Anton Ferdinand has had an audience with Gordon Brown during a high-profile
anti-racism event
14.05.2008
The annual Show Racism the Red Card Hall of Fame ceremony was held at
Downing Street this week and was hosted by the Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
West Ham United defender Anton Ferdinand, who is keen to raise awareness of
the major issues affecting young people today and is the club's anti-racism
ambassador, was invited to attend along with Vice-Chairman Asgeir
Fridgeirsson and CEO Scott Duxbury. The Hall of Fame was initiated in 2004
as a way of thanking the high-profile role models who so generously give up
their time and commitment to the Show Racism the Red Card campaign by
helping to educate children against the dangers and wrongs of racism.
Several past Hammers players have been inaugurated including Ian Wright, Les
Ferdinand, Rio Ferdinand, Chris Hughton, Chris Powell as well as current
midfielder Kieron Dyer. Former West Ham United goalkeeper Shaka Hislop is
also on the esteemed list and is one of the main patrons for the campaign.
He introduced this year's awards ceremony with a touching speech about his
experiences of racism early in his career and how he became determined to
make sure future players were spared the same sort of abuse.
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Ljungberg named by Sweden - WHUFC
Freddie Ljungberg has been selected in Sweden's 23-man squad for the
European Championship in June
14.05.2008
Sweden captain Freddie Ljungberg has been selected in his country's 23-man
squad for the European Championship this summer.
The midfielder missed the last two games of West Ham United's season, having
impressed in his first campaign with 27 appearances, after suffering a
cracked rib against Newcastle United on 26 April. The injury raised fears he
could miss the start of the tournament, which gets under way against holders
Greece on 10 June, but his inclusion will allay such worries. It remains to
be seen though whether he will be able to take part in a Gothenburg friendly
against Slovenia on 26 May.
Ljungberg played nine times and scored once in qualifying for the finals in
Switzerland and Austria and is vastly experienced at international level.
This will be his fifth major finals after he played at Euro 2000, the 2002
World Cup, Euro 2004 and the 2006 World Cup. He has been capped 71 times and
scored 14 goals since his debut for the Scandinavian nation back on 24
January 1998 against the United States. Other big names included are Henrik
Larsson and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
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Collison still going strong - WHUFC
A high-profile U21 meeting between England and Wales has caught the
imagination of Jack Collison
14.05.2008
Jack Collison is raring to go for Wales as they take on England in an
Under-21 friendly on Thursday that promises to be anything but given the
competitive rivalry between the teams.
While many of his club-mates are off on their summer breaks, the 19-year-old
midfielder has joined up with Brian Flynn's side for the high-profile match
in Wrexham. He will not be up against club-mate Mark Noble however, as the
England player has withdrawn with hamstring and back problems that caused
his late substitution in the 2-2 win against Aston Villa. Should all go well
for Collison, he could then join up with the senior squad for friendlies
against Iceland and the Netherlands on 28 May and 1 June respectively.
Wales have been making waves across Europe at U21 level this season - not
least a 4-2 win against France last November - and Collison thinks the game
will give a good indicator for their 2009 European Championship hopes. He
said: "It is going to be a massive game and I think it will give us a chance
to see where we are at. We have had some good results, obviously the
outstanding one was against France, and are full of confidence." That
optimism extends to his personal form after two goals in four U21
appearances to date.
"I know it is an end of season game but it won't feel like that," he added.
"There is no chance of treating it like a friendly." Wales will use the game
as a warm-up for their final two European qualifiers at home to Romania on
20 August before concluding their campaign with the return trip to the
eastern European nation on 10 September. The Welsh have a four-point
advantage on Romania, who have a game in hand, and France with only the
section winners progressing to October's play-offs for the finals.
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Noble out - KUMB
Filed: Tuesday, 13th May 2008
By: Staff Writer
Mark Noble has withdrawn from the England under-21 squad set to face Wales
tomorrow night. The 21-year-old Hammer pulled out after suffering what has
been described by the club as 'back and hamstring trouble' during the
weekend's 2-2 draw with Aston Villa. Noble - who would almost certanly have
been up against team mate Jack Collison had he played - has been replaced in
the squad by Tottenham's Tom Huddlestone. The match is being played at
Wrexham's Racecourse Ground and kicks off at 7.30pm.
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Thank God it's Friday - KUMB
Filed: Tuesday, 13th May 2008
By: Staff Writer
West Ham United have taken the unusual step of confirming impending contract
talks with striker Dean Ashton. In a press release posted on whufc.com this
afternoon the club confirmed that they will be meeting with the 24-year-old
forward and his representatives this Friday.
CEO Scott Duxbury is quoted as saying: "The end of the season was the
appropriate time to discuss such matters and to meet Dean Ashton and his
representatives. We will sit down on Friday with a view to agreeing a new
long-term contract to keep Dean at Upton Park. "Everyone at West Ham United
is committed to taking the club forward and we will keep all supporters up
to date with developments as and when we have them to report."
One possible reason for the announcement is that season ticket renewal packs
were distributed earlier this week, and that a number of supporters have
expressed their concerns regarding Ashton's situation after the former Crewe
man admitted that he was in the dark over his future. Alan Curbishley met
with board members yesterday to discuss the club's plans for the summer. It
is thought that the future of all squad members was discussed at the meeting
- as were the club's summer spending plans.
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Green expected to miss out - SSN
Hammers keeper did not expect call-up
By James Pearson Last updated: 13th May 2008
West Ham keeper Robert Green has stated he did not expect to make Fabio
Capello's latest England squad. Italian tactician Capello named his squad
for upcoming friendlies against USA and Trinidad & Tobago, but Green missed
out. Green, who is preparing to climb Mount Kilimanjaro for charity this
summer, stated he never expected to be included for the friendlies. "I never
thought that I was going to be involved," said Green on the possibility of
playing in England's upcoming friendlies. "I am not part of the plans so it
was a chance for the first time in a long time to have a few weeks off and
have a chance to do something different."
However, the 28-year-old former Norwich City shot-stopper would not hesitate
in representing his country should the head coach come knocking. "It is an
honour to play for your country and it is not something that you take
lightly or for granted," he continued. "We have a good number of keepers now
and there are people like myself Scott Carson and Paul Robinson, and none
are in the squad now. "But it is your country, and one of the biggest in the
world for football. It is a tremendous honour. Not being part of it is
disappointing but you don't have any right to be involved in it. "So if you
are called in at the last minute to collect the bibs then so be it."
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Hammers confirm Ashton talks - SSN
Contract talks amid speculation linking striker with a move away
Last updated: 13th May 2008
West Ham want to keep star striker Dean Ashton at the club, despite
speculation linking him with a move away. The Hammers have confirmed they
will sit down with the striker and his representatives on Friday to try and
tie him to a new long-term deal. The news comes as Ashton, who has two years
left on his current deal, has been linked with clubs such as Manchester
Untied, Portsmouth and Newcastle. But Hammers chief executive Scott Duxbury
has spoken of the club's desire to keep him at Upton Park. He said: "The end
of the season was the appropriate time to discuss such matters and to meet
Dean Ashton and his representatives. "We will sit down on Friday with a view
to agreeing a new long-term contract to keep Dean Ashton at Upton Park."
Ashton is not among the club's high earners after signing from Norwich two
years ago. He missed last season after breaking an ankle on international
duty when he was poised to earn a first cap. But found the net on 11
occasions this season, including three in his last three matches. This good
form has earned him a call-up to the England squad and he could make his
debut in the end-of-season friendlies against the USA or Trinidad and
Tobago.
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Hammers close on Juve starlet - SSN
Lanzafame set for Upton Park loan
By Nadia Carminati Last updated: 13th May 2008
West Ham United are set to clinch a loan deal for Italian starlet Davide
Lanzafame. The 21-year-old striker is a product of Juventus' youth system
and made his first-team debut for them last season. But this term he was
loaned out to Bari in Serie B where Juve legend Anontio Conte is coach. And
Lanzafame did not disappoint with ten goals which earned him a call-up to
the Italian Under 21 squad. Indeed Conte feels the player has all the
ability in the world - even likening him to Manchester United's Cristiano
Ronaldo. "Lanzafame has improved tactically," he told the Gazzetta dello
Sport. "He is explosive, he sniffs the goal, and imposes his speed outside
the area. If he improves and learns he can become like Cristiano Ronaldo."
West Ham are now set to agree terms with Juve for a season-long loan. The
deal is a clear indication of the influence of The Hammers' new sporting
director Gianluca Nani. The Italian was brought in to oversee transfer
policy and he has wasted little time in sealing a deal for one of his
country's brightest young prospects.
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Hammers said to be tracking Spanish third division defender - Guardian
Series
WEST Ham are hot on the trail of a Spanish third division defender,
according to reports in Spain. Joseph currently plays for minnows La Bolana.
But his agent has claimed that the player is attracting the attention of two
Premier League clubs - and one is the Hammers. The 23-year-old is also the
subject of a double-player switch - alongside team-mate Javi Gallardo - to
Spanish second division side Cadiz.
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Green: I'm always here for England - TeamTalk
Robert Green says he will never turn his back on England - and would accept
a call-up even if it was just to collect the bibs in training. The West Ham
goalkeeper accepts he is not in Fabio Capello's England plans - he was only
called up for the recent France friendly after injuries - but he is refusing
to turn his back on his country. Green, 28, had earmarked this summer to
help the African Medical and Research Foundation (AMREF) and would probably
have been free even if England qualified for the European Championships. "I
never thought that I was going to be involved," said Green, who earned his
one cap for England three years ago. "I am not part of the plans so it was a
chance for the first time in a long time to have a few weeks off and have a
chance to do something different."
Green will still make himself available for England whenever needed, adding:
"It is an honour to play for your country and it is not something that you
take lightly or for granted. "We have a good number of 'keepers now and
there are people like myself Scott Carson and Paul Robinson, and none are in
the squad now. "But it is your country, and one of the biggest in the world
for football. It is a tremendous honour. Not being part of it is
disappointing but you don't have any right to be involved in it. "So if you
are called in at the last minute to collect the bibs then so be it."
Green will have a holiday in Mexico before starting his work for AMREF,
travelling to Kenya and Tanzania for charity projects before climbing Mount
Kilimanjaro.
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West Ham attempt to tie down Ashton - The Times
By Jason Burt
Wednesday, 14 May 2008
West Ham United will open talks on Friday with Dean Ashton, their most
valuable playing asset, about an extension to his contract, with the
striker, who is far from being one of the club's highest earners, hoping for
a substantial pay rise. The 24-year-old has two years left on his deal but
has been anxious for several months to sort out his future.
The Premier League club took the unusual step yesterday of confirming when
the talks were scheduled for. It shows the sensitivity over losing Ashton
and also West Ham's keenness, following a board meeting on Monday, to keep
the £7.25m striker who has just been called into Fabio Capello's squad and
who has a very real chance of staking a claim as England's main
centre-forward.
Ashton is hugely popular with West Ham fans and the decision to announce the
talks may have been influenced by the fact that the club has just sent out
season ticket renewal packs. However, Scott Duxbury, the chief executive,
said: "The end of the season was the appropriate time to discuss such
matters and to meet Dean Ashton and his representatives. We will sit down on
Friday with a view to agreeing a new long-term contract."
Ashton wants to stay but is understood to earn less than a third of the
wages commanded by the club's highest-earner, Fredrik Ljungberg who is paid
£85,000-a-week. West Ham have, however, described as "utter rubbish" claims
that the Swedish international has been offered a £3m pay-off to cancel the
rest of his three-year contract.
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Dean Ashton hopes West Ham United keep word on pay rise - The Indepndent
Gary Jacob
West Ham United have taken the unusual step of announcing that they will
hold contract talks with Dean Ashton on Friday, but it is not certain that
they will meet the forward's demands. Ashton has asked the club to honour
the undertaking that they made in January to give him an improved contract
if he performed well this season. Portsmouth, Newcastle United and
Manchester City are interested in signing the 24-year-old, who has two years
left on his existing deal.
Before offering a new contract to Ashton, West Ham wanted to be certain he
had returned to the full fitness and form that he had showed before the
broken ankle he suffered at the start of last season. Ashton scored 11 goals
this season for the club, including five in his past eight matches, but his
appearances have been restricted by the preference of Alan Curbishley, the
manager, sometimes to play Carlton Cole as a lone striker.
Ashton is paid about £25,000 a week, which is significantly lower than the
wages being paid to many of the players signed by the club in the past year
who earn in excess of £60,000.
However, the financial climate at Upton Park has come full circle from when
Ashton joined West Ham as the highest earner 2½ years ago, with the club
trying to rein in the wage bill. Curbishley is likely to have to sell
between six and ten players — Nigel Quashie, Danny Gabbidon and Lee Bowyer
are among those seen as expendable — as well as looking for a left back.
Robert Green, the West Ham goalkeeper, feels the present squad can aim
higher than the tenth place achieved this season. "We have the potential to
challenge for a European spot as the squad is as good as the teams outside
the top four," Green said. "We had a taste of the Uefa Cup two seasons ago
and want it again."
Gianluca Nani, the club's technical director, has begun to exert his
influence by attempting to sign Davide Lanzafame, the Juventus striker, on
loan for next season. Lanzafame was loaned to Bari last season and is
expected to play for Italy at the Olympic Games in Beijing this summer.
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Ex-Hammers boss wants £5million more - Daily Mail
00:51am 14th May 2008
West Ham's former owner, Terry Brown, who collected more than £30million
when he sold his controlling shareholding to the Icelandic consortium in
November 2006, is now attempting to claim another £5m-plus from the club
through a High Court writ for damages and compensation. The details of
Brown's claim following the huge profit he made selling the club is sure to
further alienate West Ham fans already uneasy about the Brown regime's
handling of the costly Carlos Tevez Affair that is still to be totally
resolved. The management service contract and benefits Brown had agreed with
the new owners were terminated in May 2007 following the unravelling of the
Tevez registration fiasco. He is claiming loss of annual salary of £492,000
and bonuses with two years running on his director's contract plus pension
provision of £42,240 per year. Also in the claim are loss of a chauffeur and
mileage allowances and the use of on-site parking spaces at home and away
matches. Additionally, Brown was an honorary life vice-president and, with
that, went lifetime perks of eight seats in the director's box, eight
hospitality places in the chairman's suite and two tickets in the directors
box and boardroom at away games. West Ham have already written to Brown
advising him of a significant counter-claim against him over the cost to the
club from the Tevez wrangling that includes the record Premier League fine
of £5.5m and legal expenses. But the size of West Ham's counter-punch is
dependent on the outcome of the Sheffield United arbitration case in June —
the Hammers' Premier League survival with the help of Tevez's goals was at
their expense — and the Kia Joorabchian-led third party ownership claim for
£7m from the player's transfer to Manchester United.
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Definitive Moment For West Ham And Ashton - West Ham Fans.org
Submitted by Neville Nixon on 14 May, 2008 - 07:07.
It is common knowledge that striker Dean Ashton and West Ham United are to
discuss an extension to the two years remaining on the player's contract.
This will be the first time where the board can finally prove to the fans
that the club is going forward...by not selling! Too often in the past have
players 'floated off' from the club just as they were beginning to really
show their worth. This time there is a genuine belief that although there
will be a bit of squad trimming and belt tightening, the 'Jewels In The
Crown' will not be flogged! Of course last season's end saw Yossi Benayoun
and Carlitos leave despite the club having no apparent need to sell... One
thing for sure is that the title West Ham will no longer be preceded by the
words 'money bags', but that is a good thing. Keeping hold of all the talent
at the club will be a much more significant achievement than having finished
in tenth spot! - Ed
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Green: Hammers must keep Ashton - Setanat
by Chris Stanton, 14 May 2008
Robert Green believes it is 'massively important' that Dean Ashton remains a
West Ham player. Ashton, who was named in Fabio Capello's most recent
England squad, is in contract talks with The Hammers but speculation has
linked the talented 24-year-old with a move to Premier League champions
Manchester United. Green said: "He's a tremendous player and talent, maybe
it's something to do with the size of him. I don't mean that in a bad sense!
He just has something other people haven't got. "England have plenty of
quick, skilful forwards, but beyond Peter Crouch we haven't got a target man
of that international class. "Dean's back in the England squad now and
rightly so, on the back of some tremendous performances towards the end of
the season.
"This season's been difficult for him because everyone was expecting so
much, but he came back and showed what he can do. It's massively important
he stays at West Ham."
While Ashton has regained his place in the England squad, Green admits he
did not expect the same to happen to him. 'England's Number 6' has been
critical in the past following his omission by Steve McClaren and not much
appears to have changed under new coach Fabio Capello. At the same time as
England will be facing USA and Trinidad & Tobago at the end of May and the
beginning of June, Green will be climbing Mount Kilimanjaro for charity.
Green admitted: "I never thought I was going to be involved with England."
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West Ham look to take Juventus star on loan - the Mirror
West Ham are in talks with Juventus to take Italian Under 21 star Davide
Lanzfame on a year's loan at Upton Park. The attacking midfielder, 21, is
owned by the Turin club but has spent this season on loan at Bari in Serie
B. The signing could be the first for Italian Gianluca Nani, who was
appointed in March as the club's technical director responsible for
transfers. But Lanzafame could miss the start of next season as he is
expected to be called up by the Italian Olympic team for the Beijing Games.
The Hammers have taken the unusual step of announcing they will hold
contract talks with Dean Ashton this week. The £7.25m England squad striker
still has two years left on his current deal but expressed his frustration
at the lack of progress towards a new agreement earlier this week. Chief
executive Scott Duxbury said: "The end of the season was the appropriate
time to discuss such matters and to meet Dean Ashton and his
representatives. "We will sit down on Friday with a view to agreeing a new
long term contract to keep Dean at Upton Park."
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Juventus starlet on West Ham's radar as Nani looks to his homeland - Daily
Mail
Last updated at 12:15pm on 14th May 2008
West Ham are in talks with Juventus to take Italy Under-21 star Davide
Lanzfame on loan. The attacking midfielder, 21, is owned by the Turin club
but has spent this season at Bari in Serie B. The signing could be the first
for Italian Gianluca Nani, who was appointed in March as the club's
technical director responsible for transfers. But Lanzafame could miss the
start of next season as he is expected to be called up by the Italian
Olympic team for the Beijing Games. The Hammers have taken the unusual step
of announcing they will hold contract talks with Dean Ashton this week. The
£7.25m England squad striker still has two years left on his current deal
but expressed his frustration at the lack of progress towards a new
agreement earlier this week. Chief executive Scott Duxbury said: "The end of
the season was the appropriate time to discuss such matters and to meet Dean
Ashton and his representatives.
"We will sit down on Friday with a view to agreeing a new long term contract
to keep Dean at Upton Park."
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West Ham eyeing Gibraltar prospect Joseph
tribalfootball.com - May 13, 2008
Gibraltar defender Joseph, of Spanish third division La Balona, is
attracting interest from West Ham United. Joseph's agent claims the player
has attracted interest from two Premier League clubs, one of which is West
Ham.
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Bari coach backs Lanzafame for West Ham switch
tribalfootball.com - May 13, 2008
West Ham United are set to clinch a loan deal for Italian starlet Davide
Lanzafame. The 21-year-old striker is a product of Juventus' youth system
and made his first-team debut for them last season. But this term he was
loaned out to Bari in Serie B where Juve legend Antonio Conte is coach.
Indeed Conte feels the player has all the ability in the world - even
likening him to Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo. "Lanzafame has
improved tactically," he told the Gazzetta dello Sport. "He is explosive, he
sniffs the goal, and imposes his speed outside the area. If he improves and
learns he can become like Cristiano Ronaldo." West Ham are now set to agree
terms with Juve for a season-long loan. The deal is a clear indication of
the influence of The Hammers' new sporting director Gianluca Nani.
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