West Ham United have issued a statement making clear the club's position on
Craig Bellamy
26.08.2008
West Ham United CEO Scott Duxbury said: "West Ham United have absolutely no
intention of selling Craig Bellamy. He is under contract and is committed to
the club. Craig remains a very important part of our plans for the future.
"The club is being run on sound football and business principles in order to
develop a squad which can deliver success this season. No player would be
bought or sold unless that helped to achieve that aim. "We are not
interested in selling players who are committed to the club and essential to
our first-team squad. "If a player refuses to sign a new contract or is not
crucial to the manager's plans then we will look at offers on a case by case
basis. It is the only sensible way to build for the future. "We have
invested in players this summer identified by the manager who add to the
quality of the squad and we will continue to do so as and when appropriate."
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Curbs denies Bellamy exit - KUMB
Filed: Tuesday, 26th August 2008
By: Staff Writer
West Ham United manager Alan Curbishley has denied reports that Craig
Bellamy is set to join Manchester City. A clearly upset Curbishley told
SkySports this morning: "It is nonsense. I don't think anybody else will be
going. Craig Bellamy is in full training today. "I want to concentrate on
Macclesfield and put in a display so we can look forward to Blackburn at the
weekend."
Curbishley has already been caught cold twice by his employers this close
season; he told reporters hours before it was revealed that Freddie
Ljungberg was being released that the Swedish international was still part
of his plans, a situation that was repeated last week with Anton Ferdinand -
who is expected to sign for Sunderland within the next 24 hours.
There has been a swell of support for the manager amongst fans this morning
following this latest evidence that his players are being offered for sale
against his wishes, with many supporters slamming the board for undermining
Curbishley's position.
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Curbs rubbishes Bellamy talk - SSN
Hammers boss not expecting any more departures
By Lewis Rutledge Last updated: 26th August 2008
Alan Curbishley has dismissed speculation linking Craig Bellamy with a move
to Manchester City as 'nonsense'. Reports had surfaced suggesting that City
were in talks with West Ham over a transfer for the Welshman. The Hammers
accepted a bid from Sunderland for Anton Ferdinand over the weekend but
Curbishley does not expect any more departures. Bellamy only moved to Upton
Park from Liverpool 12 months ago and Curbishley plans to keep the striker.
Asked about the link with City, Curbishley told Sky Sports News: "It is
nonsense. "I don't think anybody else will be going. Craig Bellamy is in
full training today." The West Ham boss is focusing on his side's Carling
Cup clash with Macclesfield, adding: "I want to concentrate on Macclesfield
and put in a display so we can look forward to Blackburn at the weekend."
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Keane set to unveil £8m Anton, taking Sunderland's summer spending to more
than £30m - Daily Mail
By Colin Young
Last updated at 3:17 PM on 26th August 2008
Anton Ferdinand will be unveiled as Sunderland manager Roy Keane's ninth
summer signing today, taking his spending in the close season to more than
£30million. The West Ham defender has agreed terms for an £8 million move to
the Stadium of Light and Keane hopes to have him in the Sunderland squad
after the international break. Keane turned to the 23-year-old after Johnny
Evans returned to Manchester United and Younes Kaboul rejected a move to
Sunderland in favour of Portsmouth. He said: 'A bigger squad makes my job
easier and hopefully that will raise the lads at the club already. It is
important for players to step up to the challenge and it gives me headaches
but nice headaches. The quality players have certainly brought a new edge to
training. 'Anton will be a good signing for us. He is a good age, will be
working in a good environment when he comes here and he has played a decent
number of games. 'He is a good athlete who has played a good number of games
and was probably ready for new challenges. He came through the ranks at West
Ham and brings competition and hopefully we can get him on to another
level.' Keane believes the capture of Spurs trio Pascal Chimbonda, Steed
Malbranque and Teemu Tainio changed other players' perception of his club
and sparked a successful summer in the transfer market. He added: 'The
Tottenham signings were important. To get three of them up was a good
message to people that players were prepared to leave club like Tottenham to
come to Sunderland which is so far far far away. 'It is good sign we are
attracting these players. We would not have got them last summer which is
credit to the club and the staff and the fact we managed to stay in the
Premier League. 'I have had good backing from Niall Quinn and Peter Walker
and the board and the mind-set of people outside club is that we are
becoming a better attraction and long may that continue.'
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Hammers chief insists Bellamy is going nowhere - Guardian Series
2:39pm Tuesday 26th August 2008
WEST Ham have denied that striker Craig Bellamy will be leaving the club.
Rumours surfaced this morning linking the Wales forward with an £8.5million
move to Manchester City. City boss Mark Hughes, who managed Bellamy at both
Blackburn Rovers and the Welsh national side, did make an inquiry over the
availability of the 29-year-old but it was swiftly rebuffed by the
Londoners. Bellamy has played just nine games and scored four goals since
arriving at Upton Park from Liverpool in a £7.5million deal in July 2007.
However, the club has now firmly stated that the pacy forward, who has
returned to full training this week following a hamstring injury, is going
nowhere. In a statement posted on the club's official website, Hammers chief
executive Scott Duxbury said: "West Ham United have absolutely no intention
of selling Craig Bellamy. "He is under contract and is committed to the
club. Craig remains a very important part of our plans for the future."
Duxbury also played down speculation that the club was being forced to cut
costs this summer following the departures of Freddie Ljungberg, John
Pantsil and Bobby Zamora and the imminent £8million departure of Anton
Ferdinand to Sunderland. "The club is being run on sound football and
business principles in order to develop a squad which can deliver success
this season," he added. "No player would be bought or sold unless that
helped to achieve that aim. "We are not interested in selling players who
are committed to the club and essential to our first-team squad. "If a
player refuses to sign a new contract or is not crucial to the manager's
plans, then we will look at offers on a case-by-case basis. It is the only
sensible way to build for the future."
Duxbury also confirmed that the Irons could move to bring in more new
players before the closure of the summer transfer window next Monday. "We
have invested in players this summer identified by the manager who add to
the quality of the squad and we will continue to do as and when
appropriate," he concluded.
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Blackburn boss Ince prepared to be Hammered by Upton Park faithful - Daily
Mail
By Sportsmail Reporter
Last updated at 2:18 PM on 26th August 2008
Blackburn boss Paul Ince claims he will shun West Ham's boo-boys when he
returns to Upton Park this Saturday. Ince sank from terrace hero to vilified
persona non grata following his move from the Boleyn Ground to Manchester
United in 1989 for £1.5million. The Hammers faithful were particularly
aggrieved by pictures of Ince posing in a United shirt before signing a
contract - an act the 40-year-old latterly blamed on his agent. Yet Ince,
who makes his first return to West Ham as a manager, asserts he is mentally
prepared for what could be a torrid 90 minutes on the touchlines. 'The game
is not about West Ham and Paul Ince, it's about us getting a result. 'I
looked at the fixtures when they came out and noticed straight away that
West Ham away was the third game in. 'The trip to Upton Park was the one
that stood out to me for some reason, although I can't think why. 'But I can
already feel a chest infection coming on!,' Ince told the Daily Telegraph
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West Ham deny Craig Bellamy exit talk - Telegraph
West Ham have denied striker Craig Bellamy is in talks with Manchester City
but speculation continues to surround Alan Curbishley's future at Upton
Park.
By Steve Wilson and Matt Lawless
Last Updated: 1:51PM BST 26 Aug 2008
The West Ham board are determined to reduce the club's wage bill, and have
already paid off Freddie Ljungberg's contract this summer. Although Bellamy
is among West Ham's top earners, the club have released a statement denying
they are open to offers for the Wales international, who is a target for
City manager Mark Hughes. West Ham chief executive Scott Duxbury said: "West
Ham United have absolutely no intention of selling Craig Bellamy. "He is
under contract and is committed to the club. Craig remains a very important
part of our plans for the future. "The club is being run on sound football
and business principles in order to develop a squad which can deliver
success this season. No player would be bought or sold unless that helped to
achieve that aim. "We are not interested in selling players who are
committed to the club and essential to our first-team squad."
City manager Hughes is searching for another forward after long-term target
Roque Santa Cruz decided to sign a new contract and remain at Blackburn.
Hughes worked with Bellamy during his time in charge of the Welsh national
team, and is looking for a strike partner for Brazilian Jo, who moved to
Eastlands this summer. Reports in this morning's papers claim Alan
Curbishley, the West Ham manager, finds his position at the club under
threat. Curbishley has been the centre of speculatian since Bjorgolfur
Gudmundsson and Duxbury took charge of the club after former chairman Eggert
Magnusson was relieved of his duties. Magnusson oversaw huge spending on a
squad that only avoided relegation on the final day of the season in 2007.
However, with the club's backers Landsbanki reeling from the effects of the
credit crunch, the days of lavish spending are over. Huge salaries were
awarded to ageing or injury-prone players such as Ljungberg, Bellamy and
Kieron Dyer who, along with Scott Parker and Lucas Neill earn annual
salaries in excess of £3 million. Luis Boa Morte was bought for £7 million
but has never settled at the club. His arrival also angered fans who
believed Matthew Etherington's ability on the left wing meant there was no
need to sign Boa Morte. Nothing like a reasonable return on the field has
been seen from any of Curbishley's big money signings and though Magnusson
shares the responsibility for sanctioning the deals, the new chairman blames
the West Ham manager for suspect selection in the transfer market. Anton
Ferdinand, who Curbishley did not want to sell, is expected to formally
complete his move to Wearside today, and Carlton Cole, who has an option to
join Hamburg, also the subject of Roy Keane's attentions. In a reference to
Ferdinand's imminent departure, Duxbury added: "If a player refuses to sign
a new contract or is not crucial to the manager's plans then we will look at
offers on a case-by-case basis. It is the only sensible way to build for the
future. "We have invested in players this summer identified by the manager
who add to the quality of the squad and we will continue to do so as and
when appropriate."
Curbishley was given funds to buy full-back Valon Behrami, a £5 million
acquisition from Lazio, though John Pantsil and Bobby Zamora were sold to
Fulham to balance the books. Former manager Harry Redknapp has distanced
himself from a possible return to Upton Park whilst former player and
Croatia manager Slaven Bilic is the most likely candidate should Curbishley
be forced out. West Ham deny Craig Bellamy exit talk
West Ham have denied striker Craig Bellamy is in talks with Manchester City
but speculation continues to surround Alan Curbishley's future at Upton
Park.
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Hammers Deny Bellamy Exit - the Sun
WEST HAM have denied claims that Craig Bellamy is set for a shock move to
Manchester City. The Wales striker only arrived at Upton Park last summer
but his season was blighted by injuries. The Hammers are close to selling
Anton Ferdinand to Sunderland and have already offloaded Bobby Zamora, John
Pantsil, Freddie Ljungberg, Nolberto Solano and Richard Wright. But they
have rejected suggestions that they are prepared to let Bellamy join City in
further attempt to slash their wage bill. West Ham chief executive Scott
Duxbury said: "West Ham United have absolutely no intention of selling Craig
Bellamy. "He is under contract and is committed to the club. Craig remains a
very important part of our plans for the future. "The club is being run on
sound football and business principles in order to develop a squad which can
deliver success this season. "No player would be bought or sold unless that
helped to achieve that aim. We are not interested in selling players who are
committed to the club and essential to our first-team squad."
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Noble dismissal leaves Curbs seeing red! - Romford Recorder
26 August 2008
Manchester City 3 West Ham United 0
WEST HAM crashed to an embarrassing heavy defeat at Eastlands on Sunday
after being forced to play with 10-men for 53 minutes after midfielder Mark
Noble was sent packing with two yellow cards, writes DAVE EVANS. This was an
abject performance from a Hammers side who had started the season so
brightly with a victory over Wigan last week. But despite manager Alan
Curbishley fielding the same starting XI and the same substitutes, there was
nothing else to compare to the Wigan win. The manager simply couldn't
understand the defeat: "I've asked them for their verbal reaction after the
game and not one of them has held up their hands and said they have
performed," revealed Curbishley after this 3-0 drubbing. "I was hoping to
get to half-time, either to make some changes or try and affect it
somewhere, but the sending-off came along and unfortunately, with the
personnel we've got at the moment, we weren't equipped to play with 10-men."
Noble deliberately handled the ball and was booked on 33 minutes and when
five minutes later he tripped Michael Johnson with a lunge tackle, it left
referee Howard Webb with no alternative but to send him for an early bath.
That proved to be the end of the game as a contest as West Ham shut up shop
at the break, taking off Freddie Sears after he had only replaced the
injured Carlton Cole on the half hour, while Dean Ashton ploughed a lone
furrow up front, barely seeing the ball as City camped in the Hammers half.
"We needed in the second half to defend manfully and for our lives," said
the manager, who decided to do so by bringing as many bodies into the final
third of the field as possible. "The first goal was going to be important
and I'm disappointed because it was a poor clearance, but the boy finished
it well and it was backs to the wall after that."
Boy is right. 19-year-old Dean Sturridge latched on to Matty Upson
uncharacteristic poor clearance to thump in the first goal on 65 minutes and
the game was up for West Ham. They did carve out one chance almost
immediately as Ashton put Julien Faubert away, but as the Frenchman prepared
to pull the trigger, Matty Etherington inexplicably got in his way and the
ball was cleared. It was plain sailing after that for City. Simon Ireland
raced down the right to pull the ball back for Elano to score on 70 minutes,
and in an almost carbon copy goal, Ireland set up Elano again six minutes
later to complete the rout.
Curbishley remained perplexed: "We knew that if we came here today we could
get something if we performed," he said."But after the first 10 minutes we
weren't in the game. I can't look at one of them and think 'You held your
end up' so that's got to change."
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Keane confirms Ferdinand deal - sunderlandfc.com
By Nick Alexander
Roy Keane expects Sunderland to complete the signing of West Ham defender
Anton Ferdinand later today. Ferdinand will have a medical on Wearside this
morning and if all goes well he will complete a deal to become Keane's ninth
summer signing. Keane said: "Anton is up this morning for a medical, we're
hoping it can be finalised today. "It's not dragged on as much as some of
other deals. I got permission to speak to him last week and I met him in
person, it went really well."
The signing of Ferdinand would put extra pressure on Nyron Nosworthy and
Danny Collins, the centre-backs who have started the season well. Keane
said: "They [Nosworthy and Collins] have done reasonably well in the last
couple of games. They know I am looking for a couple of defenders so it
keeps them on their toes. "We need competition for places. If Anton is done
today, I have one more player in mind and if that can be done over the next
three or four days, I'll be happy, we can get on with the season then."
Even if he signs in time, Ferdinand will not be involved in tomorrow's
Carling Cup second-round tie at Nottingham Forest. Keane is likely to wait
until the Wigan game on September 13 before involving the West Ham man - the
brother of Manchester United's Rio Ferdinand. "Anton won't be involved at
Forest," said Keane, "he has just come back from a hamstring strain he has
been training but I wouldn't do that to him. "The beauty is, we've got the
international break so he could have a good two weeks' training with us,
especially with the back four playing reasonably well at the moment."
Keane, meanwhile, has revealed that he rejected a bid for defender Danny
Higginbotham last week. "He's done well for us, he played 20-odd games in
the Premier League last season and scored three or four goals, so I don't
think his value should have halved," said Keane.
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Keane hails Anton as 'a good signing for us' as defender has medical at
Sunderland - Daily Mail
By Colin Young
Last updated at 10:42 AM on 26th August 2008
Anton Ferdinand is having a medical at Sunderland this morning as he
completes his £8million move from West Ham to the Stadium of Light.
Sunderland manager Roy Keane said: 'He is a good signing for us and this is
a good environment for him.' The move has occurred against the wishes of
West Ham boss Alan Curbishley, who told his board last week that he did not
want to lose Ferdinand. Curbishley has admitted to friends that he fears he
is being deliberately undermined as the club implement a series of
cost-cutting measures. However, the club's cash-flow crisis will be eased by
an £8million transfer fee for Ferdinand. The defender is stunned he is being
forced out, although he is one of the lowest paid first-team players at West
Ham on around £15,000 a week and would earn four times that at Sunderland.
Curbishley, who has been told by the board that they expect to finish
seventh in the Barclays Premier League, fears a potential fire sale at Upton
Park before the end of the transfer window.
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West Ham boss Curbishley under pressure after Ferdinand's departure to
Sunderland - Daily Mail
By Sportsmail Reporter
Last updated at 10:43 AM on 26th August 2008
The pressure on West Ham manager Alan Curbishley is mounting, as defender
Anton Ferdinand followed Bobby Zamora and Freddie Ljungberg out of Upton
Park. Ferdinand was expected to complete his £8million move to Sunderland
despite Curbishley's insistence that he wanted to keep the player.
He was told by the West Ham board to trim his squad and recoup some money
following the heavy spending by former chairman Eggert Magnusson a year ago.
Ferdinand will link up with Roy Keane despite the team's dismal performance
in the 3-0 defeat at Manchester City on Sunday. Curbishley said: 'We are
thin on the ground. If we lose another defender we will have to react to
that.'
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Curbs rules out Bellars move (thank god) - Bubbles In The Air
Tuesday 26 Aug 2008 10:43:32 by Tony Watson
Alan Curbishley has broken an habit of a lifetime by reacting vocally to
speculation. Curbs has spoken to Sky Sports News regarding strong reports
linking Bellamy with a move to Man City "It is nonsense. "I don't think
anybody else will be going. Craig Bellamy is in full training today." Whilst
that is good news, please note the terminology he uses ''I don't think
anybody else will be going'' - He is the manager!! He should know, a
football club cannot be run like this and it just proves something is
seriously broken at Upton Park.
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McCartney in line to face Silkmen - Clubcall
West Ham United, 10:55, August 26, 2008
Alan Curbishley has admitted that full-back George McCartney could be back
in the West Ham side to face Macclesfield on Wednesday. The 27-year-old, who
was an ever-present in the Hammers side last season, has missed the opening
two matches in the Premier League due to a hamstring injury and a bout of
pneumonia. However Curbishley says the Northern Ireland international was
back in training on Monday and is set to feature in the Carling Cup second
round tie at Upton Park. He said: "George McCartney may feature, but other
than that we're a bit light on the ground with regard to one or two of the
others coming back. "But we had these sorts of problems last year. "They
haven't gone away yet so we've got to work as hard as we possibly can to get
these players back."
Striker Carlton Cole is set to miss the game after being withdrawn during
Sunday's 3-0 Premier League defeat at Manchester City with a back injury.
However it is hoped he will be fit to face Blackburn at the weekend.
Curbishley added: "It's a straight blow to his back. I don't think he's
twisted anything so hopefully he'll be ok for the weekend, but we've got
Wednesday to get through."
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HAMMERS TALK: Bellamy now linked with a move away - Guardian Series
11:03am Tuesday 26th August 2008
WEST HAM could lose another big name as Sky Sports claim striker Craig
Bellamy is in talks with Manchester City. With defender Anton Ferdinand
already looking set to complete his move to Sunderland this week, Alan
Curbishley could find himself light up front as well as City are reportedly
tracking the 29-year-old. Mark Hughes coached Bellamy in his time in charge
of the Welsh national team and it is understood the fiery Welshman is one of
his main targets. City have suffered the loss of Benjani, Darius Vassell and
Valeri Bojinov to injury, while new Brazilian signing Jo has also been
unavailable until now due to his bronze medal exploits at the Olympics.
Negotiations are believed to be taking place with West Ham in the hope of
agreeing a deal despite continuing concerns over City owner Thaksin
Shinawatra's frozen £800million fortune in Thailand. Bellamy, who cost West
Ham £7million from Liverpool, has made only nine appearances for the Hammers
since his arrival last year and has already picked up a hamstring injury in
pre-season. With Icelandic chairman Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson looking to trim
the wage bill at Upton Park, a move to Manchester could be on the cards.
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