WHUFC.com
Hammers trio John Bond, Ronnie Boyce and Ken Brown are all involved in a Sky
special on the 60s
18.11.2009
West Ham United will again be in the Sky Sports spotlight next Monday when
another club-themed edition of the Time of our Lives show is aired. John
Bond, Ronnie Boyce and Ken Brown sat down with presenter Jeff Stelling to
look back on the Hammers team of the mid-60s, when the club won the FA Cup
in 1964 before following that with a memorable UEFA Cup Winners' Cup success
the following year. The show will be aired at 10pm on Sky Sports 1. The trio
also talk specifically about the genius of Ron Greenwood with Bond
describing the manager as "far and away the best coach I'e ever seen". Boyce
added: "His philosophy was simply to attack and please the paying public. I
can't remember a defensive practice that he put on."
Earlier this year, the first West Ham-themed edition of the popular show saw
a review of the memorable 1985/86 season with goalkeeper Phil Parkes,
defender Tony Gale and striker Frank McAvennie. They looked back on many
classic matches and people, not least the great John Lyall, while
contemplating just how close the Hammers came to claiming the club's first
league title.
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Having a Ball
WHUFC.com
The Richard House 10th Birthday Ball was a great success with West Ham
United playing a part
18.11.2009
Revellers at the Richard House 10th Birthday Ball this month helped to raise
£120,000 for London's first children's hospice. Richard House Children's
Hospice is one of West Ham United's chosen charities and the club were happy
to help the local cause by donating two lots for the auction held that
evening. Attendees at the Ball eagerly bid for the chance to win a limited
edition shirt signed by four of West Ham United's best number 10s to help
commemorate the hospice's first decade. Only four shirts, signed by Sir
Trevor Brooking, Sir Geoff Hurst, Paolo Di Canio and Tony Cottee, are in
existence.
The other lot up for grabs was a West Ham United experience which included
access for two people to a behind-closed-doors training session where they
will get to witness close-up how the team prepare for a big game. They will
also receive a signed shirt and two tickets to a Barclays Premier League
match. The two lots helped to raise £4,000 for the hospice.
The event was a huge success with more than 400 people in attendance. Sadly,
the West Ham United first team could not attend as the Ball coincided with
the rescheduled fixture with Aston Villa on the same evening.
However, Mark Noble, who is a key supporter of Richard House, was happy to
record a message to all those in attendance. The midfielder said: "I'm
really sorry we couldn't be there with you tonight but I hope you have a
fantastic evening and raise lots of money for a really good cause."
The Ball paves the way for Richard House's 10th anniversary celebrations
that begin in January 2010. If you would like to find out more about Richard
House and how you can get involved, please visit www.richardhouse.org.uk or
call 020 7511 0222.
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Kearns keen to shine
WHUFC.com
Danny Kearns is looking to build on some promising showings for the reserves
18.11.2009
Danny Kearns is aiming to keep up the good work after some impressive
displays for West Ham United reserves. The former Northern Ireland Under-17
winger was one of a host of teenagers to catch the eye in West Ham United's
2-1 reserve-team friendly defeat at Norwich City, repeatedly beating his
marker and setting up a host of chances for his team-mates. Kearns, who
turned 18 in August, was one of four players looking to impress after
signing their first full-time professional contracts in the summer. With
fellow Academy graduates Bondz N'Gala, Jordan Spence, Matt Fry and Josh
Payne all out on loan, the teenager said he was eager to play first-team
football himself in the near future.
"It's important for the likes of me, Anthony Edgar, Tony Brookes and Georg
Grasser who have got our first pro contracts because we want to go and show
what we can do and maybe go out on loan and get more experience under our
belts. "I'd like to go anywhere, to be honest with you, but the lower down
you go the rougher it is! With my size, that might not necessarily be my
game. I'm working hard and getting fitter and stronger and trying to improve
my game."
Focusing on the Norwich game, Kearns was pleased with the performance of a
young Hammers side. After going a goal behind within a minute, Alex Dyer's
side showed application and dominated possession and territory for long
periods. The Canaries snatched a second through a debateable penalty when
Holmar Orn Eyjolfsson was adjudged to have fouled Cody McDonald. West Ham
refused to give up and halved the deficit through Jack Werndly seven minutes
from full-time. Despite their best efforts, however, the visitors were
unable to find a deserved equaliser. "It was alright," said Kearns. "It was
a decent game. I felt we put in quite a good performance. "We were a bit
disappointed with the goals we conceded and the penalty was a bit iffy. A
few of the boys felt he didn't really touch him, to be honest, and
personally I don't think it was a penalty. "The first goal was a lack of
concentration. We just switched off, but we had a young side and we were all
up for it. A few of the youth-team boys came up and gave a good account of
themselves. "Alex was really pleased with the performances. He made some
points about the goals and about a few things that we could have done to
perhaps get a draw, but overall he was happy enough."
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Sullivan rumours denied
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 18th November 2009
By: Staff Writer
A spokesman has denied reports suggesting David Sullivan has placed a bid
for a stake in West Ham United. A report in today's Sun claimed that
Sullivan had offered around £40million for a 50 per cent stake in the club -
with quotes from 'an insider' who stated: "Mr Sullivan is deadly serious
about wanting to rescue the club. But West Ham's debts are frightening and
nobody in their right mind would take on such a nightmare. So he's come up
with an ingenious plan. "He basically told Straumur: 'I'll turn this club
round, I'll make it profitable and healthy but only if you give me a 50 per
cent stake right now and leave me to run the ship with my people'. He then
wants Straumur to disappear and leave him to turn the club around. "They'd
still be responsible for the debt but he'd inject £40million re-building
West Ham. None of that money would be wasted on re-paying bad debts. There
is no room for negotiation. If they reject his plan he'll look elsewhere."
However that has been refuted by an unnamed Hammers spokesman, who said this
lunchtime: "Nothing concrete has happened yet - and no formal offers [have
been] received from any group. The company will still provide for the
long-term process."
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The cost of Curbs
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 18th November 2009
By: Staff Writer
Alan Curbishley's decision to resign from West Ham United is set to cost the
club up to £3.5million, according to reports. Curbishley walked out on his
managerial post at the beginning of September 2008, claiming that he had
been undermined by the Board who had sanctioned player sales against his
wishes. The former Charlton manager claimed that the Board's actions had
breached the terms of his contract - a view backed by the Courts last month
who ageed that the club should pay Curbishley millions in compensation for
constructive dismissal. The eventual bill could cost be as high as £3m - the
figure claimed by Curbishley's team - with a further £500,000 in court costs
applicable. The final figure will be decided in January at a hearing,
although West Ham are understood to remin hopeful that the figure will be
nearer the £1million mark.
Curbishley, a former Hammers midfielder became the club's eleventh full-time
manager when Alan Pardew was fired two weeks after the Icelandic takeover in
2006. Having led the club to safety against the odds in his first season,
Curbishley acheived a tenth place finish in his first full season despite
the worst injury crisis in recent years at the club.
But with the club fifth in the table just a month into the 2008/09 season,
Curbishley walked out on his job citing the sales of Anton Ferdinand and
George McCartney as reason. Both players had been sold without Curbishley's
agreement at the end of the summer transfer window, with Scott Duxbury and
Gianluca Nani - whose hiring Curbishley had backed - believed to be
responsible.
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Alan Curbishley dimissal costs mount for West Ham
Alan Curbishley will submit a £500,000 legal bill to West Ham in addition to
his demand for £3 million in compensation after winning his case for
constructive dismissal.
Telegraph.co.uk
By Jason Burt
Published: 7:45AM GMT 18 Nov 2009
The Premier League club's former manager, who walked out in September last
year claiming players were sold without his consent, is eventually expected
to receive about £1 million, a year's basic salary, but will have his legal
costs met. Even sources close to Curbishley don't expect him to receive the
full £3 million. A hearing is set for January to finalise the exact level of
compensation, but the scale of Curbishley's legal bills is not unexpected
considering the high-profile nature of the case. Sport on television West
Ham are under severe financial strain but have budgeted for the costs of
settling with Curbishley whose relationship with the club deteriorated
throughout the summer before he departed. There were discussions as to
whether he should be replaced before he walked out. Curbishley is keen for
a return to management in the Premier League but has set his sights high and
would only, it's believed, consider a club in the top ten of the division or
one with the resources or aspirations to achieve that. He was considered for
the Sunderland job before Steve Bruce was appointed while, for example, it's
understood that he would not be interested in Hull City, who West Ham play
on Saturday, should Phil Brown be sacked. West Ham have not made any public
statements about the case but are privately furious at the way the club has
been portrayed. They argue that the players sold — Anton Ferdinand and
George McCartney both, ironically, to Sunderland — wanted to leave and that
good prices were achieved at a time when the club was facing the financial
meltdown of its then owner Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson. However Curbishley's
contract appeared to state he had the final say on transfers.
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West Ham United club shop to sell limited-edition Katy Perry lingerie
American singer wore West Ham basque to MTV awards
Club commission limited-edition range of £300 replicas
guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 18 November 2009 09.00 GMT
Katy Perry's appearance at the MTV Awards earlier this month in West Ham
United lingerie – a tribute to her boyfriend Russell Brand – has provided
the club with an unlikely new revenue stream. The American singer appeared
at the ceremony in a West Ham basque, complete with the team's badges on her
chest, prompting the club to commission a special limited-edition range of
underwear for sale to fans. West Ham say they were "responding to huge
demand". The designer Siobhan Dillon's creation, made from replica shirts,
was seen by millions of viewers around the world: a limited-edition run of
copies will be sold for £300 each. "I thought it would be cool to try and
make the shirt as football-oriented as possible," said Dillon. "So, I used
the collars along the top of the brassiere and used the two badges on the
front. It was made entirely from the three shirts, but we had to take the
Airtex out and replace it with some lining."
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Sullivan Takes West Ham for Fools
West Ham Till I Die
The Sun brings us the shock horror revelation this morning that David
Sullivan wants to obtain 50% of West Ham … for free. He says if Straumur
give him the shares and let him run the club, he will invest £40 million of
his own money. He must think Straumur were born yesterday. I see The Sun has
pushed our level of indebtedness up to £120 million. Frankly, any guess
about debt is just that – guesswork.
Just a note to Mr Sullivan – Christmas Day is December 25th … or perhaps the
date of April 1st would be more appropriate in his case.
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Hammers Fans Back Sullivan
The Sun
By PAUL JIGGINS
WEST HAM fans have backed David Sullivan's plan to take control at Upton
Park. We revealed yesterday the former Birmingham owner has demanded a 50
per cent stake in the Hammers for FREE - in return for saving the club.
Sullivan has promised to plough in £40million if he is allowed to run the
club his way and Icelandic owners Straumur continue to honour their £120m
debt. Straumur are considering the take-it-or-leave-it offer. But Gordon
Thrower, who runs Hammers fans' website Knees Up Mother Brown, believes it
is a good idea. He said: "We need someone in charge other than Straumur. At
the moment we are simply an asset waiting to be flogged. "I have more money
in my pocket than Straumur are willing to invest in the club right now.
"Like most fans, I'd have no problem with Sullivan taking over - if we
didn't end up stagnating like Birmingham. "We'd also want assurances that
his money would only be used to invest in the club and not help pay off the
debts. "We need someone who can take us to the next level where we are
challenging regularly for a European spot. Sullivan could help us do that.
"It seems like the perfect solution for fans but I'm not sure the banks
would see it that way. "We have a lot of debt and I am not sure the banks
would let someone come in and spend money on other things. "Also, would
Straumur's creditors be so understanding about writing off half of their
only meaningful asset?"
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David Sullivan plots Charlton takeover if West Ham bid fails
Published 23:00 18/11/09 By Exclusive by James Nursey
The Mirror
David Sullivan and the Gold brothers are plotting to take over Charlton
should they fail to negotiate an attractive deal for West Ham. Sullivan and
David and Ralph Gold all want to own another football club after selling
Birmingham City to Carson Yeung. Both camps pocketed around £25million from
the £80m sale and are keen to stay in the game. Sources close to the East
End businessmen have confirmed they are in "on-going negotiations" for two
clubs, with the cash-strapped Premier League Hammers their primary target.
They have an emotional attachment to the Upton Park club after growing up in
the area. But Sullivan and the Golds are seriously worried about the club's
huge debts of around £100million. Mirror Sport revealed on October 5 that
West Ham's debts included £45m to several different banks, £19m to Sheffield
United over the Carlos Tevez affair, £15m to other clubs for players - plus
running losses of £20m this year. That has prompted the Essex-based tycoons
to consider other options near to their homes and they like Charlton
Athletic, who are second in League One. The Addicks have been in decline
since dropping out of the top-flight in 2007 but Sullivan, 50, believes
there is potential at The Valley. A source said: "They are in on-going
negotiations with a couple of clubs. Sullivan would love to get West Ham,
but has a plan B."
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David Sullivan in the market to buy West Ham Utd
By Harry Harris, Football Correspondent
ESPN
November 18, 2009
Former Birmingham City owner David Sullivan can take his pick of several
prominent football clubs to buy, including West Ham United. The 60-year-old
entrepreneur is in the market to move back into football after selling his
stake in the Blues and, with so many clubs urgently seeking new investment,
he has been inundated with offers. Sullivan told ESPN Soccernet: "I have
signed confidentiality agreements with a number of clubs, so I am not in a
position to comment about any club I might wish to buy." West Ham remains
the club he would most like to purchase, but there are major problems over
the Hammers' increasing level of debt, which ESPN Soccernet revealed could
be as high as £85 million. One insider suggested that the asking price had
to drop to £100 million and include the debt to interest any potential
investor, which effectively means that just £15 million would be enough to
buy West Ham, providing the new owner took on the debt mountain. Such is the
level of arrears that Sullivan, according to reports in the UK press,
offered to take up 50% for free, with a proviso to pump in much-needed funds
to rescue the club. Sullivan desperately wants to save the club he supported
as a boy and he has informed Icelandic owners Straumur he is willing to
invest £40 million to rebuild the club if he is given control. West Ham's
debts are currently described as "frightening" and Sullivan wants Straumur
to keep the debts in their 50% of the club, leaving him free of debt to use
his investment to buy new players and avoid a potential fire sale of the few
remaining big assets in January. Sullivan sold his 24% stake in Birmingham
to Carson Yeung for around £20 million in September 2009, having helped to
transform Birmingham from a run-down League One club into a thriving Premier
League concern. He now believes he can do the same with West Ham or one of
the other clubs he has the chance to purchase as he seeks to move back into
football.
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Cole is not for sale
Newham Recorder
18 November 2009
WEST HAM have insisted that striker Carlton Cole is not for sale in January
at any price, WRITES DAVE EVANS. For so long the forgotten man of Upton
Park, the former Chelsea striker has been a revelation in the past two
seasons and understandably the big boys are showing an interest in the
26-year-old. But while West Ham may consider reasonable offers for defender
Matthew Upson, they have categorically ruled out selling Cole for what is
reputed to be around £20million. Both Manchester United and Liverpool have
expressed an interest in the England striker, but unless the bid was nearer
to £40million, West Ham will not entertain the prospect of losing a player
they see as vital, firstly to their survival bid and then to their
development as a team. Cole top scored with 11 goals last campaign, his
highest season tally during his career, and already he is on course to top
that. Unlike other years, the player has gone on record to state the target
he has set for himself and it is one that will please West Ham fans as they
await his return from a hamstring injury at Hull City on Saturday. "I'm
trying to play well and stay up there with the top scorers in the Premier
League," insisted Cole. "All I can do is keep tucking them away and
hopefully I can progress and get to 10 before Chri-stmas, because that is my
target."
The improvement in Cole's game over the last two years has been palpable.
Under Alan Curbishley his touch and hold-up skills improved immeasurably,
and under Gianfranco Zola he has added a awareness and an eye for goal. "I
am always trying to improve my game," he said. "I look at videos and see
where I should be and where I should have been. "I'm trying to increase my
threat in front of goal by getting into the right place at the right time."
Cole is certainly doing that and his tally of six goals sees him behind only
Wayne Rooney and Darren Bent among the English strikers. It is easy to see
why the big clubs are after him, but Cole's career has been transformed
under Zola and he is guaranteed a starting place, so loyalty may be a factor
for the Londoner. The club are admant that they do not need to sell in
January, and owners Straumur even pumped in a surprise £5m to the West Ham
coffers last week to help with the running of the club - hardly the actions
of a consortium desperate to sell their investment.
But the real test of their resolve will come in January.
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Diamanti and the bandage - the secret revealed!
Newham Recorder
18 November 2009
THE story behind Alessandro Diamanti's bandaged hand has been one of the
best kept secrets at Upton Park this season. Did it conceal an embarrassing
tattoo? Is to perhaps to pay homage to his ambitions of being a pro boxer?
Or is it just the latest fashion accessory? Well, the Recorder can reveal
that it is none of these. The Italian cult figure wears his bandage with
pride for superstitious reasons. Apparently he needed to wear it in one game
for Livorno, he played a blinder and he has worn it ever since. Hopefully
that clears it up for all you Hammers who were spending sleepless nights
trying to discover the truth!
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Ilunga set to miss Hull clash
Newham Recorder
18 November 2009
WEST HAM travel to Hull City on Saturday for a showdown that is already
looking like a relegation six-pointer, WRITES DAVE EVANS. And the Hammers
are likely to have to grab a result without the influence of full back
Herita Ilunga. The Congo international missed the home defeat by Everton
after hobbling off with a hamstring injury in the victory over Aston Villa.
But it seems that he has not recovered sufficiently to start training this
week, and that would make him very doubtful for the trip to the KC Stadium.
The 27-year-old defender, who had such a superb first season at the club,
has played just nine games for the Hammers this term. He broke his jaw on
the opening day of the season at Wolves, missing the next three games, and
his latest return was brought to a halt after just eight minutes of the
clash against Villa. Kieron Dyer is ruled out, also with a hamstring strain,
but the rest of the squad have a clean bill of health as they prepare for
the biggest match of the season so far. That means that six-goal striker
Carlton Cole is set to return to the starting line-up, partnering Guillermo
Franco, with Zavon Hines expected to be on the bench. A word of warning
however, Cole is currently one booking away from a suspension! Manager
Gianfranco Zola must decide who to play at the top of his diamond midfield
formation with Luis Jimenez, Mark Noble and Alessandro Diamanti all vying
for a place. Noble is likely to get the nod away from home, with Zola
preferring to use his fellow Italian as an impact substitute as he did so
impressively against Everton.
A full house is expected at the KC Stadium on Saturday where West Ham
crashed to a 1-0 defeat last term. Zola knows that they cannot afford a
similar result this time round against Phil Brown's boys. A victory would
haul themselves out of the relegation zone with a home game against Burnley
to come next week. Anything else is unthinkable, but if the worst happens,
it could be a long, hard winter.
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