WHUFC.com
West Ham United CEO Scott Duxbury has issued a statement to supporters
07.11.2008
West Ham United would like to assure all supporters that the club is
financially sound and running as normal.
"It's business as usual," said Chief Executive Scott Duxbury. "Like all
businesses we have been affected by the current economic climate but we're
in a strong position financially and are a well-run club. Everyone here,
from the playing staff to those in the back office, is focused on building
for success.
"The business plan and the prospects for the development of the club have
never been clearer. We are looking forward to a bright and successful future
and this applies especially to playing matters and the support for the
manager Gianfranco Zola. We have a talented squad with a healthy mix of
elite internationals and homegrown youngsters, plus more coming through from
the Academy.
"All talk of fire sales to raise revenue, and having to sell players for
reasons other than football ones, is simply not true. Gianfranco made it
clear when he joined us the playing squad was too large and can be better
managed, and be more successful, if it is reduced. That's why players might
be sold and the manager will decide what happens.
"It's about having quality rather than quantity and he is happy with what he
has at the moment."
The club can also confirm that good progress is being made on a new shirt
sponsor. Detailed and productive discussions are taking place and as soon as
the club is in a position to confirm this agreement, the new partners will
be unveiled via whufc.com.
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Hammers - Business as usual
SSN
Zola will be allowed to decide which players are sold
Last updated: 7th November 2008
West Ham United have reiterated that there will be no January firesale to
boost the club's coffers. Hammers vice-chairman Asgeir Fridgeirsson has
conceded owner Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson is to review his position at the club
due to the global financial crisis which has affected several of the
companies in which he holds a stake.
The situation has prompted renewed speculation that manager Gianfranco Zola
will be forced to sell players in the New Year to raise funds. But the
Hammers' chief executive Scott Duxbury insists there is no need to panic and
that Zola has a free hand to decide which players will be leaving Upton
Park. "It's business as usual," Duxbury told the club's official website.
"Like all businesses we have been affected by the current economic climate,
but we're in a strong position financially and are a well-run club. Everyone
here, from the playing staff to those in the back office, is focused on
building for success. "The business plan and the prospects for the
development of the club have never been clearer. "We are looking forward to
a bright and successful future and this applies especially to playing
matters and the support for the manager Gianfranco Zola. We have a talented
squad with a healthy mix of elite internationals and homegrown youngsters,
plus more coming through from the Academy. "All talk of firesales to raise
revenue, and having to sell players for reasons other than football ones, is
simply not true. "Gianfranco made it clear when he joined us the playing
squad was too large and can be better managed, and be more successful, if it
is reduced. That's why players might be sold and the manager will decide
what happens. "It's about having quality rather than quantity and he is
happy with what he has at the moment."
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Zola has European dream
SSN
Hammers boss eager to emulate Everton
Last updated: 7th November 2008
Gianfranco Zola wants West Ham United to follow Everton's example by
qualifying for Europe on a regular basis. The Hammers entertain Everton on
Saturday, with the visitors having qualified for both the Champions League
and Uefa Cup in recent season. West Ham were briefly in Europe in the
2006/07 campaign and Zola sees no reason why the club can not aim for a
repeat in the future. "We are working towards that," said Zola. "We want
this team one day to play European games, hopefully in the Champions League.
We come to training every morning with that in mind. "That is why I don't
really look at the short term. Our work is to make the team play a certain
way in order one day to be able to compete at a high level. "Last year
Everton did very well and they are certainly a very good team. "I like the
manager, who has done a great job, and they can be one of the examples we
can use - a small team that has got good results. We are going to try to
emulate that."
A 1-1 draw at Middlesbrough last week ended a four-game losing streak and
Zola is hopeful of recording a first win since their 2-1 success at Fulham
on 27th September. He said: "I would be worried if my team was playing badly
or not creating chances. We played Middlesbrough after losing four games,
but we looked very confident on the pitch. "The players are in control and
it is just a matter of time. I am not worried about this. "Obviously we
need to improve and we are are working on that, but I am confident we will
soon be talking about West Ham in a different way."
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Lucas Neill reveals plan for western Sydney A-League team
Exclusive By Tom Smithies
News.co.au
November 08, 2008 12:00am
SOCCEROOS captain Lucas Neill has revealed the details of how he aims to
bring an A-League team to western Sydney in 2010. Heavily involved in
putting together a bid for an A-League franchise for submission by the end
of the year, Neill yesterday spelt out how he believes the logic of
establishing a team in an area he called the game's heartland is
irresistible, revealing:
HIS franchise has signed an agreement with Parramatta Stadium;
THEY would train at Football NSW's facilities; and
NEILL will ultimately play for the team and will invest in its start-up.
While there have long been rumours of Neill's involvement in a possible
A-League bid, yesterday he said the bid was 80 per cent completed for a
deadline of January, and revealed why he wants to build a club. "For quite
some time there's been talk of expanding the A-League, so I did a bit of
homework myself and then got a company (Inspire Sports Group, whose
management arm represents Neill) to invest some time and money into working
out what suited," Neill said. "Meanwhile the FFA did their own report that
suggested western Sydney would be one of the top areas for expansion, so
then we did some research to really nail it in terms of figures -
population, commerce and so on. Everything about it was appealing, and as a
Sydney boy I really wanted to do it. "We've signed an agreement with
Parramatta Stadium committing to playing games there, and we consider that
to be an important step. We've talked to Blacktown council to seek their
help (in siting an amateur side) and we've also signed an agreement with
Football NSW to allow us use of their facilities. "We've tried to build up
relationships and dig deep into the area - obviously we're building from
scratch so my plan has been to start at the top tier and work down to the
grassroots. "So at the top level we need a stadium and a football club, we
need to win the bid then pick a board of directors who are successful in
both business and sport. Then we need to build the team and the coaching
staff - I certainly want to come back and play, that's the dream."
Neill said he had no plans to be involved in the off-field running of the
club after its inception but wanted to be a key figure on the football side.
"I'd only be involved on the sporting field," he said. "I've got no
commercial or administrative interest, I'd be coming back as a player and
maybe later as a coach. "I don't know if there's another western Sydney bid
out there, but all I can do is keep ticking the boxes the FFA want. The
project managers are confident we have done it all right, and we have a
number of investors who have approached us and we are working through that
process to determine the best people to work with. We have to have them
signed up by January, of course, and all is going really well."
As for recruiting players and coaches, Neill said they had a list of targets
but it would be premature to approach them before the FFA decides where to
award the franchise. A marquee player was a key element. "That gets the bums
on seats - people want to see young Australian talent but they also want to
see a person with a household name."
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Blades demand their cut of Hammers cash over Tevez and Mascherano affair
By Sportsmail Reporter
Daily Mail
Last updated at 11:29 PM on 07th November 2008
Sheffield United players have decided to press ahead with their claims for
more than £5million in loss of earnings in the Carlos Tevez affair. More
than 15 players from past and present plan to ask that their cases sit
alongside the club's demand for £50m in compensation from West Ham.
Sportsmail exclusively revealed in September that an FA-appointed tribunal
found West Ham guilty of breaching league regulations when they signed Tevez
and fellow Argentine Javier Mascherano at the beginning of the 2006-07season
— which ended in the Blades' relegation. West Ham have appealed against the
decision but it is not clear whether the Court of Arbitration for Sport will
hear their case. Former manager Neil Warnock is also considering claiming
loss of earnings. He was out of work for five months after resigning
following relegation.
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West Ham sale on the cards after directors leave
West Ham have taken a further step towards being put up for sale after it
emerged on Friday that two directors had stood down from the club's board.
Telegraph
By Jeremy Wilson
Last Updated: 10:29PM GMT 07 Nov 2008
Mike Lee and Gudmundur Oddsson were non-executive directors on the club's
holding company, plc and football boards, but have moved aside to streamline
decision-making at Upton Park ahead of a possible sale. It is understood
that the decisions of Lee and Oddsson were partially fuelled by the
uncertainty surrounding owner Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson's financial position
and the potential impact on fellow directors. If, for example, the club
became responsible for any debt relating to the holding company or could not
provide any required investment, all of the directors could have
responsibility and potential personal liability. It means that the board now
effectively comprises of chairman Gudmundsson, vice-chairman Asgeir
Fridgeirsson, chief executive Scott Duxbury and finance director Nick Igoe.
Lee, though, will continue as a consultant to the club. There have already
been several expressions of interest from serious overseas investors, with
potential new owners likely to be attracted by the London location. Although
Gudmundsson insists that West Ham are not officially up for sale, it has
been acknowledged that he is reviewing all of his assets in the wake of a
global economic crisis that has affected his native Iceland particularly
badly. Gudmundsson lost an estimated £230 million last month following the
nationalisation of Landsbanki and this week one of his companies, Samson
Holdings, filed for administration. It is, however, understood that West
Ham's financial position is effectively fire-walled from Gudmundsson's
personal situation and insulated from any attempts by the Icelandic
government to freeze the overseas assets of leading businessmen. Amid the
uncertainty, West Ham have been boosted by news that they are poised to
announce a new shirt sponsor next week after the travel firm, XL, went bust.
The club are close to agreeing a deal with SBO Bet, a betting company. The
XL contract was worth around £2.5 million a year and the new deal will be
worth around £3 million over 18 months. West Ham are hoping to link the new
sponsorship deal to the Bobby Moore Fund, which raises money for research
into bowel cancer, although they must persuade the Premier League that such
an arrangement would not amount to effectively having two sponsors. As well
as the concern regarding Gudmundsson's financial situation, West Ham are
preparing for legal battles with former manager Alan Curbishley, who is
understood to be pursuing a claim for constructive dismissal following his
resignation in September, and with Sheffield United over former player
Carloz Tevez. Scott Parker, meanwhile, has recovered from his calf injury
and will be fit for today's Premier League match at home to Everton.
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Hammers could be put on the marketWest Ham United could be put up for sale
by its Icelandic owner due to the credit crunch.
Viewlondon.co.uk
Hammers owner Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson has a stake in a number of companies in
Iceland, including the Landsbanki bank, which has been placed into
receivership.
His main business Samson Holdings is also in trouble which may lead the
tycoon to sell the east London club. Vice-chairman Asgeir Fridgeirsson
admits that selling the Hammers is "an option" at this stage. "Because of
the global crisis and the complications in Iceland, BG is reviewing all his
assets," he told Telegraph Sport. When asked whether that included West Ham,
Fridgeirsson replied 'yes'. Fridgeirsson added: "He needs to review in light
of what is going on. If you give a call to the owners of all clubs, 60-80
per cent would be considering their stance in the present climate. "(He is)
not in any desperation. He has a portfolio of assets. Samson (Holdings) was
one."
Gudmundsson took over as West Ham chairman in December 2007 from Eggert
Magnusson. Last month, Hammers boss Gianfranco Zola insisted he would not be
forced to sell players due to the financial turmoil surrounding the club's
owners. West Ham are still searching for a new sponsor after the collapse of
travel firm XL.
On the pitch, the Hammers are without a win in their last five games. Zola's
side are 11th in the table ahead of tomorrow's clash with Everton at Upton
Park.
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Appiah verdict sparks scramble
by Toby Davis, 07 November 2008
Setanta
Stephen Appiah could be in line for a move to The Premier League after Fifa
confirmed the midfielder is a free agent. The Ghana captain, who has been
linked with moves to Tottenham, West Ham and Fulham, was embroiled in a
bitter financial dispute with former club Fenerbahce. The 27-year-old
claimed his contract had been cancelled by mutual consent, while the Turkish
club maintained they still had the right to demand a transfer fee from any
interested parties. Fifa moved to resolve the dispute and released a
statement confirming the player's status as a free agent, which is likely to
re-ignite Premier League interest in the player. The Fifa statement read:
"It should be noted that Fifa received not less than three requests, claims
and counter-claims from the club and the player in the period between 31
January 2008 and 28 April 2008. "On 11 June 2008, after giving the parties
time to present their positions on the matter, Fifa advised by fax to both
parties to consider their relationship as terminated and to focus on the
financial aspects of the matter. "It was also advised that should the player
sign a new contract with a new club, in the case that an International
Transfer Certificate were needed for an international transfer, the Turkish
FF should provide it, in order to not hinder the player's career."
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EVERTON WITHOUT KEY TRIO FOR WEST HAM CLASH
Daily Express
Friday November 7,2008
Everton have major injury doubts ahead of their Barclays Premier League
visit to West Ham this weekend. Everton could be without Ayegbeni Yakubu
(heel) and Steven Pienaar (knee). While Marouane Fellaini, the club's record
signing, is serving a one-match suspension after picking up a fifth booking
of the season. Manager David Moyes could hand a start to defensive
midfielder Segundo Castillo, who has not played a game since September after
picking up a groin injury on international duty.
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