
"I think it was because I played in arguably the best league in the world in a world sport and they saw a lot of value in that. Probably winning the Gold Cup had an effect because there was some exposure. It was a really great honour and I'm very proud of that."
The former keeper, now 47, is a pundit on Canadian television, a role he started preparing for during the 1998 World Cup, and one he is grateful to have because it keeps him in the game he loves.
"I knew there were some opportunities over here to do television and I was preparing myself years before when I did the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000, so I got into it a little bit to see if I was any good at it and if I liked it and they liked me.
"Because I had that experience they were open to giving me a full-time position and I took it.
"I really do enjoy it, it's not the same buzz as playing, but there is something about doing live television that keeps you on edge because you don't know what's going to happen next and mistakes are going to happen and you have to do things on the fly. So I enjoy that side of things and it gives me a bit of a buzz that way.
"There are a lot of the professionals that get depression from having their umbilical cord cut from football completely because it's all they know.
"I can understand that and why they get really low. I've never had that happen to me because I've always had a connection to the sport and that has made retiring a lot easier because I'm still involved in the game."
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WHUFC.com
Carlton Cole says he would love to extend his nine-year stay with West Ham United beyond the summer, but admits that might be beyond his control. Whether Saturday's game against Everton proves to be his final run out at the Boleyn Ground in claret and blue or not, the 31-year-old is proud of the impact he has made during his time at the Club. With Sunday's season closer at Newcastle United to come, Cole is determined to help the Hammers end the campaign with a bang. He said: "I haven't been playing regularly, so I just tried to feel my way around the pitch on Saturday. I thought I did well against their two centre backs and I just needed a few knockdowns to help out the midfielders. "I've been through this emotion before, so I don't know what to think at the moment, whether I'm going or staying. I'm just taking it as it comes at the moment because you never know what's coming in football. "Of course I'd like to stay, but this is how things go in football. If I don't, I don't, If I do and I'm still here, I'll be performing to the best of my ability." "I've got a lot of emotions about this club. I've been here for quite a while and am vastly experienced here. I've got a connection with the fans, a connection with the backroom staff and everything. "You could say I'm part of the furniture, but if I'm not here next year I'll wish West Ham good luck and I'll have to carry on with my life."
There is the possibility that the Hammers could qualify for the UEFA Europa League too – something that Cole would love to be a part of.
He added: "Of course it would be nice if I could play in Europe with the Club next year. West Ham deserve to be in Europe, it's a good outfit here especially as we'll be moving into the bigger Stadium as well. "I'm not sure what the fair play league is saying, but it looks like we'll be up there to go into that. You never know with what's going on so we'll wait and see where it takes us."
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Oxford leads England U17 to World Cup
WHUFC.com
Reece Oxford captained England to a place at the FIFA U17 World Cup finals by steering the Young Lions to a penalty shootout victory over Spain in a play-off fixture on Tuesday. With Europe having six places in the finals in Chile, the four semi-finalists in the UEFA U17 European Championship qualified automatically. After England were knocked out of the tournament at the quarter-final stage by Russia at the weekend, they faced a tense play-off against Spain. The 80 minutes yielded no goals, so penalties were required to decide which team would make the journey to South America in the autumn. It was England who showed a nervelessness from the spot, with Oxford netting his own penalty in a 5-3 victory.
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Jenkinson called up for Euro finals
WHUFC.com
Carl Jenkinson has been included in the provisional 27-man squad for England U21s campaign at the European U21 Championship in the Czech Republic next month. The 23-year-old, at West Ham on a season's loan from Arsenal, will aim to round off a successful couple of years in the U21 set-up by tasting success in the finals, which take place between 17-30 June. Should he be selected in the final 23, Jenkinson will meet up with the England squad on 2 June, for warm-up matches against the Republic of Ireland and Belarus prior to jetting out to the tournament,
There, England will face group games against Portugal on 18 June, Sweden on 21 June and Italy on 24 June. The top two in the group will then face a semi-final on 27 June, with the final taking place three days later. Gareth Southgate's men will be targeting a first success at the U21 Euros since 1984. The Young Lions were last finalists in 2009, when a Mesut Ozil-inspired Germany saw them off in the title-deciding game.
Jenkinson himself has ten U21 caps since making his debut at that level in 2013, having previously represented Finland at youth levels.
He also has one senior cap to his name, coming in a November 2012 friendly against Sweden. Meanwhile, Cheikhou Kouyate has been called up for Senegal's Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Burundi. Senegal begin their qualification campaign on 13 June with the home game against the central African nation, with Namibia and Niger making up the rest of their group. The finals will take place in Gabon in 2017.
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Local schools set for Premier League finals
WHUFC.com
Two sets of school teams will represent West Ham United at the eighth annual Premier League Schools Tournament after beating off fierce competition from other local schools.
St Edwards School will enter in the U11 mixed competition while Brampton Manor Academy will compete in the U13 division for girls.
The Premier League Schools Tournament is all about increasing participation in football for boys and girls, and offers schools nationwide the chance to team up with their local Premier League club. Each of the 20 Premier League clubs stage their own regional competition to select a school to represent them in the finals, which will be held at White Hart Lane on Thursday.
St Edwards School had a bumpy road to the Premier League National Finals. Playing their qualifying tournament in Newham, they were placed in a tough group but they progressed unbeaten to the Semi- Finals where they played last year's winners of this heat Whitebridge Junior School from Loughton. It was a hard fought game which ended in a draw but St Edwards kept their nerve in the penalty shootout which they won 2-1
This meant they progressed to the West Ham United Club Finals Day. After some tough games they found themselves in the Final lining up to face Thameside Primary School from Grays, who had the honour of representing West Ham at the Etihad last season. With a minute to go Thameside were leading 1-0 but a last minute equaliser took the Final to a nerve wrecking penalty shootout. The experience of having faced penalties in their Semi- Final win proved to be the difference for St Edwards's as they held their nerve to win 2-1.
Meanwhile, Brampton Manor Academy has worked with West Ham Foundation for the last two years, working alongside them on their Woman and Girls Programme delivering weekly sessions throughout the school years. Brampton Manor have entered West Ham United Foundation's Club qualifying tournament in the previous three years, losing out last year in the Final to Sydney Russell School. This season, Brampton Manor won the local tournament at Chobham Academy in February, beating Eastbury School in the Final on penalties after drawing 0-0 and finally realised their dream of making it to the Finals at White Hart Lane.
Captain Skye Pinches represents West Ham United Ladies at U13 level, whilst several other members of the team represent local football teams. Skye said "It is a dream to represent the Club I play for and have supported all my life. To show our talents in May against all the other Clubs will be a great memory for life".
An expected 1,000 spectators will fill the seats at White Hart Lane to see the Premier League Schools Tournament champions crowned and presented with a replica Premier League trophy.
All the students participating on the day will receive an authentic Premier League experience - wearing their Premier League club kit, using the Tottenham Hotspur dressing rooms, and walking out of the tunnel to the Premier League anthem, and even having their matches refereed by Premier League match officials.
The Schools Tournament will feature on a special episode of BBC Match of the Day Kickabout airing on 23 May at 7:40am and will then be available to watch on the BBC iPlayer
You can follow news on Twitter with hashtag #plschools.
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Teddy Sheringham: Stevenage set to appoint ex-England striker
BBC.co.uk
Stevenage are set to appoint Teddy Sheringham to replace outgoing manager Graham Westley after confirming they are talking to the ex-England striker. Westley's final game in charge was Boro's League Two play-off semi-final defeat by Southend and his contact at Broadhall Way ends on 31 May. It is 49-year-old Sheringham's first managerial job, having been West Ham attacking coach for the last 12 months.
The former Tottenham and Manchester United forward won 51 England caps. Sheringham, the oldest goalscorer and outfield player in Premier League history, had a 25-year playing career, which began at Millwall before spells at Nottingham Forest and Spurs. He spent four years at Manchester United, scoring an injury-time equaliser in their Champions League final victory over Bayern Munich in 1999. After returning to Tottenham, spells at Portsmouth, West Ham and Colchester followed before he retired aged 42 at the end of the 2007-08 season. Sheringham will come in to replace Westley, whose third spell as Boro manager is set to come to an end.
After spending three years in charge between 2003 and 2006, he returned to Boro in 2008 following a stint at Rushden & Diamonds, and led the club from the Conference into League One. He left for a brief unsuccessful spell at Preston, and returned to Broadhall Way in March 2013, but could not prevent his side being relegated from the third tier last season. Westley led Stevenage to the League Two play-offs this season, losing 4-2 on aggregate to Southend, and chairman Phil Wallace confirmed the 47-year-old would be leaving at the end of his contract. "Despite the utmost respect and appreciation I have for everything he's done for Stevenage FC, sometimes you have to accept that a business needs to change to refresh itself and evolve," he told the club website. "Sometimes that means management, sometimes it means owners and sometimes it means both."
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Sam's home vacated, but don't read anything into it
KUMb.com
Filed: Wednesday, 20th May 2015
By: Staff Writer
The Canary Wharf residence that Sam Allardyce has called home for the last few years will be vacated this weekend.
By the time West Ham kick off against Newcastle at James Park on Sunday afternoon Allardyce is expected to have moved out of his London home, leading to yet more speculation that the manager is on his way out of the club following Sunday's final game of the season at Newcastle.
However a spokesman for West Ham told the Standard's Ken Dyer today that the move had no bearing on Big Sam's future. "The apartment has been sold," they said. "Sam should have moved out last week but was given an extension. It would be a mistake to read too much into this."
Yesterday another national tabloid revealed that Allardyce had been contacting utility companies to arrange final meter readings ahead of his move. The 60-year-old is set to go on holiday next week, after tying up any loose ends at the club.
Allardyce - and more specifically, his wife Lynne - have been unhappy living in the capital for some time, KUMB understands. The favourite to replace him at the end of the season remains Rafa Benitez, despite the Napoli coach having apparently rejected the opportunity to return to London.
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We've waited a long, long time for this
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 20th May 2015
By: Staff Writer
Hull boss Steve Bruce might be forced to eat his words this weekend, should West Ham fail to do his current club Hull City a favour at Newcastle on Sunday afternoon. Twelve years ago in 2002/03, with West Ham on the cusp of relegation, Bruce - then manager of Birmingham City - admitted that he had waited "a long, long time" for the opportunity to gain revenge on the Hammers for denying his then-Manchester United side the Premiership title in the mid '90s.
"I remember losing the league title by drawing at West Ham," he said. "It's still in the back of my memory. I remember how delirious they all were, delighted at the way they denied us. I remember the way they were all whooping away. "They were all there really giving us the big high-fives down the tunnel just after we had lost the league. "I don't bear grudges but I've waited a long, long time for Sunday. I'm looking forward to it immensely. There is a bias in the media towards West Ham, the glamour club from London, and we live with that."
In order to stand a chance of avoiding relegation, Hull must beat Manchester United and hope that Newcastle fail to beat West Ham. Should both win, Sunderland need to take at least a point at Arsenal tonight or at Chelsea on Sunday to be safe.
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Mags ban social media ahead of Sunday's clash
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 20th May 2015
By: Staff Writer
Newcastle boss John Carver has banned his players from using social media in the run-up to this Sunday's do-or-die clash with West Ham at St James' Park.
Carver, whose side have taken just ONE point from their last TEN matches revealed he has imposed the 'media blackout' on his players ahead of a game they simply cannot afford to lose.
"I've had a chat with the guys and said try and stay off social media, stay off Twitter, keep off the internet," he said. "If you take your eye off the ball you get punished, and we've got to keep our focus sharp.
"It's still in our hands, and if you want it enough then you can do something about it."
As things stand should Newcastle fail to beat the Hammers on Sunday afternoon, a win for Hull at home to Manchester United would result in the Magpies falling through the trap door for the second time in the last six years.
And regardless of whether or not Newcastle manage to avoid the drop, their supporters have announced plans to stage a sit-in at St James' immediately after the game in protest at owner Mike Ashley's running of the club.
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West Ham considering Werder Bremen coach Viktor Skrypnyk as Sam Allardyce nears exit
08:56, 20 MAY 2015
BY ADRIAN KAJUMBA
The Ukrainian is a surprise new name in the frame, given the Hammers' preference for a boss with Premier League experience, after transforming Bremen's season
The Mirror
Werder Bremen coach Viktor Skrypnyk has been added to the list of managers being considered by West Ham in their search for a successor to Sam Allardyce. Ukrainian Skrypnyk is a surprise new name in the frame, given the Hammers' preference for a boss with Premier League experience, after transforming Bremen's season. Bremen were bottom of the league when Skrypnyk, 45, took over in October. But they have charged up the table under their former player and go into the final day of the Bundesliga season with a slim chance of claiming a Europa League place. Bremen will put up a fight to keep hold of their little-known but emerging boss. However they could also have to fend off Sunderland who are also considering Skrypnyk as a contender to replace Dick Advocaat if he leaves the Stadium of Light at the end of the season.
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David Moyes on West Ham's radar again with Sam Allardyce set to leave this summer
22:30, 19 MAY 2015
BY DARREN LEWIS
The Scot has stated he is staying with Spain's Real Sociedad for next season but the ambitious Hammers believe they can lure him away
The Mirror
West Ham have not given up on landing David Moyes as a replacement for Sam Allardyce. The Irons have had the Real Sociedad boss as their top target for some time with Big Sam set to leave when his contract expires at the end of the season. Former Everton and Manchester United manager Moyes signed an 18-month deal with the La Liga side last November, and has taken them from the relegation zone into mid-table. The Scot insisted earlier this month that he is staying in Spain amid interest from the Premier League. But the ambitious Hammers still believe they can tempt him away if they are unable to agree a new deal with Allardyce. The east Londoners are willing to once again make substantial funds available for new signings this summer as they bid to force their way up the table. Hammers chairman David Gold told fans on Twitter: "We will bring in at least five new players in the summer window."
Those recruits will include at least one new striker, as the club feel injuries and a lack of firepower cost them a place in the top eight. Napoli's ex-Liverpool and Chelsea boss Rafa Benitez has turned down interest from West Ham - because he believes he has a chance of succeeding Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid.
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West Ham boss Sam Allardyce contacts utility companies as he prepares to leave Upton Park
20:00, 19 MAY 2015
BY ADRIAN KAJUMBA
The Hammers boss has seen speculation continue to swirl with regards his future and the trip to Newcastle on Sunday is expected to be his final game
The Mirror
Sam Allardyce has been contacting utility companies giving final meter readings for his London flat as he prepares to leave West Ham.
Mirror Sport understands Allardyce has begun the process of moving out of his 40th floor Canary Wharf apartment ahead of what is expected to be his departure next week following the final game of the season. Hammers boss Allardyce's contract is up this summer and he has already set the wheels in motion to end his stay in his rented accommodation and removal companies have been contacted. Allardyce is due for talks with the board on Monday, once West Ham wrap up their campaign at Newcastle on Sunday. Allardyce looks resigned to his fate and the Hammers have not given up on landing David Moyes as his replacement. West Ham have had the Real Sociedad boss as their top target for some time. He signed an 18-month deal with Sociedad last November and has taken the club from the relegation zone into mid-table and the Scot insisted earlier this month that he was staying in Spain amid interest from he Premier League. But the ambitious east Londoners still believe they can tempt him away and are willing to once again make substantial funds available for new signings this summer as they bid to force their way even further up the table. Hammers chairman David Gold told fans on Twitter: "We will bring in at least five new players in the summer window." Those new players will include at least one new striker as the club feel injuries and their lack of firepower has cost them a place in the top eight.
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Hammers wait on OFFICIAL Rafa word
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on May 20, 2015 in Whispers
C AND H
West Ham have again made it clear that they have had no OFFICIAL word from Rafa Benitez that he is out of the running to become the club's next manager.
Whilst various media outlets have been reporting an Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio's view that he has turned the club down, a top Irons insider said: "That's all very premature and there seems to be a lot of weight being attached to it although it's not clear why.
"We have heard nothing and we would perhaps expect to ahead of a reporter.!
"Yesterday Jurgen Klopp was taking over t Real but there's been no official word on that or anything else. We won't be doing anything at all until we hear officially."
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Bilic not sacked say Besiktas
Posted by Sean Whetstone on May 20, 2015 in Whispers
C AND H
Besiktas have released a statement on their website this afternoon denying rumours that head coach Slaven Bilic has been sacked. The statement read: "Rumours that Besiktas have sacked Slaven Bilic are false, the board will hold a board meeting today." Reports in the Turkish press claimed that Besiktas had parted ways with Bilic however, the Croatian manager still has a year left on his contract.
Bilic did reveal on TV this week that he expects the board to fire him following the 1-0 defeat against Konyaspor. Besiktas crashed out of the title race following the loss against Koynaspor at the Osmanlı stadium in Ankara. The Istanbul based team take on Galatasaray on Sunday and Bilic will be in charge unless the board decide otherwise following their meeting.
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Gold: There is no money to be made from Europa
Posted by Sean Whetstone on May 20, 2015 in Whispers
C AND H
West Ham Co Chairman David has claimed there is no money to be from the Europa league until you reach the quarter finals.
Speaking via his twitter account Gold said "There is no money to be made from the Europa Cup unless you reach the 1/4 finals. PS. making money is not a sin. dg"
Interestingly UEFA has recently announced it will increase the financial rewards from playing in the Europa League by announcing prize money for the tournament will increase by 65 percent.
At the moment, clubs in the Champions League earn an average of 4 1/2 times as much as those playing in the Europa League, but in the future UEFA will fix the ratio at 3.3:1. Solidarity payments to those clubs who fail to qualify for the group stages will also rise significantly.
This is the current prize fund in Euros for the Europa league this season but this is set to increase by 65% this coming season that West Ham are likely to qualify for.
UEFA Europa League Prize Money Distribution 2014/2015
#NO Stages Earnings
1 First Qualifying round €120,000
2 Second Qualifying round €130,000
3 Third Qualifying round €140,000
4 Play-off round elimination €150,000
5 Base fee for group stage €1,300,000
6 Group match victory €200,000
7 Group match draw €100,000
8 Group winners €400,000
9 Group runners-up €200,000
10 Round of 32 €200,000
11 Round of 16 €350,000
12 Quarter-finals €450,000
13 Semi-finals €1,000,000
14 Losing finalist €2,500,000
15 Winners €5,000,000
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Irons join hunt for 'the new Zinedine Zidane'
Posted by Sean Whetstone on May 20, 2015 in Whispers
C AND H
Yoann Gourcuff has attracted interest from "at least 10" clubs as he nears the end of his Lyon contract, according to his representative. The 28-year-old playmaker has 31 France caps and will become be a free agent at the end of this season. The player has been dubbed "the new Zinedine Zidane"
Gourcuff's lawyer Didier Poulmaire told Le Parisien: "At least 10. "Very few players of Yoann's talent become free agents. In the context of financial fair play, it is an enormous opportunity. I have had interest from very big clubs."
He was named as France Football magazine's French player of the year for 2009 and joined Lyon in August 2010, but injuries have sidelined him for around half of the club's games since. Gourcuff made 19 appearances for Lyon this season, scoring three times and providing five assists. He is also a set piece specialist.
French website StarAfrica.Fr claim that West Ham have expressed an interest in the Lyon playmaker.
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Gold set on Europa League
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on May 20, 2015 in Whispers
C AND H
David Gold has assured the fans that West Ham will be taking the Fair Play route into Europe and that the club welcome the opportunity to compete in the early stages of the Europa Cup.
The club's co chairman – having listened to the debate among the fans on whether it's a good idea or not said: "We believe we owe it to our fans to take up the opportunity if it presents itself. We see it very much as an opportunity rather than a distraction. "
The Fair Play League is very tightly balanced with England having been guaranteed a place in the Europa League through it next season.
Barring an eventful final day at Newcastle the Hammers will be in Europe next term as Sam Allardyce takes charge of what looks certain to be his last game at Irons boss.
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Allardyce moves out of London flat
Posted by Sean Whetstone on May 20, 2015 in Whispers
C AND H
According to Ken Dyer in the London Evening Standard Sam Allardyce will move out of his Canary Wharf apartment on Friday, increasing speculation that his time at West Ham has come to an end.
Allardyce is due to go on holiday on Tuesday immediately following a board meeting on Monday reinforcing expectations that he will not be offered a new contract by West Ham.
However, a club source said: "The apartment has been sold. Sam should have moved out last week but was given an extension. It would be a mistake to read too much into this."
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Hammers deny manager link
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on May 20, 2015 in Whispers
C AND H
West Ham have denied that 45 year old Werder Bremen's Ukrainian coach Viktor Skrypnyk is on their wanted list to replace Sam Allardyce.
According to The Sun, Skrypnyk is now very much in the frame but a source inside the club denied the interest to ClaretandHugh this morning. The club are still waiting to see the outcome of the ,Real Madrid managerial hunt in which Rafa Benitez appears to be involved before making their next move. Jurgen Klopp was yesterday reported to have been offered a three year contract at the Bernebeu but this morning there are claims that these were rogue reports.
That may let Benitez back into the running and we were told: "Rafa remains our number one choice and we will do nothing until we discover what is happening in Madrid.
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REPORT: Allardyce contacts removal firms
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on May 20, 2015 in Whispers
C AND H
Sam Allardyce has reportedly been contacting utility companies giving final meter readings for his London flat as he prepares to leave West Ham.
Mirror Sport reports Allardyce has begun the process of moving out of his 40th floor Canary Wharf apartment ahead of an expected departure next week following the final game of the season.
According to the report the 60 year old manager has already set the wheels in motion to end his stay in his rented accommodation and removal companies have been contacted.
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The Ex-Files: Craig Forrest
Wednesday, 20th May 2015 12:46 by Blair Ferguson
Twtf.co.uk
In the 18th part of our regular series, The Ex-Files, Blair Ferguson caught up with giant Town and Canada goalkeeping legend Craig Forrest.
Craig Forrest is one of those players you look at and wonder how he ever managed to make his way into professional football.
Born in British Columbia, Canada, where the main sports were ice hockey and lacrosse, it seemed unlikely that he would make such an impact at a football club so far away from the place of his birth.
It was indirectly through playing lacrosse that the chance came for his first foray into football and the start of his journey to England.
"I was playing in the U13 Canadian Championship lacrosse tournament in Ontario and four or five of the lacrosse guys played in the football team which was a pretty strong side at that age," he explained.
"One of the players – he wasn't a goalkeeper in lacrosse but an outfield player – was the keeper for the football team. He couldn't get back for this tournament because his family was going to do an RV trip across Canada.
"So the team was short and they asked me if I was willing to give it a try even though I'd never done it before. And I did and I was terrible!
"But I enjoyed it at the same time and was intrigued by it and wanted to stay with it and they were happy to keep me on as a back-up when the other guy eventually came back.
"So I worked specifically with a goalkeeper trainer from that age quite heavily and things went well, to the point that when I was 15 I was in the provincial team, and when I was 16 I moved to England."
Until that time Forrest's only other sport was judo, which he thinks helped with "throwing himself about and hitting the deck", and it was the fortuitous meeting with a one-time Town youth player which saw football take him to England.
"I got really good advice from people in British Columbia, primarily a guy called Phil Trenter, who was actually from Ipswich and had moved over to Vancouver," Forrest recalled.
"Phil was great in saying that you need to get over there when you're 16 because you have potential and you want to be signed on potential, because if you go later then you have to be the finished deal which you probably won't be if you stay in Canada.
"So I left school a year early and moved to England and had a trial at Ipswich. I had a trial with West Brom set up and a trial with Dundee United, but I went to Ipswich first and after a couple of weeks they signed me."
Despite speaking the same language, his 1984 move to England was still a culture shock for Forrest, who paid his own way to Ipswich in accordance with the agreement with Town chief scout Ron Gray who set up his trial.
Once signed by Town a period of adjustment began. With communications technology not what they are now, Forrest's mum had to get a job just to pay for the $2 a minute phone calls to her son.
Something which struck the aspirant goalkeeper was the difference in attitude towards young players in England compared to how they were treated in Canada.
The man known as 'Stacks' said: "It was just the way at that age you are playing because it's fun and although you still enjoyed it and it was fun it was also very serious.
"It was a business, you needed to perform, you needed to show up, you needed to be punctual, you needed to be disciplined and all of these things that went along with it.
"Unlike in England where people are generally more honest to the youngsters, here they are always very positive and blowing smoke up people and as a decent athlete everyone is always fairly complimentary.
"You get to that position where you probably aren't the best in town and you're going to get told straight up in England that if you screw around you're gone fairly quickly.
"I think the first time I was ever told that was by Charlie Woods," he said laughing before preparing his finest impression for the former Town coach.
"'Lads you're going to be on the next plane home if you don't get it together!' So it became very serious and that was a little scary at 16."
Forrest heeded Woods's warnings and started to make his way towards the first team via a short loan spell at Colchester in the 1987/88 season where he achieved his goal of playing professional football in England, eventually going on to make 11 appearances for the U's.
Next, at the start of the 1988/89 campaign, came the opportunity to become Ipswich's number one ahead of previous incumbent Jon Hallworth, who was sold to Oldham later in the season. Forrest explains his reaction to finding out the news whilst back in Canada.
"I was feeling pretty good about myself and went home in the summer and got a call from Ipswich when I was in Vancouver that they intended to start me at the start of the season so to be ready.
"So I basically shit myself all summer long, which was fine! But when the Stoke game came along [on the first day of the season] it went really well, not so much the game but the preparation for it in the dressing and the great atmosphere and getting to play at that level, it was terrific.
"You're anticipating it and you're quite nervous, they've made a big decision, so you don't want to let anybody down and these sorts of things are going through your mind."
Even before making that first appearance at Stoke, which ended in a 1-1 draw, Forrest was aware he was stepping into a team that was coming off the back of a glorious era for Town and he outlines the pressure he felt at the club.
"When I arrived at Ipswich they were in the First Division and not many years off winning the UEFA Cup and the FA Cup," he said.
"I came in at a time after the golden generation and Ipswich fans had really high expectations and those expectations were very difficult to live up to because the players had been sold off.
"So those were tough times and it was a tough club to go to at that time because when I got in the first team we were in the second tier with the expectation that we should always be winning and be in the top flight.
"It was different than going to a club that had no history of winning major tournaments, Ipswich were the real deal."
That debut at the Victoria Ground was handed to him by then-boss John Duncan, who he says was "very supportive" and gave him "a lot of belief", but it was his successor John Lyall who he considers to be the best manager he ever worked under.
The former West Ham boss led the Blues to the old Second Division championship in 1991/92 with Forrest ever-present in goal.
He said: "To get back in the top flight where Ipswich deserved to be as a club was great. I would say he was the best manager I ever had. He read the game better than anyone I'd ever seen before.
"Just the way he saw the game as it developed, John Lyall was so far ahead of his day in the way he achieved success with what he had to work with. He just found a way.
"Sometimes he would come in the dressing room and guys would be like 'We should be doing this, why aren't we doing this?' and he would calmly come in, pour his cup of tea and then tell us how we were going to win the game and often he would find a way.
"Even when we went to Manchester United, we drew 1-1 and 0-0. I'm fairly sure in the 0-0 game we didn't even play a striker, he knew that they attacked from the flanks.
"He played Chris Kiwomya in a wide position so we had no strikers and we just stifled them and they ran out of ideas.
"It was amazing that he would come up with ideas and tactics that would actually work and it was the first time I'd seen someone try different things, because it was pretty static at the time with everyone playing 4-4-2, but he changed things round and confused some teams.
"He was terrific and was the major reason that we were promoted. We stayed in the Premier League for three years and they should of never let him go because he managed to keep us up."
Forrest's final boss at Ipswich was George Burley, a manager he thinks learnt a lot at the start of his time in charge as the Blues crashed out of the Premier League.
Talking about this stage of his Town career meant the inevitable discussion of the March 1995 9-0 defeat at Manchester United with some surprising relief on the day for Forrest.
"I enjoyed working under George Burley too, obviously a legendary player at Ipswich, but when he first arrived as manager I think he learnt a lot when he was there with us.
"Going down the road I think he learnt so much and became a great manager. But when he first came to us, like the Man U 9-0, the pre-match talk was 'They wont expect us to attack'. Well yeah, I guess they didn't!
"But after a few years I don't think he would get beaten 9-0 again, he just learned a lot over that period of time as anybody would.
"That game was tough, it keeps coming up especially when the day comes round. I did actually think when the game was being played that it was 10! So I was actually pretty happy they didn't hit double figures.
"It was difficult but as a goalkeeper if you play long enough you're going to get games like that and it's very humbling."
Despite the record-breaking defeat Forrest is adamant that given the opportunity he would go through it all again just to play in the top flight.
"I loved playing in the Premier League and if I had the chance tomorrow to go back to Old Trafford and get beaten 9-0 I would absolutely take that opportunity.
"The stadiums and the atmospheres were amazing and playing at that top level was always my goal, to play in arguably the best league in the world."
Late in his time at Town Forrest had the pleasure of witnessing the rise of a young Richard Wright. You get the impression that Forrest always knew Wright would be the man to replace him.
"A problem for me was going to play international football because somebody comes in, like Richard for instance. I was off playing for Canada and Richard comes in and I get back and they say 'The kid's done well, so we're leaving him in'.
"I understand that, it's a risk that I took and it can cost you and it's just how things work out sometimes.
"I had a really good relationship with Richard, I knew him when he was around 12-years-old and first started showing up at the club. He was the best 12-year-old goalkeeper I'd ever seen!
"I think he could have played in the first team and got through it quite easily at 13-years-old, he was unbelievable, unbelievable.
"I said at the time that this kid will play for England, no question about it and I'm just surprised that he didn't play more. He was a great kid and has a great family now."
With Forrest by now consigned to the bench, in March 1997 the opportunity came for him to join a star-studded Chelsea on loan and he got to experience a feeling he thinks all top keepers have when playing behind a team of stars.
"Mick McGiven – John Lyall's right-hand man – was at Chelsea at the time working as a coach and they had a couple of injuries and they needed some cover.
"Richard Wright was in the first team and Ipswich said that if I wanted to go there on loan then I could.
"It was great, it was amazing. In the first five-a-side I had Vialli was playing, Zola, Franck Leboeuf, player-manager Ruud Gullit, they were a real international team, it was insane and incredibly memorable.
"I would say that playing with that team was the only time in my career when I was behind a team and thought 'How can we possibly lose!'.
"That was the only time I felt that, I thought 'Now I know what it's like to be Iker Casillas or Peter Schmeichel!'. It's a totally different feeling.
"How can we possible lose this game!?" he laughed "Really? We are unbelievably good so we shouldn't lose!"
While he says that he would have stayed at Ipswich for his entire career if he could have, he enjoyed playing for his other clubs.
The opportunity to move to Chelsea on a permanent basis was offered, but the Ipswich board priced Forrest out of a move.
He explains: "Just at the end of my loan spell at Chelsea I had to go to Jamaica to play for Canada and the keepers were still injured and the week after I was coming back they had the FA Cup final.
"Gullit said 'We'll play you in that game and then talk to Ipswich and get the deal done and you can play in the FA Cup final against Middlesbrough'. There was no transfer window back then.
"But Ipswich tried to play hard ball and held them to ransom and Chelsea said 'We won't be held to ransom over the FA Cup final' and I didn't get to play in it.
"Not that I deserved to play in because I didn't play any of the other rounds, but after 13 years at Ipswich I thought 'Really guys? You could have helped me out there a little bit'.
"I spoke to Gullit after the FA Cup final and it was still their intention to bring me in and then one of his countrymen Ed de Goey became available and he saw him in South Africa or something like that and next thing you know I'd missed the boat."
London was still Forrest's destination despite the switch to Chelsea breaking down with the 6ft 5in tall keeper joining West Ham the following July.
"I was disappointed because of how well it went at Chelsea," he added. "But that's the way it works out.
"West Ham was a different opportunity and a club with a different feel from Ipswich because it was in London, it was just different.
"It was a great five years and I really enjoyed it, we had a great run and finished in the top 10 every year so there were no issues there and Upton Park was a fortress for us.
"We didn't have to worry about driving past the Boleyn pub on the corner of Green Street where they would jump on players' cars very often. That was the biggest worry!
"We had terrific characters like John Moncur, Neil Ruddock, Stuart Pearce, Nigel Winterburn, John Hartson, Rio Ferdinand, Frank Lampard, Michael Carrick, Glen Johnson, Joe Cole, it was unbelievable the young talent that club had.
"If they could only have kept them together, it would have been something special."
He continued: "Harry Redknapp had a great eye for players. He had no problem bringing in Paolo Di Canio, Neil Ruddock, Julian Dicks, John Hartson and the list goes on of tough characters to deal with.
"He had a knack of doing that which was very interesting, just be able to put a team together and knowing the pieces he needed to put them together."
Forrest enjoyed his time at West Ham but in 2001, while he was negotiating a contract extension, he discovered he had testicular cancer, which would ultimately end his career.
"It was a difficult time, I'm not going to lie," he said. "From a footballing point of view at least I was 35 and I'd been playing for a long time, I didn't want to retire and was sort of forced into it a little bit.
"Prior to getting testicular cancer I was negotiating a one-year extension at West Ham and me and my agent thought we could get a two-year deal because I was only 35.
"This was ongoing and there was no pressure or hurry but then I got testicular cancer and went away.
"When I came back we said that under the circumstances we wanted a two-year deal but I'd accept a one-year deal and prove I can play again and take it from there.
"But they said 'No, the deal isn't on the table any more, we're going to release you'."
This news came as a shock to Forrest who still thought he had more to offer and he felt let down by West Ham because they made it difficult for him to go anywhere else, as he explains.
"I felt disappointed because they backed me into a corner where all of a sudden I was damaged goods.
"Managers wanted to take a chance on me but nobody really wanted to because if something went wrong the warning signs were there and the chairman would go 'You brought in this guy, he just had cancer, what are you doing?' .
"So it put everybody in a difficult position so I wasn't feeling particularly great and I still hadn't gotten over the chemo treatment and the effects of that so I decided to retire."
Having returned to Canada there was an opportunity to make a comeback aged 39 with the fledgling Toronto FC MLS franchise in 2007, and although he attended a trial it was only to see if he could play at a professional level with no real intention of signing for the club.
In addition to his club career, Forrest featured and was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player in Canadian football's greatest success when he and future Town skipper Jason De Vos lifted – with a small amount of struggle – the 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup, which also got them an invitation to the Copa America.
"It's a big trophy!" he said laughing. "All cups should be massive and weigh about 200lbs!"
"In the programme they had us ranked 12th out of the twelve teams! We thought that was pretty funny and we didn't care.
"That was a great tournament and that also got us in the Confederations Cup in Japan, which was amazing.
"It also got us invited to the Copa America which was unbelievable and I was really looking forward to that, but it was in Columbia and at that time there was a lot of violence and drug cartels threatening to kill everybody and threatening to kill players.
"So our government withdrew us from that tournament so we didn't get to play in that.
"At that time I wasn't sure if we should go because it was really bad. I'd been in South and Central America before and been in positions where I didn't feel the authorities were completely in control of what was going on and I understood why we didn't go.
"But Honduras jumped in our spot, they were like 'It's worse in Honduras than it is there!'. I think they did quite well actually!"
As one of Canada's greatest ever footballers Forrest - he won 56 full caps - it was recently announced that he is to be inducted into the Canada Sports Hall of Fame, making him one of only five footballers ever to have been afforded the honour, which is a source of immense pride for a man who loved playing for his country.
"I heard they'd been talking about it and there are only five footballers in the Canada Sports Hall of Fame, two of them are women, so football doesn't get a lot of talk here.
"It was an honour because people recognised me in a culture where football isn't as important as ice hockey.
"I think it was because I played in arguably the best league in the world in a world sport and they saw a lot of value in that. Probably winning the Gold Cup had an effect because there was some exposure. It was a really great honour and I'm very proud of that."
The former keeper, now 47, is a pundit on Canadian television, a role he started preparing for during the 1998 World Cup, and one he is grateful to have because it keeps him in the game he loves.
"I knew there were some opportunities over here to do television and I was preparing myself years before when I did the 1998 World Cup and Euro 2000, so I got into it a little bit to see if I was any good at it and if I liked it and they liked me.
"Because I had that experience they were open to giving me a full-time position and I took it.
"I really do enjoy it, it's not the same buzz as playing, but there is something about doing live television that keeps you on edge because you don't know what's going to happen next and mistakes are going to happen and you have to do things on the fly. So I enjoy that side of things and it gives me a bit of a buzz that way.
"There are a lot of the professionals that get depression from having their umbilical cord cut from football completely because it's all they know.
"I can understand that and why they get really low. I've never had that happen to me because I've always had a connection to the sport and that has made retiring a lot easier because I'm still involved in the game."
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Wednesday, May 20
Daily WHUFC News - 20th May 2015
1965 European Cup Winners' Cup - 50 years on
WHUFC.com
West Ham United 2 TSV Munich 1860 0
Sealey 69, 71
European Cup Winners' Cup final
Wednesday 19 May 1965
Wembley Stadium
Attendance: 100,000
West Ham United: Jim Standen, Joe Kirkup, Jack Burkett, Martin Peters, Ken Brown, Bobby Moore, Alan Sealey, Ron Boyce, Geoff Hurst, Brian Dear, John Sissons
TSV 1860 Munich: Petar Radenković, Manfred Wagner, Hans Reich, Wilfried Kohlars, Stevan Bena, Otto Luttrop, Alfred Heiss, Hans Küppers, Rudi Brunnenmeier, Peter Grosser, Hans Rebele
Twelve months on from lifting the FA Cup, West Ham United were back under the Twin Towers for the European Cup Winners' Cup final. Their opponents were the German Cup winners TSV Munich 1860, a fine side who had defeated US Luxembourg, FC Porto, Legia Warsaw of Poland and Torino of Italy. As so seldom happens in the pressurised atmosphere of a final, both teams produced their best, sending the capacity 100,000 crowd home drooling over their collective skill and endeavour. Described as a 'magnificent game' that was a 'triumph for West Ham and a triumph for the game of football', the showpiece was marked by 90 minutes of 'bold and imaginative' play by both sets of players. Ron Greenwood's Hammers, in particular, were irresistible.
The Londoners created chance after chance. John Sissons missed an open goal, then hit the post. Geoff Hurst was twice denied by splendid saves from goalkeeper Petar Radenković. At the other end, Jim Standen was also called into action, saving acrobatically from Peter Grosser and Hans Kuppers. West Ham were the better side, however, and their superiority was rewarded twice in the space of three second-half minutes. Alan Sealey scored both, the first from Ronnie Boyce's pass and the second after Martin Peters knocked Bobby Moore's pass into his path four yards from goal. A little more than 20 minutes later and Moore was climbing the famous Wembley steps for the second time to raise a trophy for his team. Twelve months later, he would do so again, but that is another story altogether…
Ronnie Boyce
Ronnie Boyce took centre-stage at the Home of Football for a second time in May 1965 . Ronnie Boyce will forever be associated with scoring West Ham United's dramatic late winner in the 1964 FA Cup final win over Preston North End. Having clinched the Hammers' place in the European Cup Winners' Cup, 'Ticker' then played an influential role in helping West Ham lift a major trophy for the second season in succession. The tireless midfielder scored the first goal of West Ham's glorious run – the winner in the first round first-leg win over Belgian Cup winners La Gantoise at the Jules Ottenstadion on 23 September 1964 – and went on to play every minute down the road back to Wembley. Competitive European football may have been in its infancy, but Boyce and his teammates were already well-versed in traveling far and wide in Claret and Blue, having visited Costa Rica, Sweden, Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), Ghana, the United States, Austria and Germany since the 1960s had begun.
The American International Soccer League saw the Hammers take part in a round-robin competition in the summer of 1962 and 1963, but the European Cup Winners' Cup offered a different challenge in the shape of a two-legged straight knockout. "It was just two games, one at home and one away," Boyce confirmed. "We played some very reasonable sides. We played a Belgian side first, a Swiss side, that sort of thing. It was special for a lot of the players, to come away as winners was marvellous."
The crowning glory of West Ham's European adventure came at Wembley on 19 May 1965, when Boyce again played a starring role at the Home of Football. After 69 entertaining yet goalless minutes against German Cup holders TSV 1860 Munich, the No8 stole the ball in midfield, raced towards the penalty area and slipped a perfect pass right for Alan Sealey, who controlled before firing a rasping shot into the top corner to give West Ham the lead.
Moments later, Bobby Moore's free-kick was laid-off by Martin Peters and Sealey converted his second to seal the Londoners' success.
"The final was the best game I've ever been involved with," Boyce recalled, speaking 50 years on from his home in Norfolk. "It was a Wednesday evening at Wembley, a full house. "Munich were a very good side, full of internationals. Rudi Brunnenmeier was a great player, while their goalkeeper Petar Radenkovic was also very good. "My standout memory was Brian Dear, who came in for Johnny Byrne, got tackled by Radenkovic on the halfway line. Whenever I see Brian we have a laugh about it! "It was a great game of football, and Alan Sealey, god bless his soul, scored two good goals. It was very nice to be part of the first team that won a European cup for West Ham United."
Boyce became a firm favourite with West Ham fans for his team-first approach to his game. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that while he can recall the team's Wembley glory, he had completely forgotten that he finished as runner-up to Peters in the 1965 Hammer of the Year voting. "Was I runner-up? I don't remember that! What I mainly remember is just really enjoying my football. We had a great group of players who all enjoyed playing together. "Unfortunately there aren't as many of us left any more – Bobby has obviously gone, Johnny Byrne, Alan Sealey and a few others. It's important to remember all of us, even if there aren't many of us left!"
The way they played that Wednesday night at Wembley, Ronnie Boyce and his teammates will surely never be forgotten.
Geoff Hurst
Geoff Hurst says West Ham United's European Cup Winners' Cup success was the 'fulfilment of a dream'. Geoff Hurst will forever be synonymous with his FIFA World Cup final hat-trick of July 1966, but the striker also enjoyed a memorable – if goal-less – visit to Wembley 14 months previously. With Hurst deployed in a less familiar withdrawn role behind lone centre forward Johnny Byrne, outside right Alan Sealey took centre-stage by scoring both goals in a 2-0 European Cup Winners' Cup final win over TSV 1860 Munich. The victory capped a memorable nine-match run that many West Ham United fans could only have dreamed of when the club lifted the FA Cup in May 1964. In his autobiography 1966 And All That, however, Sir Geoff revealed that the Hammers' visionary manager Ron Greenwood had predicted that his team would go all the way again. "Could West Ham become the second English club to win a European crown? Ron thought so," Sir Geoff wrote. "He was convinced that at our best we would be a match for anyone in Europe. He personally watched our opposition as soon as each draw was made. He prepared a little dossier for the players, telling each what to expect from their opposite number."
The players themselves also took the opportunity to watch their eventual final opponents TSV 1860 Munich as early as the summer of 1964, when they watched a pre-season between the West German Cup winners and Chelsea, and again in their semi-final play-off with Italian side Torino in Zurich, Switzerland. "It's not often the manager has the chance to take his team to watch the opposition in action. From the players' point of view it gave us an invaluable insight into the individual strengths and weaknesses of the team we were going to face."
For Hurst himself, the only thing lacking from West Ham's glorious continental success was a goal. "I had played in all the European matches but it was becoming something of a frustration because I hadn't scored a single goal. This was partly because Ron felt some tactical modification was needed if we were to adapt successfully to the different challenges."
Those modifications saw both Bobby Moore and Ronnie Boyce play in a sweeper role, and Hurst himself – England's centre forward – in a deeper position behind a lone striker, Byrne, in the away ties and the final. Just as he would do more famously on 30 July 1966, Hurst enjoyed being part of an English team getting one over West German opponents. "The final itself was an unforgettable evening," he wrote. "It was a truly tremendous match, ranked by many as one of the best games ever played at Wembley. The Germans were well organised, defensively disciplined and technically accomplished, but we were the better side and some of the football we played was magnificent.
"Bobby had a great game that evening, so did Jack Burkett at left-back and Jim Standen in goal. The real hero, of course, was Alan Sealey. "You could argue that he provided Ron with the most glorious moment of his entire career. It wasn't just the result but the manner of our win that pleased him. He felt that his principles had been justified. We had shown that football, at its best, is a game of beauty and intelligence. "For Ron Greenwood, it was the fulfilment of a dream."
Alan Sealey
The late Alan Sealey was West Ham United's Wembley match-winner on 19 May 1965. The man who scored two of the most important goals in West Ham United's history is sadly no longer with us. Alan Sealey, who passed away in February 1996 at the age of 53, netted two outstanding strikes in the space of three second-half minutes at Wembley, securing the Hammers' victory and their first and, to date, only European trophy. Then just 23, Sealey had joined West Ham from Leyton Orient in 1961, working his way into Ron Greenwood's side as an outside right. Although never a prolific marksman, the Hampton-born player could always be relied upon to net his share, although he had scored just three in 29 appearances that season when the 1965 European Cup Winners' Cup final came around.
After a goalless but entertaining opening hour, West Ham struck two hammer blows in quick succession. First, Ronnie Boyce nipped in to steal possession on the edge of the centre circle before strolling forward and sliding the ball to Sealey, who took a touch and rifled a shot into the top right-hand corner – before celebrating with a forward roll that has gone down in Hammers folklore.
Moments later, victory was completed by the No7 was in the right place at the right time again when Bobby Moore's free-kick was knocked into his path by Martin Peters and the man nicknamed 'Sammy' swept home from no more than four yards. "I'm immensely proud of what he did," said Sealey's son Anthony. "It was a great achievement. It obviously takes eleven players to make a team but it just happened to be my Dad's night and it all came right for him. "If you knew my Dad, he wasn't really a boaster or a bragger, which in a lot ways probably didn't do him a lot of favours because he didn't shout his name from the rooftops because that wasn't the sort of person he was, but he basically lived out a dream that night. "I suppose it was one of those nights when everything went for him. You could just tell from the sound of his voice the buzz it must have given him."
Tragically, the striker suffered a broken leg in a freak training ground accident in the summer of 1965 which effectively ended his career at the highest level. Sealey would play just five more first-team games for the Hammers before departing the Club for Plymouth Argyle in 1967. After spells with non-league Romford and Bedford Town, he retired in 1969. "He was great around the Club, he was always chirpy and singing and got up to some incredible antics!" recalled teammate Brian Dear. "It was just unfortunate that he broke his leg. It was a freak accident at the training ground and he never came back after that. It was such a shame."
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Benitez turns down West Ham
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 19th May 2015
By: Staff Writer
Rafa Benitez has rejected the chance to join West Ham, according to reports from Italy. Well-placed journalist Gianluca Di Marzio is reporting tonight that the Spanish coach has turned down the chance to manage West Ham and is instead set for talks with Real Madrid - who German media reported earlier today are set to hire Dortmund boss Jurgen Klopp.
Gianluca Di Marzio
✔ @DiMarzio
#Benitez lontano da #Napoli: no al #WestHam, contatti in corso con il #RealMadrid http://gianlucadimarzio.com/news-cat/benitez-lontano-da-napoli-no-al-west-ham-contatti-in-corso-con-il-real-madrid/ … #gdm #gdmercato #WHUFC #RMCF
If news of Benitez's rejection proves to be correct it would represent a huge blow for West Ham's board, who have already been turned down by the likes of Klopp and fellow candidate David Moyes.
With Sam Allardyce set to leave the club next week following this Sunday's Premier League fixture with Newcastle, West Ham could be left in limbo just a matter of weeks before their 2015/16 Europa League campaign is set to commence.
And Benitez's withdrawal could leave current Marseille coach Marcelo Bielsa - who KUMB understands has already help preliminary talks with West Ham - as the clear favourite to replace Allardyce, who has been in the post for four years since succeeding Avram Grant.
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Sheringham set for Stevenage talks
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 19th May 2015
By: Staff Writer
Part-time attacking coach Teddy Sheringham has been given permission to speak with Stevenage FC regarding a managerial post. The 49-year-old is currently contracted to West Ham as a coach but is understood to have been given permission to speak with the League Two club, who are poised to part company with current manager Graham Westley when his contract expires at the end of May. Talk show host Ian Abrahams, who was spotted talking to Sheringham at the Boleyn on Saturday afternoon prior to the Everton clash claimed today (albeit indirectly) that the former Hammers and England striker had begun negotiations.
Sheringham has also been linked with the Portsmouth job in recent days, which tends to suggest that he will follow Sam Allardyce out of the Boleyn Ground at the end of the season. He re-joined West Ham last summer after Allardyce was instructed to hire an attacking coach.
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Klopp's the Real thing
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 19th May 2015
By: Staff Writer
Yesterday he was being linked with a move to Turkey - today Jurgen Klopp appears set to join Real Madrid... The current Dortmund manager is the hottest property in Europe presently and amongst many others, has been linked with a move to Upton Park in order to replace the outgoing Sam Allardyce. Yesterday it was reported by local media that Klopp had flown to Turkey in order to hold discussions with representatives of Fenerbahce. However reports from within Germany today suggest that the 47-year-old is set to be named as Carlo Ancelotti's replacement at the Santiago Bernabeu instead. Deutschland Radio report this lunchtime that Klopp has won the race to replace the Italian, who has been in charge at Madrid for the past two seasons. The source claims that he will sign a three-year contract worth in the region of €8 million per year. Klopp's main rival for the Real role is reported to be Napoli's Rafa Benitiez, who remains the favourite to replace Allardyce at the Boleyn Ground.
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Former Academy star ditched by Sky Blues
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 19th May 2015
By: Staff Writer
Former Hammers Academy member Blair Turgott has been released by Coventry City, just four months after signing on a free transfer.
20-year-old Turgott joined the League One side at the end of the January transfer window having been released on a free transfer by West Ham. However he made just three appearances for the Sky Blues before being told his short-term contract would not be extended.
Despite the disappointment, Turgott maintains he enjoyed his time at the club. Speaking to supporters via Twitter, he wrote: "I would like to thank everyone at Coventry City FC -staff, players and fans. Enjoyed my time and all the best in the future!"
The midfielder made just one first team appearance for West Ham during his time at the club, in the infamous 5-0 FA Cup defeat at Nottingham Forest in January 2014.
He has also spent time on loan with Colchester, Rotherham, Dagenham & Redbridge and Bradford, for whom he appeared as an unused substitute in the 2013 Capital One Cup Final at Wembley (which the Bantams lost 5-0 to Swansea).
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Teddy Sheringham to speak to Stevenage about manager's post
Last Updated: 19/05/15 5:16pm
SSN
West Ham have granted Teddy Sheringham permission to speak to League Two side Stevenage about the manager's job at Broadhall Way. Sheringham is currently an attacking coach at Upton Park and any deal with Stevenage would see the 49-year-old former Tottenham and Manchester United striker take his first job in management. Current Stevenage manager Graham Westley is out of contract this summer.
Sheringham retired from competitive football at the end of the 2007/08 season with Colchester at the age of 42. He scored 98 goals in two spells with Spurs, between which he won three Premier League titles, an FA Cup and the Champions League with Manchester United. He was capped 51 times by England, scoring 11 goals.
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Michael Laudrup dismisses West Ham link and wants job at 'big club'
Last Updated: 19/05/15 1:33pm
SSN
Michael Laudrup, who has been reportedly linked with the West Ham job, says he will not be returning to the Premier League this summer unless a "big club" comes calling. Laudrup, who left Swansea last year, is currently managing Lekhwiya in Qatar but there could be jobs available this summer on English soil with doubts surrounding the future of Sam Allardyce at West Ham and Newcastle United on the hunt for a new permanent manager. However, the former Danish international has set his heart on taking a job with bigger aspirations rather than a "mid-table" club. He told Spanish newspaper Marca: "It's a time when many rumours appear, but there is nothing concrete. I am in the process of renewing [my contract] with Lekhwiya, they want me here. I will decide it in two weeks. "I am not going to accept an offer from a mid-table club in England or Spain. They are experiences that I have already lived and, at this stage of my life as a coach, I look for new things. If a big club comes [calling], I will not say no to them, but I would like to try [coaching] in the United States if not given the opportunity."
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Sam Allardyce will discuss his future in Monday meeting
Last Updated: 19/05/15 1:26pm
SSN
Sam Allardyce's future at West Ham United will be resolved in a meeting next Monday, Sky Sports sources understand. Allardyce's contract runs out at the end of the season but as of yet he has still not been offered a new deal. The meeting will be with West Ham co-chairmen David Sullivan and David Gold, along with vice-chairwoman Karren Brady. West Ham are 11th in the Premier League and have won just three of their Premier League games this year. In March this year, Brady warned the manager that his team were "underachieving", but Allardyce said she was wrong and was quick to defend his players. Allardyce said earlier this week: "I've never heard them say I'm not doing a good job. I'll find out next week and then I can ask them why - see if they give me an honest answer. "We're 11th with 47 points so we've got to try and get that 50-point mark and hope it gets us to 10th. "Even if it doesn't it's still been an outstanding season and for me an outstanding three years back in the Premier League. I've only had to worry about relegation for about six weeks in three seasons."
The crucial meeting will take place the day after West Ham's last game of the season, away at Newcastle United. Victory could see Allardyce consign his former club to relegation and perhaps secure his future at Upton Park. Napoli manager Rafa Bentiez is currenly odds-on favourite to replace Allardyce.
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THE FINAL STRAW
By Brian Williams 19 May 2015 at 08:00
West Ham till I Die
Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone,
Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone…
There is, admittedly, no evidence to suggest that WH Auden supported West Ham – even though he was clearly acquainted with a dog from Barking. But I can't help thinking he wrote that line about stopping the clocks after a visit to Upton Park. I suggest that in future all timepieces are halted after 89 minutes, at which point the referee is obliged to blow the final whistle and call a halt to proceedings.
Had that been the drill this year, West Ham would be several points better off and I would be considerably less brassed off.
To be frank, I think Romelu Lukaku's stoppage-time goal on Saturday was distinctly inconsiderate in the circumstances. I know we had won the real contest – the battle of the yellow cards – but, even so, there are still some people with a taste for minor detail who take an interest in the score itself. The end-of-season party that is part and parcel of the last home game was left more than a little flat by Lukaku's intervention. Not least because a majority of the West Ham faithful got up and cleared off when he scored.
The only consolation, I suppose, is that it wasn't our last game ever at the Boleyn Ground. Imagine that is the way it all ends this time next year. It doesn't bear thinking about.
We should all be used it by now, of course. The opening game of this season gave us a taste of what was to come.
You will recall it was against our old friends from Tottenham. You will also no doubt remember that Mark Noble missed a penalty and we outplayed their 10 men without scoring until The Ginger Pele sportingly decided to even things up by getting himself sent off in the second half. The trouble with some people is that you show them a spot of decent East End hospitality and then they take a right liberty. There is no other way to describe the way Eric Dier, who is actually supposed to be a defender, found himself at the wrong end of the pitch and scored for Spurs in stoppage time. That's nothing short of bad manners in my book.
As the season went on, and we started beating the likes of Liverpool and Man City, we all got lulled into a false sense of security about just what the footballing gods can do to you when they are feeling mischievous. True, referees weren't exactly falling over themselves to give us the benefit of any doubt that might be going in the decision-making department, but neither did we concede any more gut-wrenching last minute goals. Then we played host to Manchester United at the beginning of February.
Exactly why officials bother with an actual figure for time added on when any team is leading against the Mancs beats me. They might just as well flash up a sign on the big screens saying: "We will now continue playing until Man Utd equalise. Sorry if you have a bus to catch."
In a strange sort of way it would be better if they just said: "Next goal wins it." That's what we used to do as kids after one of those epic lunchtime encounters in the playground when the bell went for afternoon lessons and both sides were still arguing about whether the score was 13-all or 13-12. It was either next goal wins it, or the two captains had to sort it out in the bikesheds in the traditional manner after school.
As I was often one of the captains, I never much cared for the latter option. Like Seventies icon Gilbert O'Sullivan, I've always seen myself as a writer, not a fighter. The reason I was captain more regularly than most had very little to do with my prowess on the football pitch itself, I hasten to add. If two other lads were picking the sides I was never quite left with the fat kid and the boy who had sticking plaster over one half of his spectacles, but neither was I anyone's first choice.
I decided to get myself a more prominent role by providing a trophy that we could play for each lunchtime. The only condition was that, as it was my cup, I had to be one of the team captains.
Never having been very adept at making things myself, I enlisted the help of my Dad. It was my design – I'm not going to let him take the credit for that. But he was the one who actually glued the upturned saucer, cotton reels and teacup-minus-handle together, then neatly covered it all in tin foil. (I don't think he trusted me with Araldite.) And very popular it was, too. Let's face it, everyone wants to see a bit of silverware in the trophy cabinet – even if you do have to hand it back and fight for it all over again the following day.
Incidentally, if I may digress for a moment, we used a system called "bunny rabbit" to decide who had first pick. The two captains – one was bunny, the other rabbit – stood a few feet apart and took alternate heel-to-toe steps towards one another until one of the lads was no longer able to put his whole foot in the space that was left. The other boy got the honour of making the first selection. Was that the way you did at your school? As someone who has a taste for trivia, I'd love to know of alternative methods.
Sorry, where was I? Oh yes. Daley Blind's goal in the 23rd minute of time added on for injury to Manchester United's pride for the way we'd outplayed them so comprehensively for the entire afternoon.
I think we can spare ourselves the heartache of reliving Tottenham's stoppage-time equaliser at White Hart Lane a fortnight later, having been 2-0 up with nine minutes left to play. Although quite why a player with Alex Song's experience felt the need to put his hands on Harry Kane the way he did is beyond me. For the record, it is only right to gazette the fact that Adrian saved the resultant penalty – only for Kane to convert the rebound with what turned out to be the last kick of the game. Did I say the gods could be mischievous? Malicious, more like.
And we certainly don't want to rake up Stoke's injury-time sickener – the one that Sam Allardyce put down to "nerves and panic." Given that Marko Arnautovic had seen two efforts ruled out for offside before he finally smashed the ball home legitimately, you could possibly add "stupidity" to the Allardyce analysis.
Ah well, I suppose that's what you get for supporting West Ham.
Blimey, is that the time? We are now approaching the final minute of this column, so I am going to have to end it here. Sorry if that seems a bit abrupt. But a last-gasp leveller by Claret and Hugh really would be the final straw.
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Irons track 'new Michael Essien'
Posted by Sean Whetstone on May 19, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
West Ham are said to be taking a keen interest in 18-year-old Cagliari midfielder and right-back, Godfred Donsah who has been compared to his fellow Ghanaian Michael Essien. According to www.calciomercato.com West Ham have joining other Premier League clubs taking a keen interest in the youngster. Donsah has made 21 Serie A appearances this season for Cagliari scoring twice. He previously played for Palermo and Verona. He has been reguarly scouted by Manchester City, Liverpool, Spurs, Liverpool and Arsenal Earlier this year Donsah previously said "I feel good at Cagliari – we are doing well. I am inspired by Michael Essien. He is my role model." Agent Oliver Arthur added: "There's lots of interest in Donsah right now, especially from clubs in the UK. "Manchester City, Liverpool, Tottenham, and Arsenal have made official enquiries about him. For now, they are scouting him, and there is nothing concrete."
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Report:Hammers to axe Sam after Newcastle
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on May 19, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
Sam Allardyce is today reported as West Ham history. The Telegraph is reporting on line that he will be told his time in charge of the club will be relayed to him within 24 hours of Sunday's game against Newcastle. Whilst ClaretandHugh was told yesterday the meeting was due next week, The Telegraph is claiming the board will inform him his contract will not be renewed before he heads off on holiday next Tuesday. The manager apparently expects the decision despite the fact that neither the Dvids or Karren Brady are ready to make a formal announcement ahead of the game at St James' Park. The three are known to be hunting for a manager and Allardyce now seems totally aware of the position and is resigned to the fact that his time as West Ham manager is at an end.
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Reid "been there…done that " in Europa
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on May 19, 2015 in Whispers
Claret 7 Hugh
Winston Reid will know exactly what to expect if the Irons start out on a qualifying Europa Cup in July because he's been there and done that! The central defender was involved hen at Midtjylland in Denmark, and ran into Manchester City in the early stages. Talking to London 24.com he said: "There are no easy games, it is tough. The club has to be ready, you can't just go out there an put a willy-nilly team out there. "When I was in Denmark, the season had already started in July, but the Premier League won't have started and we might be coming up against teams who may have already started their season." He is pragmatic about qualifying through the Fair Play League saying: "Whatever way you get in, it doesn't matter I guess.. "You are in the hat like everyone else and it is something the players should look forward to, especially the younger players, but also those who haven't played in Europe before." He added:"It is obviously one of those things that the club and the players would look forward to, but it is going to take a massive effort from the squad to all pull together. "European games means more matches and also starting the season earlier, but I guess we will have to cross that bridge when we come to it."
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Bilic expects to leave Besiktas
Posted by Sean Whetstone on May 19, 2015 in Whispers
C AND H
Former Hammer Slaven Bilic has revealed he expects Besiktas to let him leave this summer after taking charge in the summer of 2013.
Besiktas currently sit third in the Turkish Super Lig, seven points adrift of leaders Galatasaray and Bilic has told Liga TV that he expects Besiktas to move in a different direction this summer. He said: "My intention was to stay here. Now I don't know if this is possible. The responsibility for the defeats is all mine," he said after the 0-1 loss to Konyaspor on Monday. "I am going to sit down with the management. But I know how football works, especially in Turkey. I don't see myself being given a chance to manage Besiktas next season." The Croatian, who has also managed Lokomotiv Moscow, Hajduk Split and the Croatian national team, spent eighteen months as a Hammer before moving on to Everton in 1997. Bilic is rumoured to be on a West Ham managerial shortlist and is considered second favourite by many bookies at odds as short as 4/1. Although he has no Premier League experience which might be seen by the board as a gamble the Croatian is used to working as a coach and leaving transfer negotiations to others which would suit Chairman David Sullivan down to the ground.
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Irons linked with Marseille free agent
Posted by Sean Whetstone on May 19, 2015 in Whispers
C AND H
West Ham have been linked once again to Marseille winger Andre Ayew who has been linked with the club for the past three years. One tabloid claims we are in early talks with his agent with regards to a possible move this summer. The Ghana international is out of contract at Marseille at the end of the season so will be available on a free transfer. According to The Sun, the Hammers have recently met up with the 25-year-old's agent. Ayew has scored 13 goals for his club this season and celebrated his final days with Marseille by being named the best African player in Ligue 1 on Monday.
Ayew was last linked in the January transfer window when it was said West Ham would use their close relationship with Marseille wheeler and dealer Willie McKay will help land Andre Ayew. Back in 2012 when was first linked with the club Ayew told Sky Sports: "We are always interested playing one day abroad, there is no official offer from West Ham but if such a possibility could arrive, we will talk about with our advisers. West Ham is an excellent team."
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West Ham chief gives Jenkinson update and promises 'at least' five signings
12:58 19 May 2015 Jack Green
London 24
West Ham co-owner David Gold plans to bring in at least five new players at Upton Park this summer, and Carl Jenkinson could be one of them. The on-loan Arsenal full-back has been impressive for the Hammers this season and looks likely to make the move permanent at the end of the season. Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has said he is keen to hold on to the 23-year-old, but with Hector Bellerin, Mathieu Debuchy and Calum Chambers in the squad the Gunners are strong at right-back. A price tag in the region of £10m has been suggested for Jenkinson, and Gold has admitted on Twitter that he could be among the players the club signs this summer. "I'm optimistic for next season. Andy Carroll, Diafra Sakho and James Tomkins back plus at least five new faces," he tweeted. When asked if the "new faces" ruled out Jenkinson, he responded: "No but we have to wait and see. "We will bring in at least five new players in the summer window."
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Sam Allardyce to leave West Ham 24 hours after final game of the season
Manager's fate will be sealed at a meeting with the club's board the day after the Premier League match at Newcastle this weekend
Telegraph.co.uk
By Matt Law
8:06AM BST 19 May 2015
Sam Allardyce's West Ham United exit is due to be confirmed less than 24 hours after the final game of the season against Newcastle United. West Ham owners David Sullivan and David Gold, together with vice-chairman Karren Brady, are scheduled to meet manager Allardyce on Monday, when it is expected the 60-year-old's departure will be rubber-stamped. Sullivan and Gold have maintained that no decision will be finalised before the meeting, but Allardyce expects to leave the club when his contract expires at the end of this season.
Allardyce is due to go on holiday next Tuesday and is aware West Ham have been working on a list of potential new managers to take them into the Olympic Stadium.
• Who will be the next West Ham manager?
David Moyes has always been the first choice of Sullivan and Gold, but, with the former Everton and Manchester United manager insisting he has no immediate plans to leave Real Sociedad, Rafael Benítez is their next option. There have been conflicting reports from Italy over the future of Benítez at Napoli, but that should become much clearer once it is decided whether the Italian club qualify for the Champions League. With the top three qualifying for the Champions League, Napoli are fourth in the Serie A table behind Lazio, who they play on the final day of the season on May 31. Should Benítez, the former Liverpool and Chelsea manager, remain at Napoli or reject the West Ham job, the club would move down their list of targets by considering Slaven Bilic or Michael Laudrup.
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WHUFC.com
West Ham United 2 TSV Munich 1860 0
Sealey 69, 71
European Cup Winners' Cup final
Wednesday 19 May 1965
Wembley Stadium
Attendance: 100,000
West Ham United: Jim Standen, Joe Kirkup, Jack Burkett, Martin Peters, Ken Brown, Bobby Moore, Alan Sealey, Ron Boyce, Geoff Hurst, Brian Dear, John Sissons
TSV 1860 Munich: Petar Radenković, Manfred Wagner, Hans Reich, Wilfried Kohlars, Stevan Bena, Otto Luttrop, Alfred Heiss, Hans Küppers, Rudi Brunnenmeier, Peter Grosser, Hans Rebele
Twelve months on from lifting the FA Cup, West Ham United were back under the Twin Towers for the European Cup Winners' Cup final. Their opponents were the German Cup winners TSV Munich 1860, a fine side who had defeated US Luxembourg, FC Porto, Legia Warsaw of Poland and Torino of Italy. As so seldom happens in the pressurised atmosphere of a final, both teams produced their best, sending the capacity 100,000 crowd home drooling over their collective skill and endeavour. Described as a 'magnificent game' that was a 'triumph for West Ham and a triumph for the game of football', the showpiece was marked by 90 minutes of 'bold and imaginative' play by both sets of players. Ron Greenwood's Hammers, in particular, were irresistible.
The Londoners created chance after chance. John Sissons missed an open goal, then hit the post. Geoff Hurst was twice denied by splendid saves from goalkeeper Petar Radenković. At the other end, Jim Standen was also called into action, saving acrobatically from Peter Grosser and Hans Kuppers. West Ham were the better side, however, and their superiority was rewarded twice in the space of three second-half minutes. Alan Sealey scored both, the first from Ronnie Boyce's pass and the second after Martin Peters knocked Bobby Moore's pass into his path four yards from goal. A little more than 20 minutes later and Moore was climbing the famous Wembley steps for the second time to raise a trophy for his team. Twelve months later, he would do so again, but that is another story altogether…
Ronnie Boyce
Ronnie Boyce took centre-stage at the Home of Football for a second time in May 1965 . Ronnie Boyce will forever be associated with scoring West Ham United's dramatic late winner in the 1964 FA Cup final win over Preston North End. Having clinched the Hammers' place in the European Cup Winners' Cup, 'Ticker' then played an influential role in helping West Ham lift a major trophy for the second season in succession. The tireless midfielder scored the first goal of West Ham's glorious run – the winner in the first round first-leg win over Belgian Cup winners La Gantoise at the Jules Ottenstadion on 23 September 1964 – and went on to play every minute down the road back to Wembley. Competitive European football may have been in its infancy, but Boyce and his teammates were already well-versed in traveling far and wide in Claret and Blue, having visited Costa Rica, Sweden, Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), Ghana, the United States, Austria and Germany since the 1960s had begun.
The American International Soccer League saw the Hammers take part in a round-robin competition in the summer of 1962 and 1963, but the European Cup Winners' Cup offered a different challenge in the shape of a two-legged straight knockout. "It was just two games, one at home and one away," Boyce confirmed. "We played some very reasonable sides. We played a Belgian side first, a Swiss side, that sort of thing. It was special for a lot of the players, to come away as winners was marvellous."
The crowning glory of West Ham's European adventure came at Wembley on 19 May 1965, when Boyce again played a starring role at the Home of Football. After 69 entertaining yet goalless minutes against German Cup holders TSV 1860 Munich, the No8 stole the ball in midfield, raced towards the penalty area and slipped a perfect pass right for Alan Sealey, who controlled before firing a rasping shot into the top corner to give West Ham the lead.
Moments later, Bobby Moore's free-kick was laid-off by Martin Peters and Sealey converted his second to seal the Londoners' success.
"The final was the best game I've ever been involved with," Boyce recalled, speaking 50 years on from his home in Norfolk. "It was a Wednesday evening at Wembley, a full house. "Munich were a very good side, full of internationals. Rudi Brunnenmeier was a great player, while their goalkeeper Petar Radenkovic was also very good. "My standout memory was Brian Dear, who came in for Johnny Byrne, got tackled by Radenkovic on the halfway line. Whenever I see Brian we have a laugh about it! "It was a great game of football, and Alan Sealey, god bless his soul, scored two good goals. It was very nice to be part of the first team that won a European cup for West Ham United."
Boyce became a firm favourite with West Ham fans for his team-first approach to his game. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that while he can recall the team's Wembley glory, he had completely forgotten that he finished as runner-up to Peters in the 1965 Hammer of the Year voting. "Was I runner-up? I don't remember that! What I mainly remember is just really enjoying my football. We had a great group of players who all enjoyed playing together. "Unfortunately there aren't as many of us left any more – Bobby has obviously gone, Johnny Byrne, Alan Sealey and a few others. It's important to remember all of us, even if there aren't many of us left!"
The way they played that Wednesday night at Wembley, Ronnie Boyce and his teammates will surely never be forgotten.
Geoff Hurst
Geoff Hurst says West Ham United's European Cup Winners' Cup success was the 'fulfilment of a dream'. Geoff Hurst will forever be synonymous with his FIFA World Cup final hat-trick of July 1966, but the striker also enjoyed a memorable – if goal-less – visit to Wembley 14 months previously. With Hurst deployed in a less familiar withdrawn role behind lone centre forward Johnny Byrne, outside right Alan Sealey took centre-stage by scoring both goals in a 2-0 European Cup Winners' Cup final win over TSV 1860 Munich. The victory capped a memorable nine-match run that many West Ham United fans could only have dreamed of when the club lifted the FA Cup in May 1964. In his autobiography 1966 And All That, however, Sir Geoff revealed that the Hammers' visionary manager Ron Greenwood had predicted that his team would go all the way again. "Could West Ham become the second English club to win a European crown? Ron thought so," Sir Geoff wrote. "He was convinced that at our best we would be a match for anyone in Europe. He personally watched our opposition as soon as each draw was made. He prepared a little dossier for the players, telling each what to expect from their opposite number."
The players themselves also took the opportunity to watch their eventual final opponents TSV 1860 Munich as early as the summer of 1964, when they watched a pre-season between the West German Cup winners and Chelsea, and again in their semi-final play-off with Italian side Torino in Zurich, Switzerland. "It's not often the manager has the chance to take his team to watch the opposition in action. From the players' point of view it gave us an invaluable insight into the individual strengths and weaknesses of the team we were going to face."
For Hurst himself, the only thing lacking from West Ham's glorious continental success was a goal. "I had played in all the European matches but it was becoming something of a frustration because I hadn't scored a single goal. This was partly because Ron felt some tactical modification was needed if we were to adapt successfully to the different challenges."
Those modifications saw both Bobby Moore and Ronnie Boyce play in a sweeper role, and Hurst himself – England's centre forward – in a deeper position behind a lone striker, Byrne, in the away ties and the final. Just as he would do more famously on 30 July 1966, Hurst enjoyed being part of an English team getting one over West German opponents. "The final itself was an unforgettable evening," he wrote. "It was a truly tremendous match, ranked by many as one of the best games ever played at Wembley. The Germans were well organised, defensively disciplined and technically accomplished, but we were the better side and some of the football we played was magnificent.
"Bobby had a great game that evening, so did Jack Burkett at left-back and Jim Standen in goal. The real hero, of course, was Alan Sealey. "You could argue that he provided Ron with the most glorious moment of his entire career. It wasn't just the result but the manner of our win that pleased him. He felt that his principles had been justified. We had shown that football, at its best, is a game of beauty and intelligence. "For Ron Greenwood, it was the fulfilment of a dream."
Alan Sealey
The late Alan Sealey was West Ham United's Wembley match-winner on 19 May 1965. The man who scored two of the most important goals in West Ham United's history is sadly no longer with us. Alan Sealey, who passed away in February 1996 at the age of 53, netted two outstanding strikes in the space of three second-half minutes at Wembley, securing the Hammers' victory and their first and, to date, only European trophy. Then just 23, Sealey had joined West Ham from Leyton Orient in 1961, working his way into Ron Greenwood's side as an outside right. Although never a prolific marksman, the Hampton-born player could always be relied upon to net his share, although he had scored just three in 29 appearances that season when the 1965 European Cup Winners' Cup final came around.
After a goalless but entertaining opening hour, West Ham struck two hammer blows in quick succession. First, Ronnie Boyce nipped in to steal possession on the edge of the centre circle before strolling forward and sliding the ball to Sealey, who took a touch and rifled a shot into the top right-hand corner – before celebrating with a forward roll that has gone down in Hammers folklore.
Moments later, victory was completed by the No7 was in the right place at the right time again when Bobby Moore's free-kick was knocked into his path by Martin Peters and the man nicknamed 'Sammy' swept home from no more than four yards. "I'm immensely proud of what he did," said Sealey's son Anthony. "It was a great achievement. It obviously takes eleven players to make a team but it just happened to be my Dad's night and it all came right for him. "If you knew my Dad, he wasn't really a boaster or a bragger, which in a lot ways probably didn't do him a lot of favours because he didn't shout his name from the rooftops because that wasn't the sort of person he was, but he basically lived out a dream that night. "I suppose it was one of those nights when everything went for him. You could just tell from the sound of his voice the buzz it must have given him."
Tragically, the striker suffered a broken leg in a freak training ground accident in the summer of 1965 which effectively ended his career at the highest level. Sealey would play just five more first-team games for the Hammers before departing the Club for Plymouth Argyle in 1967. After spells with non-league Romford and Bedford Town, he retired in 1969. "He was great around the Club, he was always chirpy and singing and got up to some incredible antics!" recalled teammate Brian Dear. "It was just unfortunate that he broke his leg. It was a freak accident at the training ground and he never came back after that. It was such a shame."
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Benitez turns down West Ham
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 19th May 2015
By: Staff Writer
Rafa Benitez has rejected the chance to join West Ham, according to reports from Italy. Well-placed journalist Gianluca Di Marzio is reporting tonight that the Spanish coach has turned down the chance to manage West Ham and is instead set for talks with Real Madrid - who German media reported earlier today are set to hire Dortmund boss Jurgen Klopp.
Gianluca Di Marzio
✔ @DiMarzio
#Benitez lontano da #Napoli: no al #WestHam, contatti in corso con il #RealMadrid http://gianlucadimarzio.com/news-cat/benitez-lontano-da-napoli-no-al-west-ham-contatti-in-corso-con-il-real-madrid/ … #gdm #gdmercato #WHUFC #RMCF
If news of Benitez's rejection proves to be correct it would represent a huge blow for West Ham's board, who have already been turned down by the likes of Klopp and fellow candidate David Moyes.
With Sam Allardyce set to leave the club next week following this Sunday's Premier League fixture with Newcastle, West Ham could be left in limbo just a matter of weeks before their 2015/16 Europa League campaign is set to commence.
And Benitez's withdrawal could leave current Marseille coach Marcelo Bielsa - who KUMB understands has already help preliminary talks with West Ham - as the clear favourite to replace Allardyce, who has been in the post for four years since succeeding Avram Grant.
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Sheringham set for Stevenage talks
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 19th May 2015
By: Staff Writer
Part-time attacking coach Teddy Sheringham has been given permission to speak with Stevenage FC regarding a managerial post. The 49-year-old is currently contracted to West Ham as a coach but is understood to have been given permission to speak with the League Two club, who are poised to part company with current manager Graham Westley when his contract expires at the end of May. Talk show host Ian Abrahams, who was spotted talking to Sheringham at the Boleyn on Saturday afternoon prior to the Everton clash claimed today (albeit indirectly) that the former Hammers and England striker had begun negotiations.
Sheringham has also been linked with the Portsmouth job in recent days, which tends to suggest that he will follow Sam Allardyce out of the Boleyn Ground at the end of the season. He re-joined West Ham last summer after Allardyce was instructed to hire an attacking coach.
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Klopp's the Real thing
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 19th May 2015
By: Staff Writer
Yesterday he was being linked with a move to Turkey - today Jurgen Klopp appears set to join Real Madrid... The current Dortmund manager is the hottest property in Europe presently and amongst many others, has been linked with a move to Upton Park in order to replace the outgoing Sam Allardyce. Yesterday it was reported by local media that Klopp had flown to Turkey in order to hold discussions with representatives of Fenerbahce. However reports from within Germany today suggest that the 47-year-old is set to be named as Carlo Ancelotti's replacement at the Santiago Bernabeu instead. Deutschland Radio report this lunchtime that Klopp has won the race to replace the Italian, who has been in charge at Madrid for the past two seasons. The source claims that he will sign a three-year contract worth in the region of €8 million per year. Klopp's main rival for the Real role is reported to be Napoli's Rafa Benitiez, who remains the favourite to replace Allardyce at the Boleyn Ground.
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Former Academy star ditched by Sky Blues
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 19th May 2015
By: Staff Writer
Former Hammers Academy member Blair Turgott has been released by Coventry City, just four months after signing on a free transfer.
20-year-old Turgott joined the League One side at the end of the January transfer window having been released on a free transfer by West Ham. However he made just three appearances for the Sky Blues before being told his short-term contract would not be extended.
Despite the disappointment, Turgott maintains he enjoyed his time at the club. Speaking to supporters via Twitter, he wrote: "I would like to thank everyone at Coventry City FC -staff, players and fans. Enjoyed my time and all the best in the future!"
The midfielder made just one first team appearance for West Ham during his time at the club, in the infamous 5-0 FA Cup defeat at Nottingham Forest in January 2014.
He has also spent time on loan with Colchester, Rotherham, Dagenham & Redbridge and Bradford, for whom he appeared as an unused substitute in the 2013 Capital One Cup Final at Wembley (which the Bantams lost 5-0 to Swansea).
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Teddy Sheringham to speak to Stevenage about manager's post
Last Updated: 19/05/15 5:16pm
SSN
West Ham have granted Teddy Sheringham permission to speak to League Two side Stevenage about the manager's job at Broadhall Way. Sheringham is currently an attacking coach at Upton Park and any deal with Stevenage would see the 49-year-old former Tottenham and Manchester United striker take his first job in management. Current Stevenage manager Graham Westley is out of contract this summer.
Sheringham retired from competitive football at the end of the 2007/08 season with Colchester at the age of 42. He scored 98 goals in two spells with Spurs, between which he won three Premier League titles, an FA Cup and the Champions League with Manchester United. He was capped 51 times by England, scoring 11 goals.
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Michael Laudrup dismisses West Ham link and wants job at 'big club'
Last Updated: 19/05/15 1:33pm
SSN
Michael Laudrup, who has been reportedly linked with the West Ham job, says he will not be returning to the Premier League this summer unless a "big club" comes calling. Laudrup, who left Swansea last year, is currently managing Lekhwiya in Qatar but there could be jobs available this summer on English soil with doubts surrounding the future of Sam Allardyce at West Ham and Newcastle United on the hunt for a new permanent manager. However, the former Danish international has set his heart on taking a job with bigger aspirations rather than a "mid-table" club. He told Spanish newspaper Marca: "It's a time when many rumours appear, but there is nothing concrete. I am in the process of renewing [my contract] with Lekhwiya, they want me here. I will decide it in two weeks. "I am not going to accept an offer from a mid-table club in England or Spain. They are experiences that I have already lived and, at this stage of my life as a coach, I look for new things. If a big club comes [calling], I will not say no to them, but I would like to try [coaching] in the United States if not given the opportunity."
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Sam Allardyce will discuss his future in Monday meeting
Last Updated: 19/05/15 1:26pm
SSN
Sam Allardyce's future at West Ham United will be resolved in a meeting next Monday, Sky Sports sources understand. Allardyce's contract runs out at the end of the season but as of yet he has still not been offered a new deal. The meeting will be with West Ham co-chairmen David Sullivan and David Gold, along with vice-chairwoman Karren Brady. West Ham are 11th in the Premier League and have won just three of their Premier League games this year. In March this year, Brady warned the manager that his team were "underachieving", but Allardyce said she was wrong and was quick to defend his players. Allardyce said earlier this week: "I've never heard them say I'm not doing a good job. I'll find out next week and then I can ask them why - see if they give me an honest answer. "We're 11th with 47 points so we've got to try and get that 50-point mark and hope it gets us to 10th. "Even if it doesn't it's still been an outstanding season and for me an outstanding three years back in the Premier League. I've only had to worry about relegation for about six weeks in three seasons."
The crucial meeting will take place the day after West Ham's last game of the season, away at Newcastle United. Victory could see Allardyce consign his former club to relegation and perhaps secure his future at Upton Park. Napoli manager Rafa Bentiez is currenly odds-on favourite to replace Allardyce.
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THE FINAL STRAW
By Brian Williams 19 May 2015 at 08:00
West Ham till I Die
Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone,
Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone…
There is, admittedly, no evidence to suggest that WH Auden supported West Ham – even though he was clearly acquainted with a dog from Barking. But I can't help thinking he wrote that line about stopping the clocks after a visit to Upton Park. I suggest that in future all timepieces are halted after 89 minutes, at which point the referee is obliged to blow the final whistle and call a halt to proceedings.
Had that been the drill this year, West Ham would be several points better off and I would be considerably less brassed off.
To be frank, I think Romelu Lukaku's stoppage-time goal on Saturday was distinctly inconsiderate in the circumstances. I know we had won the real contest – the battle of the yellow cards – but, even so, there are still some people with a taste for minor detail who take an interest in the score itself. The end-of-season party that is part and parcel of the last home game was left more than a little flat by Lukaku's intervention. Not least because a majority of the West Ham faithful got up and cleared off when he scored.
The only consolation, I suppose, is that it wasn't our last game ever at the Boleyn Ground. Imagine that is the way it all ends this time next year. It doesn't bear thinking about.
We should all be used it by now, of course. The opening game of this season gave us a taste of what was to come.
You will recall it was against our old friends from Tottenham. You will also no doubt remember that Mark Noble missed a penalty and we outplayed their 10 men without scoring until The Ginger Pele sportingly decided to even things up by getting himself sent off in the second half. The trouble with some people is that you show them a spot of decent East End hospitality and then they take a right liberty. There is no other way to describe the way Eric Dier, who is actually supposed to be a defender, found himself at the wrong end of the pitch and scored for Spurs in stoppage time. That's nothing short of bad manners in my book.
As the season went on, and we started beating the likes of Liverpool and Man City, we all got lulled into a false sense of security about just what the footballing gods can do to you when they are feeling mischievous. True, referees weren't exactly falling over themselves to give us the benefit of any doubt that might be going in the decision-making department, but neither did we concede any more gut-wrenching last minute goals. Then we played host to Manchester United at the beginning of February.
Exactly why officials bother with an actual figure for time added on when any team is leading against the Mancs beats me. They might just as well flash up a sign on the big screens saying: "We will now continue playing until Man Utd equalise. Sorry if you have a bus to catch."
In a strange sort of way it would be better if they just said: "Next goal wins it." That's what we used to do as kids after one of those epic lunchtime encounters in the playground when the bell went for afternoon lessons and both sides were still arguing about whether the score was 13-all or 13-12. It was either next goal wins it, or the two captains had to sort it out in the bikesheds in the traditional manner after school.
As I was often one of the captains, I never much cared for the latter option. Like Seventies icon Gilbert O'Sullivan, I've always seen myself as a writer, not a fighter. The reason I was captain more regularly than most had very little to do with my prowess on the football pitch itself, I hasten to add. If two other lads were picking the sides I was never quite left with the fat kid and the boy who had sticking plaster over one half of his spectacles, but neither was I anyone's first choice.
I decided to get myself a more prominent role by providing a trophy that we could play for each lunchtime. The only condition was that, as it was my cup, I had to be one of the team captains.
Never having been very adept at making things myself, I enlisted the help of my Dad. It was my design – I'm not going to let him take the credit for that. But he was the one who actually glued the upturned saucer, cotton reels and teacup-minus-handle together, then neatly covered it all in tin foil. (I don't think he trusted me with Araldite.) And very popular it was, too. Let's face it, everyone wants to see a bit of silverware in the trophy cabinet – even if you do have to hand it back and fight for it all over again the following day.
Incidentally, if I may digress for a moment, we used a system called "bunny rabbit" to decide who had first pick. The two captains – one was bunny, the other rabbit – stood a few feet apart and took alternate heel-to-toe steps towards one another until one of the lads was no longer able to put his whole foot in the space that was left. The other boy got the honour of making the first selection. Was that the way you did at your school? As someone who has a taste for trivia, I'd love to know of alternative methods.
Sorry, where was I? Oh yes. Daley Blind's goal in the 23rd minute of time added on for injury to Manchester United's pride for the way we'd outplayed them so comprehensively for the entire afternoon.
I think we can spare ourselves the heartache of reliving Tottenham's stoppage-time equaliser at White Hart Lane a fortnight later, having been 2-0 up with nine minutes left to play. Although quite why a player with Alex Song's experience felt the need to put his hands on Harry Kane the way he did is beyond me. For the record, it is only right to gazette the fact that Adrian saved the resultant penalty – only for Kane to convert the rebound with what turned out to be the last kick of the game. Did I say the gods could be mischievous? Malicious, more like.
And we certainly don't want to rake up Stoke's injury-time sickener – the one that Sam Allardyce put down to "nerves and panic." Given that Marko Arnautovic had seen two efforts ruled out for offside before he finally smashed the ball home legitimately, you could possibly add "stupidity" to the Allardyce analysis.
Ah well, I suppose that's what you get for supporting West Ham.
Blimey, is that the time? We are now approaching the final minute of this column, so I am going to have to end it here. Sorry if that seems a bit abrupt. But a last-gasp leveller by Claret and Hugh really would be the final straw.
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Irons track 'new Michael Essien'
Posted by Sean Whetstone on May 19, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
West Ham are said to be taking a keen interest in 18-year-old Cagliari midfielder and right-back, Godfred Donsah who has been compared to his fellow Ghanaian Michael Essien. According to www.calciomercato.com West Ham have joining other Premier League clubs taking a keen interest in the youngster. Donsah has made 21 Serie A appearances this season for Cagliari scoring twice. He previously played for Palermo and Verona. He has been reguarly scouted by Manchester City, Liverpool, Spurs, Liverpool and Arsenal Earlier this year Donsah previously said "I feel good at Cagliari – we are doing well. I am inspired by Michael Essien. He is my role model." Agent Oliver Arthur added: "There's lots of interest in Donsah right now, especially from clubs in the UK. "Manchester City, Liverpool, Tottenham, and Arsenal have made official enquiries about him. For now, they are scouting him, and there is nothing concrete."
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Report:Hammers to axe Sam after Newcastle
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on May 19, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
Sam Allardyce is today reported as West Ham history. The Telegraph is reporting on line that he will be told his time in charge of the club will be relayed to him within 24 hours of Sunday's game against Newcastle. Whilst ClaretandHugh was told yesterday the meeting was due next week, The Telegraph is claiming the board will inform him his contract will not be renewed before he heads off on holiday next Tuesday. The manager apparently expects the decision despite the fact that neither the Dvids or Karren Brady are ready to make a formal announcement ahead of the game at St James' Park. The three are known to be hunting for a manager and Allardyce now seems totally aware of the position and is resigned to the fact that his time as West Ham manager is at an end.
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Reid "been there…done that " in Europa
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on May 19, 2015 in Whispers
Claret 7 Hugh
Winston Reid will know exactly what to expect if the Irons start out on a qualifying Europa Cup in July because he's been there and done that! The central defender was involved hen at Midtjylland in Denmark, and ran into Manchester City in the early stages. Talking to London 24.com he said: "There are no easy games, it is tough. The club has to be ready, you can't just go out there an put a willy-nilly team out there. "When I was in Denmark, the season had already started in July, but the Premier League won't have started and we might be coming up against teams who may have already started their season." He is pragmatic about qualifying through the Fair Play League saying: "Whatever way you get in, it doesn't matter I guess.. "You are in the hat like everyone else and it is something the players should look forward to, especially the younger players, but also those who haven't played in Europe before." He added:"It is obviously one of those things that the club and the players would look forward to, but it is going to take a massive effort from the squad to all pull together. "European games means more matches and also starting the season earlier, but I guess we will have to cross that bridge when we come to it."
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Bilic expects to leave Besiktas
Posted by Sean Whetstone on May 19, 2015 in Whispers
C AND H
Former Hammer Slaven Bilic has revealed he expects Besiktas to let him leave this summer after taking charge in the summer of 2013.
Besiktas currently sit third in the Turkish Super Lig, seven points adrift of leaders Galatasaray and Bilic has told Liga TV that he expects Besiktas to move in a different direction this summer. He said: "My intention was to stay here. Now I don't know if this is possible. The responsibility for the defeats is all mine," he said after the 0-1 loss to Konyaspor on Monday. "I am going to sit down with the management. But I know how football works, especially in Turkey. I don't see myself being given a chance to manage Besiktas next season." The Croatian, who has also managed Lokomotiv Moscow, Hajduk Split and the Croatian national team, spent eighteen months as a Hammer before moving on to Everton in 1997. Bilic is rumoured to be on a West Ham managerial shortlist and is considered second favourite by many bookies at odds as short as 4/1. Although he has no Premier League experience which might be seen by the board as a gamble the Croatian is used to working as a coach and leaving transfer negotiations to others which would suit Chairman David Sullivan down to the ground.
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Irons linked with Marseille free agent
Posted by Sean Whetstone on May 19, 2015 in Whispers
C AND H
West Ham have been linked once again to Marseille winger Andre Ayew who has been linked with the club for the past three years. One tabloid claims we are in early talks with his agent with regards to a possible move this summer. The Ghana international is out of contract at Marseille at the end of the season so will be available on a free transfer. According to The Sun, the Hammers have recently met up with the 25-year-old's agent. Ayew has scored 13 goals for his club this season and celebrated his final days with Marseille by being named the best African player in Ligue 1 on Monday.
Ayew was last linked in the January transfer window when it was said West Ham would use their close relationship with Marseille wheeler and dealer Willie McKay will help land Andre Ayew. Back in 2012 when was first linked with the club Ayew told Sky Sports: "We are always interested playing one day abroad, there is no official offer from West Ham but if such a possibility could arrive, we will talk about with our advisers. West Ham is an excellent team."
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West Ham chief gives Jenkinson update and promises 'at least' five signings
12:58 19 May 2015 Jack Green
London 24
West Ham co-owner David Gold plans to bring in at least five new players at Upton Park this summer, and Carl Jenkinson could be one of them. The on-loan Arsenal full-back has been impressive for the Hammers this season and looks likely to make the move permanent at the end of the season. Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has said he is keen to hold on to the 23-year-old, but with Hector Bellerin, Mathieu Debuchy and Calum Chambers in the squad the Gunners are strong at right-back. A price tag in the region of £10m has been suggested for Jenkinson, and Gold has admitted on Twitter that he could be among the players the club signs this summer. "I'm optimistic for next season. Andy Carroll, Diafra Sakho and James Tomkins back plus at least five new faces," he tweeted. When asked if the "new faces" ruled out Jenkinson, he responded: "No but we have to wait and see. "We will bring in at least five new players in the summer window."
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Sam Allardyce to leave West Ham 24 hours after final game of the season
Manager's fate will be sealed at a meeting with the club's board the day after the Premier League match at Newcastle this weekend
Telegraph.co.uk
By Matt Law
8:06AM BST 19 May 2015
Sam Allardyce's West Ham United exit is due to be confirmed less than 24 hours after the final game of the season against Newcastle United. West Ham owners David Sullivan and David Gold, together with vice-chairman Karren Brady, are scheduled to meet manager Allardyce on Monday, when it is expected the 60-year-old's departure will be rubber-stamped. Sullivan and Gold have maintained that no decision will be finalised before the meeting, but Allardyce expects to leave the club when his contract expires at the end of this season.
Allardyce is due to go on holiday next Tuesday and is aware West Ham have been working on a list of potential new managers to take them into the Olympic Stadium.
• Who will be the next West Ham manager?
David Moyes has always been the first choice of Sullivan and Gold, but, with the former Everton and Manchester United manager insisting he has no immediate plans to leave Real Sociedad, Rafael Benítez is their next option. There have been conflicting reports from Italy over the future of Benítez at Napoli, but that should become much clearer once it is decided whether the Italian club qualify for the Champions League. With the top three qualifying for the Champions League, Napoli are fourth in the Serie A table behind Lazio, who they play on the final day of the season on May 31. Should Benítez, the former Liverpool and Chelsea manager, remain at Napoli or reject the West Ham job, the club would move down their list of targets by considering Slaven Bilic or Michael Laudrup.
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