Daily WHUFC News - 31st March 2010

Youngsters beat D.C.
WHUFC.com
Tony Carr's youth team beat the D.C. United Academy on Tuesday to reach the
Tiffany Cup final
30.03.2010

West Ham United's youngsters held off the challenge of the United States'
best Academy side - D.C. United - to reach the final of the International
Amateur Soccer Tournament - The Challenge for the Tiffany Trophy Cup with a
match to spare. Dylan Tombides and Dominic Vose were both on target as a
combined Under-16/17 side overcame the Americans 2-0 on home turf in
Washington D.C. on Tuesday. Having beaten the Georgian U17 national team 2-1
in their opening fixture, Tony Carr's Hammers are through to the final
before taking on Northern Capital Soccer League outfit Annandale United in
their final group-stage match. West Ham have been made welcome in the
American capital, attending a special reception at the British Embassy on
Monday afternoon. "The reception was a nice touch," said Carr. "The
ambassador made us all very welcome and the boys thoroughly enjoyed
themselves. I also had the opportunity to attend a reception at the South
African Embassy in honour of the country hosting the FIFA World Cup this
summer.
"The boys were also able to enjoy a sightseeing trip around Washington D.C.,
during which they visited the White House, the Capitol and the Lincoln
Memorial. "As much as these trips are about the boys' football development,
they are also educational. Some of them are young and had never flown
before, let alone visited the United States, so it has been a great
experience for them. "Soccer in the United States is really buzzing, with
youngsters participating in their tens of thousands across the country. The
challenge here is to bridge the gap between youth soccer and the
professional game."
All the club's expenses for the trip have been paid for by the tournament's
organisers. Last year's competition was won by Real Madrid.

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Four perfect 10s
WHUFC.com
Two unique shirts signed by four great West Ham United No10s are to go up
for auction
29.03.2010

Two very special West Ham United shirts signed by four of the greatest
players ever to wear the club's coveted No10 shirt have gone up for auction.
The 2009/10 home shirt has been personally signed by Sir Geoff Hurst, Sir
Trevor Brooking, Tony Cottee and Paolo Di Canio, before being mounted and
framed alongside a unique montage featuring the quartet of Hammers legends.
All proceeds will go towards the club's Academy. The following text is
printed underneath the shirt and images, marking the amazing impression the
four featured players have left on the club. "Sir Geoff Hurst, Sir Trevor
Brooking, Tony Cottee and Paolo Di Canio are four of the finest players ever
to have worn the No10 shirt for West Ham United. The quartet made more than
1,500 appearances between them, scoring nearly 550 goals."
FIFA 1966 World Cup hat-trick hero Hurst made 502 appearances between 1960
and 1972, scoring 249 goals - second only to the late, great Vic Watson in
the club's history. Hurst was also voted Hammer of the Year three times.
Brooking, whose header won the 1980 FA Cup for the Hammers, netted 102 goals
in 635 games between 1965 and 1984, winning the Hammer of the Year award on
an unrivalled five occasions. Cottee plundered 146 goals in 336 appearances
in two spells at the Boleyn Ground, starring for West Ham between 1983 and
1988 and 1994 and 1997. He was also voted Hammer of the Year in 1986.
Italian Di Canio won the hearts of Hammers fans between 1998 and 2003,
scoring 51 times in 141 appearances and being named Hammer of the Year in
2000. The framed shirts will be available exclusively through West Ham
United's official eBay store, with each on an individual seven-day auction.
Payment is via Paypal. Please note that if payment is not received within
seven days, then the shirt will be relisted.

Shirt 1 :
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220578670638&ssPageName
=STRK:MESELX:IT
Shirt 2 :
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220578678826&ssPageName
=STRK:MESELX:IT

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Cole committed to cause
WHUFC.com
After the disappointment of the weekend, Carlton Cole is looking to put
things right
30.03.2010

Carlton Cole has spoken of the togetherness in the West Ham United camp
after returning to work at Chadwell Heath. The England striker was one of
several first-teamers at the training ground on Tuesday, with the squad
having already switched their focus to Sunday afternoon's tricky trip to
Everton. He said he had been fired up by the manager's determination to turn
things around. Speaking to Sky Sports, he said: "It's what you want to hear
your manager say. He is a committed man and I fully back him. He is such a
nice person, a good manager, and he knows what he is doing. "Every time I go
on to the field I never want to let him down, and no other player in the
squad wants to do that either. Everyone loves him and wants to do well under
him. "Everyone at West Ham wants what is best for West Ham. I can't see the
manager and the chairman wanting different things. We all want the same
thing. "Everton is a game where we can get something. I am guy who likes to
win his games and it has not been good so far, but we are looking to change
that this Sunday."

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Dyer proud of youngsters
WHUFC.com
Alex Dyer was pleased with the display of his reserve team in Tuesday's 1-0
home defeat by Aston Villa
30.03.2010

His West Ham United side may have been edged out 1-0 by Barclays Premier
Reserve League South leaders Aston Villa, but manager Alex Dyer had plenty
of reasons to be pleased with his players. For various reasons, Dyer's young
Hammers could be proud of their display on a wild, wet and windy night at
Bishop's Stortford FC's Woodside Park.
Andreas Weimann scored the only goal of the game, racing on to James
Collins' flick-on before firing past Marek Stech at the second attempt
shortly after the half-hour mark.
At the other end, Junior Stanislas hit the post with a free-kick, while
Ahmed Abdulla, Davide Ferrari and Stanislas himself were all denied by Villa
goalkeeper David Marshall and half-time replacement David Bevan. "It was a
good game," said Dyer. "Villa are top of the league and have been winning
most of their games this season. It was nice. The boys worked hard and put
in a good shift. I felt bad because we lost the game but, individually and
collectively, there were some good performances. "Conditions were hard, but
I felt that we coped with them quite well. We've been doing well lately and
had a couple of good wins against the better sides in the league. We had a
young team out against the best team in the league, an experienced team, and
we matched them. "I was disappointed with the goal we conceded because it
was avoidable. One of the centre-halves didn't cover around the other one
when he lost the ball in the air, but apart from that, we dug in well."
While Dyer was pleased with his side's overall display in difficult
conditions, the manager singled out a number of his young performers for
special praise. Academy right-back Callum Driver, 17, impressed on his first
start at reserve-team level, while Stanislas looked highly motivated to do
well on the right wing. Eight days after rival and close friend Peter Kurucz
was a star in the 2-0 win at Arsenal, Marek Stech staked his own claim to be
Robert Green's regular back-up with a strong evening's work between the
sticks.
Josh Payne, who looks set to be released at the end of the season, was also
in good form in front of more than 30 scouts from clubs from all over
Europe. "Callum was very good in his first game in the reserves. He worked
hard up and down the line and looked like he'd played there before at this
level. "Junior put in a good performance and got another 90 minutes under
his belt at this level. He got up and down, too, and was motivated. He
wanted to play in this game, and that will bode well at first-team level.
"It was good to see Anthony Edgar back. He has been out injured for a few
weeks, so it was good to see him playing again. "I thought Josh Payne did
well. He's one of the boys who is looking for another club and there were a
lot of scouts there, so hopefully he'll have impressed them because he put
in a good, disciplined performance. "Marek was very good. He made some good
saves and commanded his box well, so I was happy. To be fair, I was happy
with all eleven players and the three subs that came on."

* Bondz N'Gala played his third game for Plymouth Argyle on Tuesday night as
the Championship strugglers picked up a precious point in a goalless draw at
home to Barnsley.
The Green Army are five points from safety with six matches to play but
N'Gala, 20, has played his part in their survival fight by helping the club
to their second clean sheet in the last three matches. N'Gala joined
Plymouth earlier this month on loan until the end of the season, and looks
set to move on to pastures new this summer.

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Reserves 0-1 Aston Villa FT
WHUFC.com
All the action as it happened as West Ham United reserves were edged out by
Aston Villa at Woodside Park
30.03.2010

West Ham United reserves v Aston Villa reserves
Barclays Premier Reserve League South
Woodside Park, Bishop's Stortford FC
Tuesday 30 March 2010
Kick-off: 7pm

Final score - West Ham United reserves 0-1 Aston Villa reserves

92 mins - Hogg brings down Edgar again and is booked this time. Brown lofts
it in but it is headed clear. Edgar picks the ball up and finds Driver, who
is tackled and the final whistle is blown. Unfortunate defeat for the
Hammers, who gave everything in absolutely horrible conditions. The reserves
will return to action a week tonight at Stoke City. Don't forget to visit
WHUTV for exclusive highlights and post-match reaction.

91 mins - I have never seen football played in weather worse than this! It's
like a monsoon, with the rain bucketing down and the wind swirling it around
Woodside Park.

90 mins - Stanislas whips in a wicked ball and Bevan can only flap it behind
for a corner. Stanislas crosses again and it is headed clear. We're going to
have at least two more minutes...

89 mins - A loose ball allows Edgar to get the better of Hogg. The winger
gets away from the right-back, who fouls him. A late chance for Stanislas to
deliver.

88 mins - The ball is thrown in and headed clear by Osbourne. It falls to
Payne, but his first-time shot fizzes inches wide of the far post. Unlucky.

87 mins - The rain is falling even harder here, but West Ham still have a
chance of nicking a draw. If they could, it would be a superb result against
the leaders.

85 mins - Great saving challenge from Spence to knock the ball over his own
crossbar after Albrighton had escaped the attentions of Brown down the
right. The resulting corner falls to Salifou, but the Togoese fires
powerfully wide from about 12 yards.

84 mins - Good stuff again from Stech, who claims Albrighton's volleyed
cross well above the head of Collins.

83 mins - West Ham are still right in this as Stanislas runs at O'Halloran,
only for the cross to bounce back off the winger and out for a goal kick.

81 mins - Another sight of goal for West Ham. Driver latches on to Dixon's
pass and sends over a cross. Clark heads clear to Payne, who drags his shot
wide from 25 yards. Maybe he should have taken a touch?

80 mins - It is real end-to-end stuff here as both sets of players tire on
the heavy surface. First, Dixon is just too short when trying to play in
Edgar, then Albrighton sees his shot deflected wide by Brown. The corner is
half-cleared by Stech, who then recovers to save Osbourne's follow-up shot.
Good work from the goalkeeper.

78 mins - After an age of messing about, Albrighton hits his free-kick low
and it deflects just wide of the target off the wall. Close call. West Ham
clear the corner and Stanislas romps forward before feeding Edgar, whose
cross is hacked out for a throw.

77 mins - Payne slides in and plays Collins in by accident. The forward is
brought down just outside the box. Danger for the Hammers.

76 mins - Salifou picks out Albrighton with a nice cross-field pass. The
right winger crosses left-footed, but it is too high for Hofbauer and flies
out for a goal kick.

73 mins - West Ham win a free-kick wide on the right. Stanislas whips in a
superb ball and Wearen should score at the far post, but the unmarked
Irishman can only divert his header wide of the post.

72 mins - The change nearly has an immediate effect as Montano and Dixon
threaten to break through, only for Davies to make a fine challenge. West
Ham threaten come foward again seconds later and Bevan does well to save
with his legs.

71 mins - A third and final change for the Hammers, with Edgar on for
Ferrari. West Ham are now playing 4-4-2, by the way, with Montano partnering
Dixon up front. Edgar is wide on the left.

70 mins - Spence brings down Collins wide on the left. Albrighton curls it
in and Stech punches clear to Clark. He tries to chip the goalkeeper, but
the Czech holds on.

68 mins - West Ham have not created too much this half, save for Stanislas'
free-kick. They will need to make more of their possession if they are to
get back on level terms. Payne tries to do so with a left-foot cross, but it
is easily cleared by Clark in front of Montano.

65 mins - Villa are well on top and Dyer makes a second change, bringing on
Eoin Wearen for Lee for the final 25 minutes or so.

62 mins - Sanchez plays Stech into a bit of trouble, and the goalkeeper
makes a hash of his clearance. The ball is worked to Hofbauer, but he curls
his shot wide of the angle of post and bar.

61 mins - Weimann this time, but his curves his shot wide of the target from
20 yards.

60 mins - Brilliant play from Villa. Hogg gets forward well before Collins
works it wide to Albrighton. The winger curls a super cross to the far post,
where Hofbauer catches the ball flush on the volley, only for Stech to block
it with his legs.

59 mins - It's absolutely sheeting it down with rain as Stech runs out of
his goal to clear well at the feet of Collins. The goalkeeper gets there
first and slides the ball out of the stadium.

58 mins - Stanislas rattles the post with his free-kick. He takes a long run
up and curls the ball into the near post, where it bounces back to Dixon,
who can only stab the ball wide of the target. Montano is on, but in place
of Abdulla rather than Dixon.

57 mins - Montano is about to come on, I would suspect for Dixon. Meanwhile,
West Ham win a free-kick deep inside the Villa half. Stanislas comes across
to take it.

55 mins - Close. Osbourne flights a cross to the back post, where Albrighton
has lost Brown. The winger tries to hit a controlled volley into the bottom
corner, but misjudges his effort by about a yard.

54 mins - West Ham have started fairly well after the break, with Payne
again looking to take control of the midfield. There are plenty of scouts
here, and they will surely have been impressed by the midfielder's
performance so far.

50 mins - Good football from the Hammers. Lee and Payne work well in
midfield before the latter sprays it wide into the path of Driver. The
right-back reaches the byline and crosses dangerously. The ball hits
O'Halloran, spins across the goalmouth and is hacked clear by Hogg. Villa
break immediately, but Hofbauer's header is weak and easily held by Stech.

49 mins - It's raining. Again.

47 mins - Albrighton is fouled by Payne. Hofbauer crosses and Stech rises
above Davies to punch the ball clear with both fists.

46 mins - Aston Villa get us underway, with David Bevan replacing Marshall
between the sticks. I don't think Marshall was injured, so I'm assuming it's
just a case of giving the Irish youngster a run out.

Half-time score - West Ham United reserves 0-1 Aston Villa reserves

46 mins - We're going to have at least one added minute. About a second
short, the half-time whistle is blown.

44 mins - West Ham's best chance of the half goes begging. Stanislas curls a
superb ball around the Villa defence to Abdulla, but his shot is blocked by
Marshall. It rolls clear to Ferrari, but the Italian hits the goalkeeper
with a follow-up effort with his weaker right foot.

42 mins - West Ham lose possession inside the Villa half and Albrighton
streaks away again, beating Payne before seeing his shot hit Spence and spin
wide for another corner. The same player takes, but his cross is well
blocked by Driver.

39 mins - O'Halloran forces a corner off Driver at the near post. Albrighton
to take... He takes it short and receives the ball back, hitting it
first-time into the box, but it floats just over the head of Davies at the
back stick.

38 mins - Davies hooks the ball clear to Weimann, who turns smartly and runs
away from Lee, who tugs him back. A booking is the result for the West Ham
midfielder.

37 mins - It's hard work out there in the mud. Dixon comes short for a pass
and is fouled by Clark.

36 mins - Villa are on top here, and Spence has to be alert to smash Hogg's
right-wing cross out for a throw.

33 mins - GOAL! Weimann scores, but it really should have been avoided. The
Austrian runs on to a flick on and beats two West Ham defenders to the ball.
Stech saves his first effort well, but is powerless to prevent Weimann from
clipping the rebound in off the far post.

31 mins - Albrighton hits the frame of the goal again! Villa force a
free-kick about 30 yards out and the winger curls a dipping effort that
bounces back off the crossbar before Weimann volleys the rebound into the
car park.

30 mins - Another corner for Villa as Albrighton's cross flicks off Spence's
head and over the stand and into the car park. Albrighton himself takes and
it curls low into the base of the near post. That would have been a bit
embarrassing for Driver, who was stationed on the post, but thankfully West
Ham were able to scramble the ball clear.

28 mins - Albrighton gets forward again down the right and forces Spence
into conceding a corner.

27 mins - Stanislas clips the ball in and it falls to Dixon, whose shot is
blocked. Stanislas regains possession and finds Ferrari, whose cross falls
to Payne, but the midfielder's ambitious effort flies over the stand.

26 mins - Payne is back on... Abdulla holds the ball up well and wins a
free-kick about 35 yards out. Stanislas still looks like he fancies a shot
on goal.

24 mins - Good work from Payne and Stanislas to win the ball back before the
former is felled by Osbourne. Payne is left in a heap and needs the physio
on.

23 mins - Albrighton crosses to the near post, where O'Halloran runs into
the space but can only flick his header wide of the far post.

22 mins - Midway through the opening period and Payne is having an
impressive game so far. He's been at the centre of much of the Hammers' best
moments, while Stanislas has also done well so far. As I type, Spence
concedes a corner.

20 mins - Good challenge from Spence to deny Salifou after the African had
broken into the box on to Weimann's pass. If he hadn't made the challenge,
then Salifou may well have been in on Stech's goal.

18 mins - An opportunity at the other end straight away. Weimann uses skill
and pace to get away from Driver and get into the box, but he can only drag
his shot across the face of goal.

17 mins - A first chance for the Hammers. Payne finds Abdulla with the
outside of his right boot. The Saudi Arabian feeds Stanislas, who makes ten
yards before forcing a smart save from Marshall. West Ham work the corner
short to Lee, whose shot is blocked.

16 mins - Albrighton and Hogg combine down the right before the former
crosses deep, where Payne does well to head clear when surrounded by two
Villa attackers.

14 mins - Payne loses possession before sliding in hard on Hofbauer and
clearing the ball for a throw. Not much in the way of goalmouth action at
either end so far, to be honest. Albrighton tries to change that, but
Sanchez is there to clear.

13 mins - Spence clears and Stanislas volleys the ball out of the stadium.

11 mins - Hofbauer's cross holds up on the wind and threatens to dip under
the crossbar. Stech takes no chances and pushes it out for a corner, which
comes to nothing.

9 mins - Good work from Abdulla to win a free-kick inside the centre circle,
but West Ham play backwards and concede possession. Salifou crosses and
Spence slides in to clear. West Ham are struggling to keep the ball, but the
surface isn't helping too much.

7 mins - Another effort from Villa. O'Halloran and Hofbauer combine down the
left before Weimann shoots from 20 yards, but again the effort is wayward
and flies past the far post.

6 mins - Payne brings down left-back O'Halloran five yards outside the
penalty area on the left. Albrighton curls the ball miles too long and it
flies out for a goal kick.

4 mins - The powerfully-built Salifou picks the ball up 25 yards out, takes
a touch and slices his shot well wide of Stech's goal. Villa are on top in
the early stages.

3 mins - Villa's side looks considerably bigger than West Ham's. That makes
sense, considering the experienced Curtis Davies, Osbourne and Togo
international Moustapha Salifou are all involved from the start.

2 mins - West Ham have lined up in a 4-5-1 formation, with Dixon up front
and Abdulla forming part of a five-man midfield. Ferrari is on the left,
with Stanislas wide on the right.

1 min - Isaiah Osbourne ploughs forward through the mud before being halted
by right-back Callum Driver. First-team coach Kevin Keen is here to watch
the action.

7pm - West Ham get us underway...

6.59pm - As if conditions could get any worse! It's now windy as well, which
makes it feel even colder. Lovely. The two captains are called forward by
the referee, a Mr Cooper, for the pre-match handshakes and coin toss. The
two teams switch ends, with Villa kicking towards Stansted Airport and the
M11...

6,57pm - West Ham are out first, with Spence leading his troops on to the
sodden playing suurface. Villa soon follow, led by captain Ciaran Clark.

6.55pm - We have some young Aston Villa fans in the stand here! The little
girls are making themselves heard with a song or two, as well. Very
impressive. Without being over-dramatic, it is freezing here.

6.50pm - I must confess that the crowd is not the biggest here this evening.
The poor weather, plus the attraction of UEFA Champions League football on
the TV, looks to have kept even the regulars away from Woodside Park. On the
flip side, there are dozens of scouts here this evening.

West Ham United will look to make it three Barclays Premier Reserve League
South wins in succession when they host leaders Aston Villa at Woodside Park
this evening.

The relentless rain is still falling here on the Essex/Herts border, and the
playing surface does look a tad wet in places, but we have the OK to go
ahead from the referee. This is the 70th match played on this pitch this
season.

West Ham have a young side out, with Junior Stanislas and Josh Payne
providing the first-team experience in the starting XI. Jordan Spence will
captain Alex Dyer's team, with Marek Stech in goal. Davide Ferrari and Terry
Dixon, who scored in the 2-0 win at Arsenal eight days ago, are also in the
lineup.

Reigning champions Aston Villa are unbeaten in all eleven matches they have
played this season, and sit two points clear at the top of the table again
this term. Kevin MacDonald's side won 2-0 in the reverse fixture at Villa
Park in September, when the weather was rather different.

West Ham United reserves: Stech, Driver, Sanchez, Spence, Brown, Stanislas,
Payne, Lee (Wearen 65), Ferrari, Abdulla (Montano 58), Dixon
Subs: Mehmet, McNaughton, Edgar

Aston Villa reserves: Marshall (Bevan 46), Hogg, Clark, Davies, O'Halloran,
Albrighton, Osbourne, Salifou, Hofbauer, Weimann, Collins
Subs: Forrester, Carruthers, Deeney

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Cole - Players behind Zola
Hammers striker lifted by manager's decision to fight on
By Rob Parrish Last updated: 30th March 2010
SSN

LIVE ON SKY SPORTS
Everton v West Ham
3.30pm, Sun, Sky Sports HD1, Sky Sports 1 and online with Sky Player

Carlton Cole believes Gianfranco Zola's decision to stay with West Ham will
lift the club as they battle against relegation from the Premier League.
Zola admitted after Saturday's home defeat by Stoke - their sixth top-flight
reverse in succession - that he was considering his future with the Upton
Park club. Several days of soul-searching in Sardinia persuaded the former
Italy international to remain for the final six games of the campaign. The
Hammers are only out of the relegation zone on goal difference and could be
in the bottom three by the time they kick off Sunday's clash with in-form
Everton at Goodison Park. Striker Cole revealed that the squad had been
lifted by Zola's announcement and insisted they would be giving their all to
ensure the East London outfit remain in England's top flight. The England
international told Sky Sports News: "It's what you want to hear your manager
say. "He is a committed man and I fully back him. He is such a nice person,
a good manager, and he knows what he is doing. "I know the results haven't
gone our way lately but we are still working hard and hopefully we can stay
away from the relegation zone. "We have not had the rub of the green. The
boys always try 100 per cent, all of us are really motivated to beat the
drop. "It is not an issue of us not being 100 per cent committed. "We want
to do it for him. He has got so much charisma and everyone knows what type
of person he is. "Every time I go onto the field I never want to let him
down, and no other player in the squad wants to do that either. Everyone
loves him and wants to do well under him."
Co-owner David Sullivan sparked a row with Zola by describing the team's
performance in the recent home defeat by Wolves as 'shambolic', but Cole
feels the duo are now pulling in the same direction. He added: "Everyone at
West Ham wants what is best for West Ham. I can't see the manager and the
chairman wanting different things. We all want the same thing. "It is so
tight down there at the moment. One game can make a whole world of
difference. We are working hard to get that first win. We have not had a
good run and we want to work hard and change that. "Everton is a game where
we can get something. I am guy who likes to win his games and it has not
been good so far, but we are looking to change that this Sunday."

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Hammers eye Emirates deal
The Sun
By ANDREW DILLON
Published: Today

WEST HAM are dabbling in a bit of Dubai and selling - as they turn to Arab
investors to ease their cash crisis. Joint-chairman David Sullivan and
vice-chair Karren Brady are in the United Arab Emirates tapping up wealthy
businessmen while the team battles to save its Premier League status. The
Hammers want minority shareholders to take up the remaining 50 per cent of
the club - for around £50million. Sullivan said: "I have good horse racing
connections over here. We only want people to take up the Straumur
percentage of investment. "English people are proving reluctant right now
because of the team's league place but we're working hard. "Some people here
are billionaires and we want them on board." Troubled Hammers boss
Gianfranco Zola returns to work today with his players' support. Defeat to
Everton on Sunday will be their seventh loss in a row.
But striker Carlton Cole said: "The gaffer is a committed man and I back him
fully."

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Premier hits TV jackpot again
The Sun
By CARL LONG
Published: Today

PREMIER League clubs have been told they will each collect an extra
£7.5million per season from overseas TV deals. Top-flight outfits already
receive about £12m from foreign television, sponsorship and licensing money.
That will push the minimum each club can earn a year in TV cash and prize
money alone to £40m. Whoever are champions next season can expect to rake in
more than £60m. That does not include income from gate receipts, club
sponsorship deals or from merchandise sales. As overseas TV cash is split
equally between the clubs, the Premier League boss Richard Scudamore hopes
the increase will appease chairmen who want a more even share of domestic TV
money. But the influx of extra cash will also widen the financial gulf
between the top flight and the Championship. The league are still to
finalise two outstanding overseas TV deals, but the contracts agreed so far
are nearly double the £625m total for the current period.

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Hammers owners seek Dubai investment
Published 23:00 30/03/10 By Neil McLeman
The Mirror

West Ham co-owner David Sullivan was in Dubai yesterday seeking new
investment at Upton Park. Sullivan and David Gold bought 50 per cent of the
club for around £50m in January but the other half remains with Icelandic
company Straumur. And the new owners are seeking fresh money to buyout
Straumur while keeping their share. Sullivan said: "I have good horse-racing
connections over here. We only want people to take up the Straumur
percentage of the investment. English people are a bit reluctant because of
the team's position in the league but we're working hard." The value of club
will be sharply reduced if West Ham are relegated. Zola's side have lost six
straight matches to remain out of the bottom three only on goal difference.

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David Sullivan flies to Dubai in search of new investors for West Ham
West Ham's co-owner seeks funds for remaining 50% of club
Vice-chairman Karren Brady helps boost Sullivan's sales pitch
Stuart James guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 30 March 2010 21.01 BST

David Sullivan, West Ham United's co-owner, and Karren Brady, the
vice-chairman at Upton Park, have travelled to Dubai to hold talks with
potential investors in the Premier League club which they hope will lead to
an offer for Straumur's 50% shareholding. When Sullivan and David Gold paid
£44m for a 50% stake in West Ham in January they signed an agreement that
would give them the option over the next four years to acquire the remaining
50%. Sullivan, however, made it clear at the time that he would welcome
other investors, including Tony Fernandes, the head of the Lotus Formula One
team and a lifelong West Ham supporter, who had also hoped to take control
of the club at the turn of the year.
With no sign of any progress on that front, the latest development has seen
Sullivan and Brady make a trip to the Middle East this week to hold meetings
with a number of prospective buyers. The pair arrived in Dubai with a
prospectus to support their long-term plans for West Ham, which include
moving to the Olympic Stadium in Stratford after the 2012 London Games, and
remained in discussions with interested parties tonight. How easy it will be
to generate genuine interest in a club that has lost its last six matches
and faces the prospect of revenue streams being slashed in the event of
relegation to the Championship remains to be seen but Sullivan and Brady
will not lightly be discouraged.

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http://vyperz.blogspot.com

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I am running the BUPA 10k on May 31st and raising money for the Bobby Moore
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Daily WHUFC News - II 30th March 2010

Reserves ready for Villa
WHUFC.com
Alex Dyer's side will host the Barclays Premier Reserve League South leaders
Aston Villa on Tuesday
30.03.2010

Cristian Montano will be aiming to score his first goal at reserve-team
level on Tuesday evening after impressing for West Ham United's Under-18s.
The Colombian-born forward, recently back in action following an ankle
injury, has plundered nine goals in 14 starts for Tony Carr's FA Premier
Academy League side this season. Now 18, Montano has been offered his first
professional contract and is highly thought of by many at the club. However,
after six scoreless appearances for Alex Dyer's reserves, the South American
will be aiming to open his account when the Hammers entertain Aston Villa in
the Barclays Premier Reserve League South on Tuesday evening. Villa arrive
at Bishop's Stortford FC's Woodside Park unbeaten all season, but Dyer's
team are in good form, having beaten Chelsea and Arsenal away from home in
their last two matches. The Villans scored a hard-fought 2-0 victory at
Villa Park in the season's opening fixture on 1 September last year, and
Dyer will be hoping the likes of Montano, Junior Stanislas and Anthony Edgar
will fire his side to success this time around. Goalkeeper Marek Stech will
be given a chance to shine, while the reserves will again be captained by
promising defender Jordan Spence. Terry Dixon and Davide Ferrari, both of
whom were on target in the 2-0 win at Arsenal last week, are also available.
Aston Villa will produce a stern test, however, with the club's youngsters
having qualified for the semi-finals of the FA Youth Cup, where they face
West Ham's conquerors Newcastle United. Former Liverpool midfielder Kevin
MacDonald's side have won eight and drawn three of their eleven reserve
league matches this term. Kick-off at Woodside Park is 7pm, with tickets
available on the night. Admission is £3 for adults and £1 for children, with
season ticket holders admitted free of charge.

The club's official website will have live text updates on whufc.com from
6.45pm.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Tuesday test for in-form Ladies
WHUFC.com
Gemma Shepherd has been in goalscoring form to help promotion-chasing West
Ham United Ladies
30.03.2010

West Ham United Ladies face a major meeting with FA Women's Premier League
Southern Division leaders Barnet on Tuesday night as they look to continue
their promotion challenge. The Hammers are on a high after an impressive 3-1
win at Queens Park Rangers on Sunday. Tony Marshall's team recovered from a
goal down to secure a comfortable success courtesy of a Nina Downham goal
and two from Gemma Shepherd - the second of which was a spectacular 30-yard
volley. Becky Merritt hit the crossbar with a long-range free-kick in the
closing stages, while Downham also saw her diving header pushed aside by the
home goalkeeper. Following their victory, manager Marshall is targeting an
assault on the promotion places, with his side now just three points behind
second-placed Portsmouth. "We created a lot of chances throughout the game,
so that's what is pleasing," he said. "We've been notoriously slow starters
this season, but after we got the first goal, that set us on our way and the
belief was there that we were going to get something out of this. "We were
unlucky not to go in two or three up at half-time after that and that set us
up for the second half, and we had eight or nine chances. It was a good
all-round performance."
West Ham have lost just one of the 16 league matches they have contested
this season, but eight draws mean Marshall's team have some ground to make
up if they are to overhaul Barnet. With six fixtures remaining, the manager
still believes his players can close the nine-point gap between themselves
and the Bees. "We don't have the experience that someone like Barnet have,
but I think we could be there or thereabouts," he said.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham enter Dubai investment talks
ESPN Soccernet staff
March 30, 2010

West Ham United have opened talks with Middle East investors to become the
latest Premier League club seeking cash from overseas. Hammers co-owner
David Sullivan and vice-chairman Karen Brady are in Dubai for talks with
investors who are interested in buying the remaining 50% of West Ham United
plc, owned by Straumar. Current co-owners David Gold and Sullivan would
remain in control of the club, but the other 50% looks like falling into
foreign hands. That might not be very surprising any more, considering many
of the major clubs are foreign owned: Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea,
Manchester City, Aston Villa, Birmingham City, Fulham and Sunderland.
Hammers fans, though, will be reassured that the condition of any sale will
be that club decisions remain in the hands of Gold and Sullivan. An insider
close to the talks told Soccernet on Tuesday: "I can confirm that David
Sullivan and Karen Brady are in Dubai talking to investors who are
interested in the 50% owned still by Straumar."
Clearly, the Hammers slipping deep into the relegation mire will not aid the
talks. The Dubai summit comes on the back of two successive home defeats
against Wolves and Stoke City, which has put the club's Premier League
status in jeopardy. West Ham need to stay up to attract investors, and so
any buyout of Straumar's 50% will be contingent on West Ham's survival as
the Middle East big-hitters want to invest in the Premier League. Little
wonder the pressure is so intense on manager Gianfranco Zola and his West
Ham team as the stakes couldn't be higher. Sullivan has already told
Soccernet that it would cost the Hammers in excess of £40 million in year
one alone if they went down, but it would also cost them the investment the
club urgently need. Gold and Sullivan's master plan is to use the investment
for a major overhaul of the playing staff in the summer. It could see West
Ham joining the big boys such as Manchester City and Chelsea in the hunt for
top talent, and that would be a major attraction for the manager, though
whether or not it is Zola remains to be seen. Any significant boost in
investment and the increased transfer kitty that would come with it could be
an attractive proposition for a big-name boss to take on the challenge of
the Upton Park managerial hotseat.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham prepare complaint against Fulham
ESPN Soccernet staff
March 30, 2010

Relegation-threatened West Ham United are considering lodging a complaint
against Fulham for resting some of their best players at Hull City to
prepare for their historic Europa League quarter-final with Wolfsburg on
Thursday. The Cottagers left top-scorer Bobby Zamora, captain Danny Murphy
and Ireland international Damien Duff out of the matchday squad for the
defeat at Hull, a result which put greater pressure on the Hammers'
relegation plight. West Ham have now examined the regulations as they
contemplate an official complaint against their fellow London club. The
Hammers have estimated it will cost them in excess of £40 million in the
first year alone if they go down. Fulham boss Roy Hodgson, who has been
touted for Manager of the Year and as an English candidate to succeed Fabio
Capello, made six changes from the starting team which went out of the FA
Cup to Tottenham the previous week and clearly had an eye on the big prize
in Europe. Fielding a weakened side allowed the Tigers to complete a
relatively comfortable 2-0 victory at the KC Stadium on Saturday, with goals
from Jimmy Bullard and Craig Fagan. Hodgson was unrepentant in making the
decision with the Cottagers comfortably placed in 11th position in the
league and with a vital Europa League clash against Wolfsburg five days
later as the only prize left for Fulham to mark such a wonderful season. "If
you win the game making changes then you congratulate yourself on the squad
system," Hodgson told Fulham's official website. "If the team that gets a
chance doesn't win the game then of course people say, 'had the other
players played they'd have won'. "We played seven matches in 27 days in
February. We played eight in 24 days in March and we've got another seven or
eight in 25 or 26 days in April. I don't think it's fair for anyone to
suggest that we can do that with 11 players."
Formidable at Craven Cottage, the manager can argue that Fulham have been
generally woeful on the road this season with just one win and a pitiful 11
goals scored. Having secured their Premier League survival and knocked out
Juventus in the Europa League already, Hodgson has made no secret of the
fact that he was concentrating on Thursday's tie. A West Ham insider told
Soccernet: "We are checking the rules. Roy Hodgson said on Match of the Day
he rested players as they had a lot of games coming up starting with
Wolfsburg this week. Hull got very lucky with Fulham fielding a very weak
side as they play Wolfsburg on Thursday. "Let's hope they beat Wolfsburg and
stay in the competition and do the same for us when we play them."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Fans take a dim view of plot to tackle Rory
www.WhyDelilah.co.uk | Published: Tuesday 30 Mar 2010
by Anthony Munday

A STOKE fan has complained after he was left with a restricted view of
Saturday's Premier League match at West Ham because advertising boards were
moved to hamper City's long throw expert Rory Delap. Paul Ruane says he and
at least another 80 supporters were affected by the hoardings, which were
put much closer to the Upton Park pitch than usual to impede Delap's
deliveries. The 48-year-old IT professional says he and wife Carolyn, who
had knee replacement surgery last week, were eventually moved to alternative
seats adjacent to a segregation zone behind one of the goals. A further
dozen or so City fans were also relocated, but Ruane said those who remained
in the lower section of the Sir Trevor Brooking Stand had to contravene
ground regula tions by standing up to see the match. He said: "The
combination of the perimeter wall and the advertising boards meant we could
see very little of the pitch without standing up. "The first five or six
rows were affected and there were 14 of us in each row. "I spoke to one of
the stewards who said he had never seen the boards in that position before
in the 10 years he had worked at West Ham. He also confirmed the stewards
had not been briefed on why the boards were there. "It seemed West Ham were
seeking to gain an advantage by restricting the run-up for the taking of
throw-ins by Stoke City players."
Ruane has raised the issue with fellow Stoke fan Malcolm Clarke, who is
chairman of national body the Football Supporters' Federation. Clarke also
spoke at length to the stewards, but the advertising boards were still not
moved. Ruane said: "Myself, my wife and a few other Stoke fans were moved to
other seats just as the game was about to kick-off. "We had to go up and
down steps and across a busy concourse and we missed a few minutes of the
match. "The fans who were not relocated were either encouraged to break
ground regulations by standing up or could not see the game. The tickets
sold to Stoke City fans were not advertised as restricted view. "However, I
would like to thank the stewards who did their best to help in a situation
that was clearly not of their making."
Ruane, who lives at Trentham Lakes and has not missed a Stoke game, home or
away, for seven-and-a-half years, has written to complain to West Ham United
and Trading Standards. He added: "I hope for a swift response and would
expect a full apology from West Ham and compensation for the fans who were
affected." "It's not just a case of getting our money back because what
happened ruined the whole day. Supporters spend a lot of time and money to
follow football and deserve much better." Clarke added: "I will be writing
to complain to the authorities myself. "I thought it was deplorable for West
Ham to try to gain an advantage on the field to the detriment of the
supporters who pay to watch."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Capello eases concerns
Italian not losing sleep over goalkeeping dilemma
Last updated: 30th March 2010
SSN

England manager Fabio Capello has no concerns about playing Steven Gerrard
and Frank Lampard in the same midfield, providing they are both in good
form. The pair have come in for criticism at times this season after
inconsistent displays, with the off-colour performances of Gerrard the
subject of specific scrutiny. But both impressed at the weekend when Lampard
scored four times in Chelsea's demolition of Aston Villa and Gerrard
excelled when moving into an orthodox central midfield role in Liverpool's
victory over Sunderland. If that form continues, Capello is not worried
about the duo's ability to play alongside one another for England at the
World Cup in June. The Italian told Gol Television: "I think good players
can always play together, but a lot depends on what kind of form they're in.
"In a team you have to play the players who are in the best possible form.
That said, both are important players who are very talented and that's why I
say I believe they can play together. "In fact, they've shown on many
occasions that they are the kind of players who can swing a match your way."

There has also been much made regarding Capello's goalkeeping options for
the finals in South Africa, with David James, Robert Green, Ben Foster and
Joe Hart all failing to make the position their own. But England's manager
said: "I'm fairly happy. We've got Green, James who is older and
experienced, and Hart, who is young. I don't think we have a problem when it
comes to goalkeepers."
Capello also reiterated that there is time for Manchester City left-back
Wayne Bridge to reconsider his unavailability for England selection in the
wake of the John Terry saga, which saw the Chelsea defender stripped of his
country's captaincy. He said: "The players know that I believe the armband
must go to a player who can be an example to youngsters. And what happened
with Terry was not good. "That's why I explained to him that he could not
continue as captain but would continue to be a leader on the pitch and
important player for us. "As for Bridge, he has time to change his mind.
The situation is still very raw for him."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Green backing for Zola
Hammers keeper defends 'hamstrung' manager
Last updated: 30th March 2010
SSN

Robert Green feels Gianfranco Zola has been 'hamstrung' with selection
problems and has called on the players to continue working hard. Zola
announced on Monday that he was 'determined to carry on' as West Ham manager
after considering his future over the weekend in the wake of recent results.
The Hammers have lost six consecutive Premier League games to slip down the
standings and are currently outside the relegation zone on goal difference
alone. But Green believes it was clear in the 1-0 defeat to Stoke on
Saturday that Zola was doing his utmost to revive the team's fortunes. The
England goalkeeper also thinks that Zola's job has been made more difficult
by an injury crisis this season, while it has been difficult for the club to
keep a settled squad due to the delicate financial situation. "He's a great
man and a great manager and you could see on Saturday that it's not through
want of trying," said Green. "He's been hamstrung through the season with
selection problems and players leaving and injuries and things like that and
he's just putting out the teams that seem fit for the games."
Green insists the players are right behind the Italian and has urged his
team-mates to stay calm in attacking areas to end their problems in front of
goal. He explained: "It's up to us to put in the effort that we did on
Saturday and to have the confidence to carry on playing and play more
football in and around the final-third which, hopefully, will make the
difference."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

http://vyperz.blogspot.com

http://www.justgiving.com/vyperz
I am running the BUPA 10k on May 31st and raising money for the Bobby Moore
Cancer Fund
Please donate generously! Thanks.

Daily WHUFC News - 30th March 2010

Mido committed
WHUFC.com
Mido believes West Ham United can secure at least a point from Sunday's trip
to Everton
29.03.2010

Mido insists every West Ham United player will be working hard to achieve a
positive result at Everton on Sunday. Gianfranco Zola and his men will head
to Goodison Park 17th in the Barclays Premier League table following
Saturday's disappointing 1-0 home defeat by Stoke City. In a game of few
chances, Mido missed one of the hosts' clearest opportunities when Thomas
Sorensen's parry bounced just too high for the Egyptian to apply the
finishing touch. While the January loan arrival was left frustrated in his
bid to open his account for his new club, the 27-year-old is determined to
help West Ham to secure at least a draw on Merseyside. "Everton are a very
good team, but we're definitely going to go there to get at least a point.
We're going to work hard. It didn't work for us on Saturday, but I hope that
it will work for us next week."
Saturday's loss may have been painful, but Mido said it was certainly not
the result of any lack of effort from the home side. Rather, West Ham simply
could not find the killer pass or finish to net an all-important goal before
Stoke's Ricardo Fuller opened the scoring with a little more than 20 minutes
remaining. "I don't think we missed any commitment. There was no lack of
commitment. We all tried hard, but it just didn't work. We're very
disappointed, of course. "We worked hard as a team. There was a lot of
pressure and I think the players handled it well. The goal we conceded was
very difficult for us, but I don't think you can ask the players anything
else. Everyone is working so hard for the manager. We're behind that man. He
is a top manager, in my opinion, and we're all behind him. "We have a very
good chance of staying up. If you look in the dressing room and you see the
faces in there, you don't see a team that is going to get relegated. By
experience, by names and by people who want to work hard for this club, I
don't think this team is going down."
While Saturday's reverse marked the Hammers' sixth league defeat in
succession, Mido said the players were grateful that the home fans stuck
with them throughout the full 90 minutes. "The fans were brilliant. They
were behind us all the way, even when we conceded the goal, they still
cheered us on. You hardly heard anyone booing. I think that the fans can see
that maybe the quality wasn't there, but that everyone was trying hard and,
I think, sometimes in football you need a goal to get confidence."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hall on England high
WHUFC.com
West Ham United forward Robert Hall got another international cap under his
belt on Monday
29.03.2010

Robert Hall played his part as hosts England crushed Malta 5-0 in their
second match of a UEFA European Under-17 Championship mini-tournament on
Monday night. The West Ham United man featured for the whole of the Group 7
contest, which has put them in the driving seat to qualify for the finals
this summer. The Young Lions had won 4-0 against Sweden on Saturday - with
second-half replacement Hall on target - before their latest victory. Chuks
Aneke scored twice with the other goals coming from William Keane, Benik
Afobe and Harry Kane.

Hall, who does not turn 17 until October, had been a substitute at the
weekend but his dynamic display had earned him a starting berth this time
around. He so nearly scored a wonder goal to match his effort against
Sweden, slaloming beyond three defenders before just failing to beat the
keeper. It was his quick feet that also won England a penalty on the hour
but the kick was missed.

The Hammers youngster will hope to keep his place in the group decider on
Thursday against Slovakia at the Sixfields Stadium home of Northampton Town.
A draw would be enough to see England through to the summer tournament,
which will be played in Liechtenstein between 18 and 30 May. Holders Spain,
Portugal and Greece have already qualified, with five berths left up for
grabs.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Manager on Monday
WHUFC.com
Everton on Sunday is firmly in sight and Gianfranco Zola has said no one
should write off his team
29.03.2010

Gianfranco Zola will return to Chadwell Heath this week determined to ensure
the club remains in the Barclays Premier League. The manager has the backing
of the joint-chairmen and his squad, and is ready to fight for every point
possible in order to keep West Ham United out of the bottom three. Although
the club suffered another setback against Stoke City at the weekend, the
manager has faith in his team - and himself - to change things. Zola
admitted when questioned on Saturday night that he would be taking time to
think things over but, having headed back to Italy for a couple of days, is
in no doubt that he is the man to lead the club in the six "cup finals" left
this season. That starts right now with Everton away on Sunday, and Zola is
up for the battle. "I am determined to carry on. Losing on Saturday was
emotional for everyone but I know we can turn it around and we have the
ability to achieve our objectives," he said. "The owners have backed me and
I am grateful for that. My only thought for now is to keep this club in the
Premier League and that remains my goal. I will give everything I can to
make this happen between now and the end of the season. "I have had time to
think and reflect, and will have to work harder than we have before. I know
we can get the results we need and it is just a question of making it
happen. The performance was better on Saturday but it is still not the level
we should be at. We can, and we will, do better as a team."
The manager lamented the loss before the Stoke City match of striker Guille
Franco - with a "splinter in his achilles" - while Kieron Dyer who was
"doing well" did not return after half-time on his first-team comeback.
"That is typical of our season," said Zola. "But we will not make excuses
and we will keep on going." He added: "I have a great staff and we will
work together to find the solutions. We have a responsibility to turn things
around and that is what we will do. I am here and I am ready to do what I
need to do to get the results. There is no doubt about that. We have seen
before that we are capable of playing at a high level."
Looking back at Stoke, the manager admitted it was a case of what might have
been on a day when Thomas Sorensen was far busier than Robert Green in goal.
Mido was especially unlucky with a close-range effort that seemed
gilt-edged. "The ball was bouncing too high and he couldn't get it under
control," Zola said. With the team having tightened up at the back - save
for a piece of Ricardo Fuller brilliance - the manager knows 'goals for'
remains key. With home dates to come against Sunderland, Wigan Athletic and
Fulham, as well as two away days at Liverpool and Fulham after Everton, he
is ready for better fortune, and form. "We will go to Everton determined to
get a result. People might not expect us to get something from the match but
we will be positive. No one should write us off. Although we are in a
serious position we have time to sort things out and be in control of our
destiny at the end of the season. "We said before Stoke that one game would
not define the season but we also know that each of the games we have left
will be cup finals. They will be massive and I know the fans will once again
get behind us starting with Everton and we will give everything to reward
their support. They have been brilliant and we owe them."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Gianfranco Zola wants to stay on as West Ham manager
BBC.co.uk

Gianfranco Zola has said he is determined to stay on as West Ham manager and
believes he can keep the club in the Premier League. Saturday's loss to
Stoke was the club's sixth in a row and prompted Zola to fly to Sardinia to
consider his future. But with the club only out of the bottom three on goal
difference, Zola has pledged to fight on. "I have had time to reflect. We
have to work harder but we can get the results we need," he told the club's
website. In the immediate aftermath of Saturday's defeat, Zola conceded
that he needed to find out "what the problem is - and if the problem is me".

That result, on the back of a 3-1 home defeat by Wolves in midweek, left the
Hammers level on points with third-from-bottom Hull, but having played a
game more. Prior to the match against Stoke, David Gold stated that Zola's
job was safe regardless of the result, although Gold's fellow owner David
Sullivan had upped the pressure following the loss to Wolves by writing a
highly critical letter asking for fans' forgiveness. Zola, though, said he
was continuing with the owners' backing. "I am determined to carry on.
Losing on Saturday was emotional for everyone but I know we can turn it
around and we have the ability to achieve our objectives," he said. "The
owners have backed me and I am grateful for that. "My only thought for now
is to keep this club in the Premier League and that remains my goal. I will
give everything I can to make this happen between now and the end of the
season."
Having faced Wolves and Stoke at Upton Park in their last two fixtures, West
Ham now face trips to Everton and Liverpool in their next three games,
although Zola has backed his team to cause an upset at Goodison Park on
Sunday. "We will go to Everton determined to get a result," he said. "People
might not expect us to get something from the match but we will be positive.
No one should write us off. Although we are in a serious position we have
time to sort things out and be in control of our destiny at the end of the
season. "We said before Stoke that one game would not define the season but
we also know that each of the games we have left will be cup finals.. "They
will be massive and I know the fans will once again get behind us starting
with Everton and we will give everything to reward their support. They have
been brilliant and we owe them."
Zola, who took charge in September 2008, also appears to have the backing of
the squad, with England goalkeeper Robert Green and Egypt striker Mido
publicly praising their manager. "He's a great man and a great manager and
you could see on Saturday that it's not through want of trying," Green told
the Hammers' site. "He's been hamstrung with selection problems and players
leaving and he's just putting out teams that seem fit. It's up to us to put
in the effort that we did on Saturday. "Saturday was disappointing, but
everyone put their all in."
Mido, who missed West Ham's best chance at the weekend, heading over from
close range, added: "We're behind that man. He is a top manager, in my
opinion, and we're all behind him. "I think we have a very good chance of
staying up. If you look in the dressing room and you see the faces in there,
you don't see a team that is going to get relegated."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Zola to battle on
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 29th March 2010
By: Another Staff Writer

Beleaguered Irons boss Gianfranco Zola has promised to battle on as West Ham
manager- for now at least. Zola had widely been expected to walk away from
his post following Saturday's 1-0 defeat at home to Stoke, a result which
made it six defeats in a row for the Hammers, equally a 40-year record. The
Italian told press reporters that he would consider over night whether he
still thought he was the "right-man" for the job. Sunday then passed without
comment from Zola nor joint chairman David Sullivan and Gold. However, that
silence was today broken by Zola, who spoke to the club website to confirm:
"I am determined to carry on. Losing on Saturday was emotional for everyone
but I know we can turn it around and we have the ability to achieve our
objectives," he said. "The owners have backed me and I am grateful for that.
"My only thought for now is to keep this club in the Premier League and that
remains my goal. I will give everything I can to make this happen between
now and the end of the season."

Following withering criticism from David Sullivan in the wake of last week's
3-1 reverse to the relegation rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers, speculation
had been mounting that Zola would quit the Upton Park hot-seat regardless of
the result against Stoke, believing his position had been made untenable due
to his authority being undermined by Sullivan's very public dressing-downs.

However, with credible alternatives thin on the ground and with only six
games left to play, it appears a truce, however temporary, has been agreed
between Zola, Sullivan and David Gold, who has continued to publicly back
the Italian. Sacking Zola, who took the role on in September 2008, does not
appear to be an option to Sullivan and Gold. With 3 years left on an
estimated £1.8m a year deal, compensation owed to Zola and assistant Steve
Clarke, would run into millions. With relegation a heavy possibility now
regardless of manager, such an action would be akin to cutting one's nose
off to spite their face. There has also been a steady stream of reports
since the Wolves and Stokes defeats in the media of possible replacements,
either short or long-term, in the form Graeme Souness, Glenn Hoddle, Mark
Hughes and Slaven Bilic all distancing themselves from the position.
As such a deal between management and chairmen has been reached that the
status-quo will remain until May when the situation will be reviewed. The
suspicion, however, remains that Zola and Clarke will leave Upton Park
regardless of which division the Hammers lie. Zola takes West Ham to Everton
and traditional bogey ground Goodison Park this Easter Sunday, hoping to
prevent a seventh straight defeat.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Zola vows to fight on
Hammers boss won't quit Upton Park hotseat
Last updated: 29th March 2010
SSN

Gianfranco Zola says he is "determined to carry on" as West Ham manager. The
Italian's future has been the subject of intense speculation for the last
few days after a disastrous run of form. The Hammers slumped to their sixth
successive loss on Saturday after going down 1-0 at home to Stoke and after
the game Zola admitted he was set to consider his future at Upton Park over
the weekend. Zola has now decided to stay on and has vowed to lead the side
to safety with the club currently above the drop-zone on goal difference "I
am determined to carry on," Zola told the club's official website. "Losing
on Saturday was emotional for everyone but I know we can turn it around and
we have the ability to achieve our objectives. "The owners have backed me
and I am grateful for that. My only thought for now is to keep this club in
the Premier League and that remains my goal. "I will give everything I can
to make this happen between now and the end of the season. "I'd have had
time to think and reflect, and will have to work harder than we have before.
"I know we can get the results we need and it is just a question of making
it happen. "The performance was better on Saturday but it is still not the
level we should be at. We can, and we will, do better as a team."
West Ham face Everton next Sunday, live on Sky Sports 1 & HD 1, and Zola is
targeting a shock win at Goodison Park to boost his side's survival hopes.
"We will go to Everton determined to get a result," added Zola. "People
might not expect us to get something from the match but we will be positive.
No one should write us off. "Although we are in a serious position we have
time to sort things out and be in control of our destiny at the end of the
season."
Zola admits their last six games will be like 'cup finals' as they aim to
avoid slipping into the Championship. "We said before Stoke that one game
would not define the season but we also know that each of the games we have
left will be cup finals," continued Zola. "They will be massive and I know
the fans will once again get behind us starting with Everton and we will
give everything to reward their support. "They have been brilliant and we
owe them."

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Hammers confirm break
Squad given time off as Zola heads for Sardinia
Last updated: 29th March 2010
SSN

West Ham have confirmed that their squad has been given three days off this
week. Following a weekend defeat at home to Stoke, West Ham are now only out
of the Premier League drop-zone on goal difference. But Gianfranco Zola has
opted to give his side a break ahead of the weekend's clash with Everton.
"Mr Zola has gone to Sardinia. He's given the players three days off to
freshen up for the Everton game, they are back training on Wednesday," said
co-owner David Sullivan - who again stressed that Zola being sacked was not
an option they were looking at. The Board will be most surprised if he isn't
coaching the team this week. "We had a very amicable meeting with him after
the match on Saturday and he indicated nothing to the contrary."
Zola still very much has the support of his players, with Mido and Robert
Green both insisting they are behind their boss. "We tried hard against
Stoke but it didn't work and we are very disappointed," said Mido. "I look
at the faces of the players in the dressing room and I don't see anyone who
thinks they are in a team which will get relegated."
Green added: "West Ham have been in worse positions at this point of the
season. Now we have to dig in and fight. "We are all behind the manager. He
is a great man and great manager. "I think we have a very good chance of
staying up."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Dicks blasts lazy Hammers
The Sun
By CHARLIE WYETT
Published: Today

JULIAN DICKS last night branded some of struggling West Ham's stars 'lazy'.
The Hammers legend insists they must adopt the work ethic of Wayne Rooney
and Carlos Tevez if they want to get out of trouble. Only goal difference is
keeping West Ham out of the drop zone. And Dicks, who is firmly behind boss
Gianfranco Zola, said: "For me, the players do not work hard enough and some
of them are lazy. "They have to look at themselves and there are no excuses
for not trying. "I have always said it is down to the players. When they
cross that white line, it is down to them to perform and work hard. "But
some don't want to know. They need to have the same passion Rooney and Tevez
show every game. "As a footballer, you should not need lifting. If you can't
perform and play in front of 36,000 people at Upton Park, you should not be
playing football." Zola yesterday confirmed SunSport's story he wanted to
stay and save West Ham from the dreaded drop. And Dicks added: "I am glad
Zola is staying. He is the right man for the job and I'm optimistic they'll
stay up. "I think it is good for the club to have a bit of stability.
Hopefully, he can turn it around. I think he has done a good job with the
players that he has."
Zola gave his stars three days off after Saturday's desperate 1-0 home
defeat by Stoke and headed for his home in Sardinia. It was from there that
he phoned co-owners David Gold and David Sullivan to tell them he was
staying on, despite a run of six straight defeats. Zola said: "My only
thought for now is to keep this club in the Premier League. That's my goal.
"I'll give everything I can to make this happen between now and the end of
the season. "We will have to work harder than we have before. I know we can
get the results we need and it is just a question of making it happen."
If West Ham suffer a seventh successive loss at Everton on Sunday, the axe
could still fall on the Italian. But he added: "I am determined to carry on.
The owners have backed me and I am grateful. We will go to Everton
determined to get a result."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Zola vows to soldier on
The Sun
Published: 29 Mar 2010

GIANFRANCO ZOLA insists he will remain at West Ham and is determined to save
them from the drop. The under-fire Italian sees his side 17th in the table
following Saturday's 1-0 defeat at home to Stoke, with only goal difference
keeping them above Hull in the relegation zone. And despite losing six games
on the bounce, Zola will return from a break in Sardinia on Wednesday
convinced he can keep the club in the Premier League. He said: "I am
determined to carry on. Losing on Saturday was emotional for everyone but I
know we can turn it around and we have the ability to achieve our
objectives. "The owners have backed me and I am grateful for that. My only
thought for now is to keep this club in the Premier League and that remains
my goal. "I will give everything I can to make this happen between now and
the end of the season. "I have had time to think and reflect, and will have
to work harder than we have before. I know we can get the results we need
and it is just a question of making it happen. The performance was better on
Saturday but it is still not the level we should be at. We can, and we will,
do better as a team."

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Zola's the main man for Mido
The Sun
Published: 29 Mar 2010

WEST HAM hitman Mido says the whole squad are behind beleaguered boss
Gianfranco Zola. Zola is in Sardinia mulling over his future as Hammers
chief following their sixth straight defeat, 1-0 at home to Stoke on
Saturday. But Egyptian striker Mido insists the former Chelsea star still
has the support of his players as they battle to beat the drop.
Mido, 27, said: "Everyone is working so hard for the manager. He is a top
manager and we're all behind him. "We have a very good chance of staying up.
If you look in the dressing-room and you see the faces in there, you don't
see a team that is going to get relegated. "By experience, by names and by
people who want to work hard for this club, I don't think this team is going
down." Zola has given the players three days off despite the Stoke defeat
and co-owners David Gold and David Sullivan, are standing by the Italian for
the time being.

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David Sullivan and David Gold persuade Gianfranco Zola to stay at West Ham
The Times
Zola, who has guided West Ham to six successive defeats, will stay at the
club at least until the end of the season
Scott Rutherford

Gianfranco Zola has explained that the support of West Ham United's joint
owners has persuaded him to carry on as the club's manager. The Italian
returned home to Sardinia to consider his position after the 1-0 defeat by
Stoke City on Saturday that left his side seventeenth in the Barclays
Premier League, above the relegation places only on goal difference. Before
that match, David Sullivan, the joint owner, had been fiercely critical of
Zola's team and there was widespread speculation about the Italian's
position at the club. However, after a conversation with Sullivan and David
Gold, and a period of reflection in his homeland, Zola decided that he was
in no mood to quit. In an e-mail to the club's supporters, Zola said: "They
[Sullivan and Gold] have backed me and I am grateful. I am determined to
carry on. "Losing on Saturday was emotional for everyone but I know we can
turn it around and we have the ability to achieve our objectives. My only
thought for now is to keep this club in the Premier League and that remains
my goal. I'll give everything I can to make this happen between now and the
end of the season. "I have had time to think and we will have to work harder
than we have before. I know we can get the results we need and it is just a
question of making it happen. The performance was better on Saturday but it
is still not the level we should be at. But we can and will do better as a
team. I have a great staff and we will work together to find the solutions.
We have a responsibility to turn things around and that is what we will do.
"I am here and I am ready to do what I need to do to get the results. There
is no doubt about that. We have seen before we are capable of playing at a
high level."
Zola has been criticised for giving his players three days off this week
before they resume training tomorrow. But after two high-pressure matches in
five days and with the next game, away to Everton, not until Sunday, he felt
it was important for the players to be allowed to rest. "We will go to
Everton determined to get a result," Zola said. "People might not expect us
to get something from the match but we will be positive.No one should write
us off. "Although we're in a serious position we have time to sort things
out and be in control of our destiny at the end of the season."
Zola, whose side have lost their last six Premier League matches, also
emphasised the importance of each of West Ham's remaining six games as they
bid for survival. "We said before Stoke that one game would not define the
season but we know each of the games left will be cup finals," he said.
"They will be massive and I know the fans will once again get behind us,
starting with Everton, and we will give everything to reward their support.
They have been brilliant and we owe them."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham want McClaren as new boss - Exclusive
Published 23:00 29/03/10 By Alan Nixon
The Mirror

West Ham want Steve McClaren to be their new boss next season - but need
Gianfranco Zola to keep them up first. Former England coach McClaren is
willing to return to the Premier League, despite taking Twente Enschede to
the brink of the Dutch title and with the prospect of Champions League
football. McClaren would return to take the Hammers job if the right
conditions were right - with them staying in the Premier League and with him
having a big budget to spend. Co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold will
dig deep to give the next manager a fighting chance in the transfer market,
but the battle to keep them in the big-time will be led by 'lame duck' Zola.
The Italian has gone home for a couple of days and is prepared to carry on,
despite a shocking run of results that leaves his team hovering just above
the drop zone. Zola also knows that Hammers have been sounding out potential
short-term replacements for him, but few of them want the job on that basis
- and others have yet to convince the Upton Park hierarchy that they are
ideal. Glenn Hoddle is still the likeliest candidate if there is an SOS call
for a quick fix. The former England boss has been approached but
astonishingly West Ham are not offering him a big enough deal. Mark Hughes,
Slaven Bilic and Graeme Souness have all already said 'no thanks'. The only
encouragement West Ham have had is that McClaren, the former Middlesbrough
chief, is in the mood to come back to England - but will not move until the
summer. It is a crazy scenario but one that was always likely to happen with
the new regime in charge at West Ham, desperate to avoid the drop and
meddling with Zola along the way. Ironically McClaren was interviewed by
West Ham when he first moved into the management game. He spoke to them
before choosing Middlesbrough at the time when he left Manchester United as
number two.

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Zola: 'I'm staying at West Ham'
Published 13:20 29/03/10 By Darren Lewis
The Mirror

Gianfranco Zola has confirmed he will stay on as West Ham manager.
MirrorFootball revealed this morning that the Italian had signalled his
intention to continue in the role despite defeat to Stoke on Saturday being
the club's sixth in a row. The run of form is the club's worst for more
than 40 years and fears grew on Saturday night that Zola would not return
from a three-day break in Sardinia. But he said today: "I am determined to
carry on. Losing on Saturday was emotional for everyone but I know we can
turn it around and we have the ability to achieve our objectives. "The
owners have backed me and I am grateful for that. My only thought for now is
to keep this club in the Premier League and that remains my goal. I will
give everything I can to make this happen between now and the end of the
season. "I have had time to think and reflect, and will have to work harder
than we have before. I know we can get the results we need and it is just a
question of making it happen. The performance was better on Saturday but it
is still not the level we should be at. We can, and we will, do better as a
team. "I have a great staff and we will work together to find the solutions.
We have a responsibility to turn things around and that is what we will do.
I am here and I am ready to do what I need to do to get the results. There
is no doubt about that. We have seen before that we are capable of playing
at a high level."
The Hammers face a tough trip to Goodison Park to face a well-organised
Everton side this weekend. But Zola added: "We will go to Everton determined
to get a result. People might not expect us to get something from the match
but we will be positive. No-one should write us off. Although we are in a
serious position we have time to sort things out and be in control of our
destiny at the end of the season. "We said before Stoke that one game would
not define the season but we also know that each of the games we have left
will be cup finals. They will be massive and I know the fans will once again
get behind us starting with Everton and we will give everything to reward
their support. They have been brilliant and we owe them."
Zola plans to return from his break on tomorrow night ready for training on
Wednesday

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Gianfranco Zola battles on with West Ham but the future remains unclear
Gianfranco Zola decided on Monday to stay and fight to keep West Ham in the
Premier League but his long-term future at the club remains unclear.
Telegraph.co.uk
By John Ley
Published: 7:00AM BST 30 Mar 2010

Gianfranco Zola is determined to lead West Ham to Premier League safety . A
run of just three wins in 18 League games has left West Ham teetering on the
edge of the relegation zone and while he has the backing of his dressing
room – a major factor in his decision to stay for now – his future looks
likely to be away from Upton Park.

Zola was torn between walking away or staying to fight and only the support
he received from the players convinced him to remain. Zola flew to Sardinia
on Sunday for a pre-planned break and will be back at Chadwell Heath on
Tuesday to begin preparations for Sunday's trip to Everton, where West Ham
will attempt to end a Premier League-worst six-game run of defeats.

Sport on television Zola issued a statement on Monday, saying: "I am
determined to carry on. Losing on Saturday was emotional for everyone but I
know we can turn it around and we have the ability to achieve our
objectives." Pointedly, he added: "My only thought for now is to keep this
club in the Premier League and that remains my goal." Everton have won seven
successive home games, a club record, and after that difficult trip they
have three homes games – against Sunderland, Wigan and Manchester City,
while they must also go to Liverpool and Fulham. "I'll give everything I can
to make this happen between now and the end of the season," added Zola. "I
have had time to think and reflect and we will have to work harder than we
have before. I know we can get the results we need and it is just a question
of making it happen." Robert Green, the West Ham goalkeeper, voiced the
opinion of the players when he said of the manager: "He's a great man and a
great manager and you could see on Saturday it's not through want of trying.
"He's been hamstrung with selection problems and players leaving and
injuries. It's up to us to put in the effort that we did on Saturday and to
have the confidence to carry on playing and play more football in and around
the final third which, hopefully, will make the difference. "West Ham have
been in worse positions at this point of the season," added the 30 year-old.
"We've just got to dig in and fight and that's it."

And Zola added: "The performance was better on Saturday but it is still not
the level we should be at. We can, and will, do better as a team. We have a
responsibility to turn things around and that is what we will do. I am here
and ready to do what I need to do to get the results. "We said before Stoke
that one game would not define the season but we also know that each of the
games we have left are cup finals."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Gianfranco Zola says he is 'determined to carry on' at West Ham
Italian had gone home to Sardinia to consider future
No one should write us off, Hammers manager says
guardian.co.uk, Monday 29 March 2010 13.17 BST

Gianfranco Zola has today made it clear he intends to stay at West Ham and
guide them to Premier League safety. Zola spoke from his family home in
Sardinia, where he returned following the 1-0 defeat by Stoke City that has
left his side on the brink of the relegation zone. After that game the
dejected Italian admitted he would consider his future over the weekend, but
today he declared: "I am determined to carry on. "Losing on Saturday was
emotional for everyone, but I know we can turn it around and we have the
ability to achieve our objectives. My only thought for now is to keep this
club in the Premier League and that remains my goal. I will give everything
I can to make this happen between now and the end of the season. "I have had
time to think and reflect, and will have to work harder than we have before.
I know we can get the results we need and it is just a question of making it
happen. The performance was better on Saturday, but it is still not the
level we should be at. We can, and we will, do better as a team."
Zola mentioned the injuries to Guillermo Franco – who did not play against
Stoke – and Kieron Dyer, who came off at half-time. "That is typical of our
season," he said on the West Ham website. "But we will not make excuses and
we will keep on going. "I have a great staff and we will work together to
find the solutions. We have a responsibility to turn things around and that
is what we will do. I am here and I am ready to do what I need to do to get
the results. There is no doubt about that. We have seen before that we are
capable of playing at a high level. "No one should write us off. Although we
are in a serious position, we have time to sort things out and be in control
of our destiny at the end of the season. We said before Stoke that one game
would not define the season, but we also know that each of the games we have
left will be cup finals. They will be massive and I know the fans will once
again get behind us starting with Everton [away on Sunday 4 April] and we
will give everything to reward their support. They have been brilliant and
we owe them."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Gianfranco Zola pledges to stay on and steer West Ham to safety
Italian grateful for West Ham owners' backing
'We will have to work harder than we have before'
Dominic Fifield guardian.co.uk, Monday 29 March 2010 18.45 BST

The West Ham United manager Gianfranco Zola returns to London tomorrow after
a short break in Sardinia intent upon staving off relegation having
reaffirmed his intention to see out the season at Upton Park.

The Italian had travelled home to clear his head and consider his immediate
future after his side suffered a sixth successive league defeat to Stoke
City on Saturday to leave them above the cut-off only on goal difference.
The club's co-owner, David Gold, visited the dressing room after that 1-0
loss and gave West Ham's manager of 18 months his backing.

"I am determined to carry on," said Zola. "Losing on Saturday was emotional
for everyone, but I know we can turn it around and we have the ability to
achieve our objectives. The owners have backed me and I am grateful for
that. My only thought for now is to keep this club in the Premier League,
and that remains my goal. I will give everything I can to make this happen
between now and the end of the season.

"I have had time to think and reflect, and [we] will have to work harder
than we have before. I know we can get the results we need and it is just a
question of making it happen. The performance was better on Saturday, but it
is still not the level we should be at. We can, and we will, do better as a
team."

There remains the understanding that there will be a parting of the ways in
the summer, ideally with West Ham having retained their top-flight status.
While the other co-owner, David Sullivan, indicated last week that he was
"100% behind the manager", the West Ham hierarchy are expected to pursue a
new appointment at the end of the campaign. Yet the club's ability to
attract the likes of Mark Hughes hinge upon the retention of their place in
the Premier League.

The manager will address his squad when they train at Chadwell Heath on
Wednesday after the long-scheduled three-day break and attempt to revive
spirits ahead of the daunting trip to Everton on Sunday. The players retain
faith in the coaching staff. "We will work together to find the solutions,"
said Zola. "We have a responsibility to turn things around and that is what
we will do. I am here and I am ready to do what I need to do to get the
results.

"We will go to Everton determined to get a result. People might not expect
us to get something from the match but we will be positive. No one should
write us off. Although we are in a serious position we have time to sort
things out and be in control of our destiny at the end of the season. We
said before Stoke that one game would not define the season, but we also
know that each of the games we have left will be cup finals."

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Daily WHUFC News - 29th March 2010

'We've got to fight'
WHUFC.com
Robert Green has told his team-mates to dig in and battle for their Barclays Premier League lives
29.03.2010

Robert Green has reminded his West Ham United team-mates that all is far from lost this season as Gianfranco Zola's team contemplate a Sunday trip to Everton. Following Saturday's 1-0 home defeat by Stoke City, the Hammers sit in 17th place in the Barclays Premier League with six fixtures remaining, with only goal difference separating them with Hull City, who have a game in hand. While the situation may appear to be critical, Green knows things could be far worse. Three seasons ago, with the England goalkeeper between the posts, West Ham sat 19th and two points adrift of safety with six matches to go, before winning their final four games to finish 15th. With that in mind, Green is not giving up. "Saturday was disappointing. Everyone put their all in, as you could see, the lads dragged themselves off the pitch. But perhaps, in front of goal, the creativity wasn't really there for us. "We've got to pick ourselves up, dust ourselves down and get on with it. Worse things have happened. West Ham have been in worse positions at this point of the season. We've just got to dig in and fight and that's it. "We got a response from the fans on Tuesday [after losing 3-1 at home to Wolverhampton Wanderers]. It clearly wasn't good enough and we didn't have a leg to stand on and we rightly got told what they thought of it at the end of the game. Saturday wasn't the same. The reaction at the end was one of massive disappointment, but undeniably everyone had given everything."

Zola and his players have taken a short break to recharge their batteries ahead of the weekend trip to Goodison Park, and Green insists everyone inside the dressing room believes in their manager. "He's a great man and a great manager and you could see on Saturday that it's not through want of trying. "He's been hamstrung through the season with selection problems and players leaving and injuries and things like that and he's just putting out the teams that seem fit for the games, and it's up to us to put in the effort that we did on Saturday and to have the confidence to carry on playing and play more football in and around the final-third which, hopefully, will make the difference."

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Hammers get winning start
WHUFC.com
Tony Carr has seen his young side get up and running with a win in a US-based tournament
29.03.2010

West Ham United made a winning start in the International Amateur Soccer Tournament - The Challenge for the Tiffany Trophy Cup in Washington DC on Sunday night. Tony Carr's side were 2-1 victors against Georgia Under-17s in their first encounter, with goals from Jack Powell and Dylan Tombides enough to see the Hammers through. The U17 competition which runs until next Sunday also features Major League Soccer club DC United, next up for the Hammers on Tuesday, and Northern Capital Soccer League team Annandale United. A host of leading clubs from around the world have also been invited to take part. All the club's expenses for the trip will be paid for by the tournament's organisers. Last year's competition was won by Real Madrid.

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Fry eyes Charlton chance
WHUFC.com
The19-year-old centre-back will hope to show his promise at the League One promotion-chasing side
29.03.2010

Matt Fry will join up with his new Charlton Athletic team-mates on Monday determined to impress at the League One high-fliers until the end of the season. The highly-regarded Academy graduate got 13 first-team matches under his belt at that level after a successful loan spell at struggling Gillingham this season. The Charlton challenge will be entirely different as they are going for promotion to the Championship - either through the play-offs or, at a push, the automatic spots. Fry said: "I am definitely looking forward to it. Charlton are a quite a high-profile team. I went to Gillingham in the beginning of the season, which was a good experience but it is nice that Charlton wanted me. It has all worked out nicely. "I need matches. As a young player you are limited for first-team football. You always look to gain experience elsewhere and it is nice to have them come in. Huddersfield on Saturday was too soon, if I am honest, having come back from a knee injury. I want to be 110 per cent before i can play. "The club will watch me closely. I am away from West Ham but not, because they do watch and they see it as a chance for me to get stronger. If I go out and do well, they will see it. I will try to do my best."

Fry has high hopes of making it at West Ham but knows it is a tough step to progress from reserves, as shown by the likes of Josh Payne and Bondz N'Gala, who both look set to move on at the end of the season. He has overcome that tricky knee problem in recent weeks and hopes to stay injury-free in the weeks and months to come to prove his worth. The defender has no hesitation in naming who he most admires and would love to emulate at the club. As a left-footed, left-sided centre-back, he pays close attention to captain Matthew Upson - taking every opportunity to watch him work at Chadwell Heath and in action for club and country. "It is always nice to look at someone who is left-footed and plays at left centre-half. It is nice to have someone close to home that can watch every day and take things from his game that I can add to mine. All in all it will make me a better player. I have watched him closely over the last year."

Another centre-back he admires is Christian Dailly, having had the opportunity to train with the former Hammers skipper in the summer. The 19-year-old will get the chance to link up with him again as the Scottish veteran, himself now 36, is part of the Charlton ranks, alongside another Academy product in winger Kyel Reid. "It will be good to be with Christian. Having trained with him during pre-season he is a true professional and takes his job seriously which is great for me. That has helped him squeeze more out of his career. I am looking forward to playing alongside him and teaming up with him again."

Fry returned to the Boleyn a more rounded-individual after his spell at Gillingham and wants to take that to another level. "I look at loan moves as an opportunity to get stronger. I want to fulfil my full potential and get the best out of it that I can. My long-term target is West Ham's first team and this is a good opportunity. Gillingham was a great experience and I am stronger as a person and a player."

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Parker the pick again
WHUFC.com
The reigning Hammer of the Year was the star man again on Saturday and may win the monthly prize
28.03.2010

Scott Parker was voted the man of the match on Saturday but you can have your say now for the SBOBET player of the month for March. The West Ham United midfielder is once again in the running for the monthly prize - having won it twice already this season - after his inspiring displays in what has been a difficult four weeks for the team. Parker was singled out against Stoke City by match sponsors BPC Interiors Ltd and received his prize after the match. Alessandro Diamanti was the sixth different monthly winner this season when he took the February honour after Julien Faubert, Zavon Hines, Carlton Cole, and James Tomkins, along with the hat-trick seeking Parker, had previously been singled out.

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Stoke manager Tony Pulis backs Gianfranco Zola
BBC.co.uk

Stoke City boss Tony Pulis is hopeful that Saturday's 1-0 victory over West Ham United at Upton Park will not see Gianfranco Zola leave his job. Zola is under pressure after a run of six successive Premier League defeats. But Pulis told BBC Radio Stoke: "You need a good chairman who backs you in times of great difficulty, and what's happening at West Ham is exactly that. "Fingers crossed, they'll back him. What he needs is a bit of good luck and the players showing some commitment." Ricardo Fuller's brilliant individual strike won the game for the Potters to catapult them into the top half of the Premier League table. However, Pulis revealed that the Jamaican may not have been involved in the match at all because of food poisoning, which has affected a number of players in the squad."A few of them have had it and Ric's brought it into the camp," said Pulis."He's been a bit below-par of late so we thought we would give him a bit of a rest. "I thought Kitson and Sidibe did well. They do the donkey work and then Ric is the silky one who picks it up and does something special. "He's a nightmare off the pitch, but on the pitch he's fantastic at times." Stoke, who now have 39 points with seven matches left to play, are now almost certain to be enjoying a third successive season in the Premier League.

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Pulis on ... West Ham
KUMB.com
Filed: Sunday, 28th March 2010
By: Staff Writer

Stoke boss Tony Pulis shares his thoughts on West Ham's situation following his team's 1-0 win at the Boleyn...

Does that win effectively make you safe?

Well you look to get 40 points and we've put 40 points on - and I think that's definitely safe. We finished 12th last year with 45 points and I think there's only one team ever stayed up for a second year and then beaten their tally, which is quite amazing. So it'd be lovely for us if we could get 46 points and do that.

Ricardo Fuller had food poisoning?

I think it's him who brought it into the football club. Etherington had it as well, there were two or three of the lads who'd suffered from it. We thought we'd put Rick on the bench today and give him that final half an hour.

Etherington was the big one, Rick was quite happy to sit on the bench and come on. We were obviously desperate to get Matty playing, coming back to their old club always gives players a lift. So Matty was the one really, but he went through it today for us.

Fuller took his goal well?

I thought it was a fantastic goal; he can do that, Rick. If he gets in that position he's so strong and his feet are so quick that he can do real good things with the ball. I've seen him create chances and score goals from that area, it was a special goal and I'm very pleased for him.

A great result for you but do you feel for Gianfranco at the moment?

I'm very fortunate at Stoke to have a quite outstanding man who runs the football club, that's Peter Coates. When I first came back to the club there was all sorts of stuff going on and Peter was rock solid. He's benn like that ever since I've been at the football club.

The Chairman of West Ham has come out and said he's going to back Gianfranco - well he needs backing now. This is when you show your real colours and your character. So he needs that backing, he needs the players to roll their sleeves up and have a right go for him - and he needs more than anything else a little bit of good fortune, a little bit of luck.

You pick up two or three wins in the Premier League and you don't half shoot up the table. So it'll be interesting to see now what backing Gianfranco gets.

Are you surprised at the publicly expressed views of the owners, players and manager?

I can only talk about my club and like I say, I've got a Chairman who's rock solid, lets me manage, lets me get on with it and never interferes. He's at his best when things are going badly.

I know how lucky I am, I've been in the game a long time and worked through some Chirman so I know how lucky I am! Gianfranco, he needs that backing now, this is the time that he needs that backing.

He's a popular guy in football?

Well I've met him four times now and every time we've played against them he's been first class. He's a gentleman. You sit there, you talk football with him and he's absolutely fantastic.

I didn't know him as a player, I was never that gifted to play at the top level, but everybody tells me that when he was at Chelsea he was an absolute top-drawer professional.

As a supporter of football, which I am, I think he's one of the greatest players to ever play in the Premiership.

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Mido doesn't expect relegation
Zola under pressure but Egyptian staying positive
Last updated: 28th March 2010
SSN

West Ham striker Mido says he does not expect the Hammers to be relegated from the Premier League this season. The East Londoners suffered another defeat at the weekend after going down 1-0 at home to Stoke City. Ricardo Fuller scored the only goal of the game at Upton Park to leave the Hammers level on points with Hull City and only avoiding a place in the relegation zone because of a superior goal difference. But Egyptian forward Mido, who moved to the club on loan in February, says it is not all doom-and-gloom behind the scenes. He said: "If you look at the faces in the dressing room, the experience, the people who want to work hard for this club, you don't see a club going down." Hammers manager Gianfranco Zola admitted he would consider his position following the defeat to the Potters. Zola cut a disconsolate figure on the touchline at the weekend, and after mounting pressure which has included a statement from co-owner David Sullivan calling the midweek defeat to Wolves 'pathetic' and 'appalling', he may decide to leave before the end of the season. In the aftermath of the Stoke defeat, opposite number Tony Pulis described management as a 'very lonely job'. "The West Ham chairmen have said they will back Gianfranco and that is brilliant because he needs backing now," he said. "This is when you show your real colours and character. "It is a very lonely job. It will be interesting to see what backing Gianfranco gets. "What they need is a game where they don't play well but get a win and that will bring the confidence back."
West Ham will be hoping they can turn the corner in their next game, which is against Everton at Goodison Park next weekend.

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Davids should own up
Gold and Sullivan have blundered, says Barclay
Last updated: 28th March 2010
SSN

Patrick Barclay thinks West Ham's owners must shoulder the blame for the club's Premier League struggles. Saturday's 1-0 loss to Stoke - The Hammers' sixth defeat on the spin - means The Londoners are only out of the bottom three on goal difference and pressure is mounting on under-fire manager Gianfranco Zola. However, The Times' Barclay - speaking on the Sunday Supplement - says David Gold and David Sullivan are at fault for not replacing Zola when they took over in January, when it was clear they did not want the Italian in charge. "It was obvious they didn't fancy him as soon as they bought the club and that was the time to part company. All the newspapers chorused that they didn't fancy Zola and it's obvious that we didn't all get that wrong, and hence they've got themselves a lame-duck manager," Barclay told the Sunday Supplement. "The players are sniffing an excuse a mile away and they've got one now haven't they? Zola may be a great manager but you can't manage when your own chairman doesn't fancy you. "I don't know if they've said it brazenly but the message has come over and it's obviously well founded and I think they've made a terrible mistake. For such experienced people who successfully ran Birmingham City, they've made a bit of a mess at West Ham because they could end up getting them relegated and while football never ceases to amaze me, I cannot see an advantage in getting relegated. And it would be their fault. "I would say there's a real chance (they will go down). I watched the Wolves game on the TV and it is looking bad."
Neil Ashton of the News of the World believes The Hammers are deep in the relegation mire but thinks they can maintain their top-flight status, with or without Zola at the helm.
"Whether Zola's there or not, there are other options. The first choice for the job is Mark Hughes and Zola knows that. But Hughes feels that perhaps there is a bigger opportunity. He wants the Ivory Coast job and the chance to lead them through the World Cup finals and then perhaps a bigger job in the Premier League after that. "(Glenn) Hoddle is a manager who would demand a certain way of playing and (Graeme) Souness would be a taskmaster, a disciplinarian and very, very demanding. "Something has to change very quickly, either a change of manager or a change of atmosphere, to give these players any chance of getting out of it. "But they could still do it, all is not lost."

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Hammers get three days off
The Sun
By ANDREW DILLON
Published: Today

WEST HAM'S flops have been given THREE days off from their relegation crisis. Under-pressure boss Gianfranco Zola and the squad will not report for training again until Wednesday - just four days before Sunday's crunch clash at Everton. Hammers fans will be dismayed after home defeats against Wolves and Stoke left them deep in trouble.
Zola has told pals in Sardinia he is prepared to stay at West Ham and help their survival battle.

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Zola : I will fight to the finish
The Sun
By CHARLIE WYETT
Published: Today

GIANFRANCO ZOLA will today tell West Ham's owners he wants to stay in charge. The Upton Park boss flew himself home to Sardinia on Saturday night to decide whether to quit as manager of the relegation-threatened team. But after thinking things over, Zola told friends back home yesterday that he wanted "to keep fighting for West Ham". The 1-0 defeat to Stoke was West Ham's sixth successive loss and the club remain in deep trouble. Only goal difference is keeping the Hammers out of the relegation zone and 18th-placed Hull have a game in hand. Asked on Saturday whether he would quit, Zola said: "If the problem is me, why not? I will have to think about it a lot overnight. "The players are trying very hard and the bottom line is to see whether I can help them or not."
Zola is believed to been boosted by the attitude of owners David Sullivan and David Gold, who he will speak to again today. But whether the pair will remain sympathetic if West Ham suffer a seventh consecutive loss at Everton on Sunday remains to be seen. Qualified pilot Zola is already back in Sardinia where he flies a plane to unwind away from the stresses of football. His assistant Steve Clarke has gone home to Scotland and the players who have lost six games in a row are resting to 'freshen up' for this weekend's tough trip to Goodison Park. Zola is unlikely to face the sack until the end of the season at least as Gold and Sullivan feel the timing is not right to replace the man at the helm despite the dreadful run of results. Sullivan said last night: "Mr Zola has gone to Sardinia. He's given the players three days off to freshen up for the Everton game, they are back training on Wednesday. "The Board will be most surprised if he isn't coaching the team this week. We had a very amicable meeting with him after the match on Saturday and he indicated nothing to the contrary." Whatever the outcome of the season now, it will not be enough to keep Zola in the job beyond the summer.
A list of potential replacements is already being drawn up and his No 2 Clarke may even be asked to step in for the run-in should Zola choose to quit in the next few days. Gold and Sullivan are concerned at the lack of application by the squad and Sullivan told the players they were 'no better than a mid-table Championship side' during a heated team meeting last Thursday. The club's Egyptian striker Mido said: "We tried hard against Stoke but it didn't work and we are very disappointed. "I look at the faces of the players in the dressing room and I don't see anyone who thinks they are in a team which will get relegated."

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Cahill : I'll hammer 'em
The Sun
Published: Today

TIM CAHILL has vowed to crush West Ham's survival bid next Sunday. Everton's ex-Millwall midfielder made it clear where his loyalties lie as the relegation battle hots up. The Toffees face another clash with a struggling team when they host the Hammers - fierce rivals of his old club. Cahill said: "We have one of the biggest games of the season against West Ham coming up. We know how important it is. "We don't want to kick-start their season, with their poor form. We just want to keep going. "It is a massive point for Wolves. They had a great win at West Ham last week. You are happy for clubs like this. "The fans have had some hard times and hopefully they can get out of it."

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Gianfranco Zola leads along well-worn path Simon Barnes, Chief Sports Writer
The Times
Zola is paying for West Ham's bad run

We English have a special veneration for leaders. We measure our past entirely in kings and queens (every outmoded thought is "Victorian", every idyll "Edwardian") and in sport we admire captains and managers above all else. We are in thrall to the mystique of leadership.

Perhaps only England would have made Mike Brearley a Test match captain. He finished with a Test average of 22.88 and led England in 31 Tests, winning 18 and losing just four. And perhaps only England would go into a crisis when the football captain was found with his shorts round his ankles.

How do we spot a good leader? By the attitude of the led, I suppose. In sport, the leader must try to produce performances from the led that are beyond their usual capacity. A leader must be able to ask for something extra, and to find it generously given.

We believe that leadership is innate. That's why, time and again, we make top-level managers of footballers who have no experience of management. As a result, we have a glorious record of destroying young managers before they have begun.

We appoint them to a job beyond their capacities on the assumption that their in-built leadership qualities will somehow see them through. We believe that leadership is not a skill but a gift. The victims of this belief make a series of glaring public mistakes and are branded failures. The latest in a long line is Gianfranco Zola.

The first-time leader with the highest profile in English sport is Martin Johnson, team manager of the England rugby boys. He has been heavily criticised after a poor season. He was appointed because he was a great leader on the pitch. The RFU took a punt on his ability to translate these talents into management. But it gave him a back-up — Johnson is not the ultimate boss; that post is held by Rob Andrew, the director of elite rugby.

Now, one of the most ancient principles of leadership is to see the men all right. Offer a cup of tea to a good officer; he won't take it until his men are settled down with cups of tea of their own. Front up, take the blame but not the glory, and see the men all right. The first principles of real leadership.

But Andrew left Johnson cruelly exposed. Match after calamitous match, Johnson was gruffly trying to pick out positives and by implication taking blame, while Andrew kept out of the way. Letting the men take the flak while he had a cup of tea.

Now there is a bandwagon rolling for Andrew's dismissal and for the appointment in his place of Sir Clive Woodward.

Woodward also has a mystical reputation for leadership. He was head coach and Johnson was captain when England won the World Cup in 2003. The idea of reuniting them has a fine ring to it; whether it would work is another matter. But one thing is certain: Woodward would never leave Johnson's back exposed.

Andrew Strauss is the England cricket captain in a year that reaches its climax in the winter, when England go to Australia. I can already picture the scene. Stuart Broad has bowled his guts out in sledgehammer heat in Perth. The captain comes to him: "One more over, please, Broady. Do it for me. Do it for the skipper." Broady is entitled to say, and will certainly think: "Where were you, glory-hunter, when I was bowling the same guts out on a bread pudding in Bangladesh?"

Strauss's little sabbatical, his swerving of an uncomfortable trip, is not something a proper leader does. A leader doesn't say: "Advance, boys." He says: "Follow me!" We English have a special thing about leadership; we also have a special knack of making a botch of it.

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Gianfranco Zola asked to stay the course by new West Ham owners
The Times
Zola has gone back to Sardinia to mull over his future, but is expected back at Upton Park on Tuesday
Gary Jacob

Gianfranco Zola is expected to stay as West Ham United manager despite returning to his native Sardinia to contemplate his future at the end of a turbulent weekend at Upton Park. The Italian is set to fly back tomorrow to take training on Wednesday, after the players were given a planned three days off, and to lead the battle against relegation. The team play away to Everton on Sunday. Zola has been boosted by support from the players and was told by David Sullivan and David Gold, the joint-chairmen, at a meeting on Saturday night that they would not dismiss him. Senior club officials were surprised and angered when Zola admitted that he was considering his future at a press conference immediately after the defeat by Stoke City. "I will have to see very clearly what is not working and see if I can sort it out," Zola said. "That's the bottom line." However, Sullivan is unable to dismiss Zola without the agreement of Straumur, the Icelandic asset management company that owns half the club. Zola would be liable for compensation of about £3.5 million if he were dismissed. In addition, Sullivan is confronted by two problems. First, he claimed that he was not in the habit of sacking managers when he bought his stake in January. Second, there are no credible alternatives to take on the job for seven matches. A shortlist was drawn up, in case Zola departed. Graeme Souness indicated that he was not interested in the opportunity. Glenn Hoddle might consider the role, but he is a Tottenham Hotspur legend, which makes a position at the North London club's bitter rivals unlikely. Terry Venables also managed Spurs, David O'Leary has been out of management for four years and Alan Curbishley and Alan Pardew, former West Ham managers, are not contenders. Slaven Bilic, their former defender, has ruled himself out. "I love West Ham very much, but that job is not for me right now," Bilic, the Croatia coach, said. "I want to qualify for the European Championships and nothing is going to change that. I am staying for all my country's qualifiers." Stoke City inflicted West Ham's sixth straight defeat on Saturday at Upton Park, their worst losing run in the top flight in 43 years, and they are above the relegation zone, and Hull City, only on goal difference.
Relegation would be catastrophic, because it would force the sale of at least half the first team, including Matthew Upson, Robert Green, Scott Parker and Carlton Cole. The players are close to Zola and some of them may want to leave regardless. "If you look at the faces in the dressing room, the experience, the people who want to work hard for this club, you don't see a club going down," Mido, the Egypt forward, said. Tony Pulis, the Stoke manager, offered words of encouragement. "If you go six, seven, eight games without winning, then put a run of two or three wins together, you can shoot up four or five places," he said. "They need a game where they are not playing well but they win. That will bring the confidence back."

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Zola vows to fight on at West Ham
Published 23:00 28/03/10 By Neil McLeman
The Mirror

Gianfranco Zola has vowed to battle on as West Ham manager. The Irons boss flew to his home in Sardinia to mull over his position on a ­previously arranged break. But he told friends last night that he intends to return to the club for training on Wednesday morning to prepare for Sunday's visit to Everton. However, the Italian's chances of remaining at the end of the season have been fatally damaged after a weekend of chaos at the Upton Park club. Co-chairman David Gold backed Zola ­immediately after their defeat at home to Stoke – their sixth on the trot. But he then shocked and surprised the club's senior management by going straight into the post-match press conference and admitting he was considering his future at the club. The full support of the West Ham players is understood to have convinced Zola to fight for Premier League survival. England goalkeeper Robert Green said: "We are all behind the manager. He is a great man and great manager."
Zola's indecision left the Hammers needing a fall-back plan in case he quit. After contacting Glenn Hoddle and Graeme Souness last week, emergency caretaker managers not in work including Terry Venables and David O'Leary have been considered. Croatia coach and former player Slaven Bilic distanced himself from the job yesterday, although he remains an option in the summer along with Mark Hughes and Steve McClaren. West Ham do not want to sack Zola so late in the season with only six games remaining. "We are absolutely 100 per cent behind him," said Gold on Saturday night. David Sullivan, though, has not voiced his public support and Zola would be owed around £3million in compensation if sacked.

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Mido: Players know Zola is the man to keep us up
By Soccernet staff
ESPN
March 29, 2010

West Ham striker Mido insists the whole squad are behind under-fire manager Gianfranco Zola and that his team-mates don't have the look of a group about to get relegated from the Premier League. Zola has given the squad three days off while he considers whether he is the man to lead the Hammers to safety and the latest indications are that Zola will battle on until the potentially bitter end. While new owners David Sullivan and David Gold appear to have lumped for Zola in absence of a better alternative, Mido has retirerated the unwavering public support for Zola from within the dressing room, claiming he is definitely capable of reversing West Ham's alarming run of form. Mido said: "Everyone is working so hard for the manager. We're behind that man. He is a top manager, in my opinion, and we're all behind him. I think we have a very good chance of staying up. If you look in the dressing room and you see the faces in there, you don't see a team that is going to get relegated. "By experience, by names and by people who want to work hard for this club, I don't think this team is going down.''
West Ham's run-in is tough, starting with a trip to Everton next weekend followed by fixtures against Sunderland, Liverpool, Wigan, Fulham and Manchester City. "Everton are a very good team, but we're definitely going to go there to get at least a point," Mido said. "We're going to work hard. It didn't work for us on Saturday, but I hope that it will work for us next week.''

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Gianfranco Zola set for crisis meeting with West Ham squad over his future
Gianfranco Zola will hold a crisis meeting with the West Ham United squad before making a final decision on whether to quit the Premier League club.
Telegraph.co.uk
By Jason Burt
Published: 7:00AM BST 29 Mar 2010

Gianfranco Zola is pondering his future after a run of poor results including defeat by Stoke City. The Italian is understood to be at the end of his tether, with sources close to him claiming last night that he has felt undermined by the regime of David Sullivan and David Gold ever since they took control in January.

West Ham suffered a sixth straight league defeat at the weekend, at home to Stoke City, with, as The Daily Telegraph reported on Saturday, Zola later confirming he was considering his future and was set to walk out.

Zola: players motivated by Sullivan criticism Zola had intended to fly to Sardinia yesterday morning, to clear his head and decide what to do next, after giving the squad a two-day break, but remained in London to talk to his friends and his advisers.

He will now return to the club's training ground tomorrow and hold a meeting with the first-team squad to ask them directly if they believe he is the reason they are in danger of being relegated.

The situation is so critical that, even if he is given their full support, Zola is considering whether to leave in any case and, as things stand, he is unlikely to be in charge for the visit to Everton next Sunday. His assistant Steve Clarke will also leave if Zola walks out.

The pair are understood to be furious with Sullivan and Gold and also bewildered at the way in which the former has publicly ridiculed them and the squad when they are in such a precarious position. There is also anger towards the club's former owners and Straumur, the failed Icelandic bank which retains a 50 per cent shareholding and which conducted a sale of the club mid-season having promised stability for up to three years. The role of former chairman Andrew Bernhardt is under scrutiny.

For Zola the issue is not a pay-off and the £1.9 million-a-year salary he is receiving – as Sullivan knows – but an agonising desire not to walk out on the club, the players and supporters and be deemed a failure. He had hoped to secure safety from relegation and then leave – knowing that Sullivan was hoping to replace him in the summer in any case – and that is still a significant factor in his deliberations.

Sullivan and Gold maintain they fully support the manager but that is difficult to reconcile with the former's intervention at the training ground last Thursday. Sullivan accused the players of being unfit and fat and was forced to leave a meeting by Clarke who told him that he and Zola should be allowed to get on with their work.

Zola is particularly upset with Sullivan's behaviour, believing that if he wanted to make changes he should have waited to the summer. According to sources close to him, he believes that Sullivan should have kept his counsel on such issues as the players' wages and debts and not ridiculed his coaching and questioned whether he was "too nice" to be a manager.

Zola was also furious at the departure of technical director Gianluca Nani while the three strikers recruited in January by Sullivan and his transfer adviser Barry Silkman – Benni McCarthy, Mido and Ilan – have all proved to be failures.

If Zola does, as expected, walk out it will present West Ham with the serious problem of how to cope until the end of the season and this is fuelling part of his reluctance to leave. However, there is understood to have been some contact, through intermediaries, with former Tottenham Hotspur manager Glenn Hoddle who may be prepared to take on a role for the final six matches.

West Ham are also known to admire former Manchester City manager Mark Hughes, but he is expected to join another club this summer, while Croatia coach Slaven Bilic is also believed to be under consideration despite his protestations that he wants to remain for the 2012 European Championship qualification campaign.

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Arsenal eye move for Carlton Cole after West Ham give Gunners first option on hitman
By Sportsmail Reporter Last updated at 1:24 PM on 28th March 2010
Daily Mail

Carlton Cole could be set for a move across London this summer, after it was reported that Arsenal were given first option to buy the England international. West Ham's week went from bad to worse on Saturday as they were beaten 1-0 by Stoke in the Barclays Premier League, leaving them teetering on the brink of relegation. Demotion to the Championship would spark a mass exodus with £9million-rated Cole among the names set for an Upton Park exit. Arsenal were linked with a move for Cole in the January transfer window and would almost certainly rekindle their interest at the end of the season, should the Hammers go down. Arsene Wenger is keen to boost his attacking options, with Bordeaux marksman Marouane Chamakh, who is out of contract at the end of the season, thought to be the Frenchman's prime target. But according to the News of the World, doubts have emerged over the Moroccan's switch leaving Wenger forced to look at other options. Cole, 26, signed a new five-year deal at Upton Park just 18 months ago but would be sold at a reduced price, if the Hammers are relegated. The West Ham hitman has suffered another injury-hit season but has still managed to score nine goals in 18 Premier League starts.

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MARTIN SAMUEL: David Sullivan missed his cue to axe Gianfranco Zola, and he knows it
Daily Mail
Last updated at 12:39 AM on 29th March 2010

David Sullivan made one mistake with Gianfranco Zola. He should have sacked him when he had the chance in January. Not because Zola necessarily deserved it then, but because it was what Sullivan's gut instinct told him to do. Then, if West Ham United went down at the end of the season, Sullivan would have only himself to blame. Instead, right now what is coming through from his increasingly outspoken comments is not just his frustration and fear of relegation, but his resentment.

He resents not having been the ruthless boss. He resents not backing his judgment. He resents sticking by Zola primarily to keep the crowd happy. He is an angry man, because he did not do what he wanted to do, and now it may be too late. In every utterance these days it is plain he thinks not only that he has the wrong manager for the job, but that he knew as much from the start. If West Ham drop, the only way the business remains solvent is if the owners put in more money, so this may prove a very expensive indulgence. What can never be quantified in the event of relegation is the extent to which Sullivan's constant pronouncements on team matters turned a drama into a crisis. The bottom line is he would have been better off removing Zola, making his own appointment and riding out the flak at Upton Park. 'If you just set out to be liked, you will be prepared to compromise on anything and will achieve nothing.' This column does not intend making a habit of quoting Margaret Thatcher, but she got that one bang on.

Sullivan has tried to ally himself to the fans but will secretly feel sore at them, too. Financial ramifications aside, the only reason he kept Zola on was that he feared alienating supporters by sacking a popular manager. His gravest error, and it is the error of a great many chairmen, was to play to the gallery. When Kevin McCabe, chairman of Sheffield United, sacked the unpopular Bryan Robson he said his manager had been doing a tremendous job and it was a pity the supporters could not be more patient. It does not matter whether McCabe was correct in this assessment: if that is what he truly believed he should have stood by him.

Now Kevin Blackwell, Robson's successor, is also struggling to return the club to the Premier League and the fans are disenchanted once more. Gary Speed, Blackwell's assistant, was forced to speak in his defence earlier this month. Yet who can blame supporters for being forceful when the chairman has shown he is willing to bend in the populist wind? They now expect every decision to be made by a 30,000-strong committee. Harry Redknapp was railing against the Tottenham Hotspur fans who booed his team off at half-time against Fulham on Wednesday - before a second-half fightback earned a 3-1 victory and a place in an FA Cup semifinal - but just about every home team who are not leading after 45 minutes get the bird these days.

It is the fall-out from our interactive culture. We are becoming conditioned to raw impulse responses. Press red to vote, post a comment now, have your say; don't, whatever you do, sit down and actually think about a subject for any length of time. If your team aren't winning, just boo.
It is through this uneven landscape that the modern club owner walks and Sullivan stumbled early in his journey. In business, powerful men live or die by their decisions, but football is different. Sullivan did not want to start his time at Upton Park with confrontation; he was enjoying being the saviour too much to risk falling out with the fans. So instead he delivered an uneasy compromise: a manager he did not really want.

The downward spiral began that day because, by doing this, Sullivan negated the positive aspects of his takeover. Before his arrival, West Ham were rudderless. The club were controlled by Straumur, the reluctant creditors of previous owner Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson. They had acquired the asset by accident, had no interest in driving it forward, and were merely marking time for a sale. With new owners should have come direction, but this did not materialise because the relationship with the manager was so clearly a marriage of inconvenience.

Sullivan should have risked a few brickbats and axed Zola immediately, right or wrong. If he was not prepared to do that, he needed to put all reservations aside and back him with stoic silence. This slow death, in which it is plain a parting is merely a matter of time, with Sullivan existing in a permanent snit because he blames others for his failure to act, is what has really harmed the club.

Populism is a capricious mistress anyway. If West Ham are in the bottom three at 5pm on Sunday, May 9, the new owners will quickly discover how in vogue they are.

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