WHUFC.com
Owners David Sullivan and David Gold have made a further investment in West
Ham United
25.05.2010
David Sullivan and David Gold have both increased their shareholdings in
West Ham United from 25 per cent to 30 per cent, taking the proportion of
the club they now jointly own to 60 per cent. Mr Sullivan and Mr Gold, who
each bought 25 per cent of the club in January, purchased 10 per cent from
CB Holdings - the previous Icelandic owners - for £8m, with £4m going to the
club and £4m going to CB Holdings. Mr Sullivan said the investment
illustrated the Chairmen's commitment to the club's long-term future.
"Myself and David Gold are, like you, West Ham United fans and our aim is to
ensure our club enjoys a stable and successful future. To this end, we have
both invested a further £4m to increase our shareholding to 30 per cent
each. "We have a long-term intention of increasing our shareholding, while
we have also invited professional investors to share in our vision for this
special club. Also, in the near future we hope to extend to supporters the
opportunity to invest in the club. "We are committed to putting West Ham on
a firm financial footing that will form the basis, we hope, for success both
on and off the pitch."
CB Holdings still own 40 per cent of the club, although the Chairmen have a
three-year option to buy these shares. The £4m that goes to West Ham will
bridge the gap in the club's finances.
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Specs ready for Czechs
WHUFC.com
Jonathan Spector's United States will host the Czech Republic in a friendly
on home turf on Tuesday
25.05.2010
Jonathan Spector's United States will take their preparations for the 2010
FIFA World Cup up a notch when they host the Czech Republic in a friendly on
Tuesday. The Americans will face the Czechs, who themselves failed to
qualify for South Africa, in the first of two Send-Off Series fixtures at
Rentschler Field in East Hartford, Connecticut. The West Ham United
defender, who is aiming to play in his first World Cup finals after being
ruled out of Germany 2006 by a shoulder injury, is believed to be vying with
Hannover 96's Steve Cherundolo for the starting right-back berth. However,
the 24-year-old is a versatile performer and could also be included at
left-back or in the centre of defence by coach Bob Bradley The Czech
Republic match will be broadcast live in the UK by ESPN, with kick-off at
1am on Wednesday UK-time. Bradley's squad have been training in Princeton,
New Jersey, ahead of their Send-Off Series fixtures, which will also see
them face Turkey at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on
Saturday afternoon. Closer to home, Fabio Daprela will hope to end a
memorable season by helping Switzerland to qualify for the UEFA European
Under-19 Championship finals. The highly-rated 19-year-old will be an
important figure as the Swiss begin their Elite Round qualifying campaign by
taking on mini-league hosts Austria in Schwaz on Tuesday evening.
Daprela and his team-mates will face Denmark in Hall on Thursday afternoon
before completing the round of fixtures against Serbia in Schwaz on Sunday
evening. The attack-minded full-back will hope to boost a squad that has
been shorn of its best-known players. FC Basel winger Xherdan Shaqiri has
been named in Switzerland's provisional squad for the World Cup in South
Africa, while newly-signed VFL Wolfsburg forward Nassim Ben Khalifa is with
the U21 squad. The Hammers defender, BSC Young Boys goalkeeper Rene Borkovic
and midfielder Alexandre Pasche, St. Gallen defender Michael Lang and FC
Zurich forward Admir Mehmedi have been earmarked by UEFA as Switzerland's
players to watch. However it is Serbia, who reached the semi-finals of the
European U19 Championship a year ago, enter the Elite Round as group
favourites. Switzerland are aiming to reach their first finals since
qualifying for back-to-back tournaments in 1991 and 1992.
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'I was very happy'
WHUFC.com
Robert Green was pleased with his performance in England's 3-1 friendly
victory over Mexico on Monday
25.05.2010
Robert Green is hopeful but not 100 per cent sure he has done enough to be
named as England's No1 for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The West Ham United
goalkeeper produced a solid display in the Three Lions' 3-1 friendly win
over Mexico at Wembley on Monday, making two impressive saves to deny
Arsenal striker Carlos Vela. Indeed it took an opportunistic strike from
club-mate Guille Franco, who latched on to a loose Leighton Baines clearance
to score from six yards, to beat the Hammers stopper. The 30-year-old was
replaced by Manchester City youngster Joe Hart at half-time, and the
typically modest Green admitted the jersey was still up for grabs with just
Sunday's friendly with Japan to play before the World Cup opener against the
United States on 12 June. "I'm not the right person to ask. I'm pleased that
I played and I'm pleased with how I did. There are a couple of things to
tidy up on but, all in all, I was very happy with the 45 minutes apart from
letting the goal in. "There are times in football when you're needed and
thankfully I was there when I was needed. It's something that in
international football, the chances don't come along very often, and to open
up teams is a difficult thing to do. "To be the last line of defence and
make the saves is important because you know you're not going to get a vast
amount at the other end. It was very pleasing in that respect."
The Mexicans, who have also qualified for South Africa 2010, were also
impressive during an entertaining opening half, with Vela, Franco, PSV
Eindhoven defender Carlos Salcido and Tottenham Hotspur youngster Giovani
Dos Santos all causing problems for the England back-four. When the hosts'
defences were breached, Green was there to thwart the North Americans, while
Salcido also saw a curling shot hit the outside of the far post. "It was a
tough 45 minutes. They had a lot of possession in our half and we'd come off
the back of eight days' training so to come into the game, it wasn't so much
of a friendly but more of a really competitive game. "In that aspect, it was
very good to be tested as we were. We came in leading at half-time without
playing the best football but it's a results business and we got the right
result."
While Green is naturally eager to start at the World Cup, having missed
Germany 2006 with a ruptured groin suffered in a warm-up fixture against
Belarus, he insisted that England would also be in safe hands should either
Hart or Portsmouth veteran David James be given the chance to shine. "The
competition is healthy and strong. We all get on well and everyone is just
taking the chances when they can and that's all you can ask. That's what the
manager wants. "We're pushing each other and hopefully it will raise the
standard. Whoever plays, the other two will be behind him and we can only
encourage each other to go on and do good things. "I thought Joe did very
well. It wasn't a spectacular half for a goalkeeper, but with goalkeeping
it's about doing the basics right. It was his first game for England at
Wembley and I told him to enjoy it because you never know when the next one
is coming around. I played at Wembley and waited five years for my second
game there."
Whoever is in goal for England, Green said manager Fabio Capello has ensured
they are ready should his side reach the knockout stages and be taken to a
dreaded penalty shoot-out. "There has been some penalty practice and I'm
sure there will be some more. It's something that's very difficult to
replicate in training because you can't replicate taking penalties for
England. I'll do a lot more research than I can do in training at the end of
each session, so in that aspect, the more I do the more I'll be used to it
and the better prepared I'll be."
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West Ham co-owners Sullivan and Gold increase stake
BBC.co.uk
West Ham co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold have increased their stake
in the club to 60% at a cost of £8m. The pair, who bought 50% of the Hammers
from Icelandic group CB Holdings in January, have increased their shares
from 25% to 30% each. Half of the money will go to CB Holdings and half to
the club. West Ham chief executive Karren Brady said the deal would help
give the cash-strapped east London club "the much-needed stability that it
needs". The co-owners also have a three-year option to buy the remaining 40%
from CB Holdings, in which stricken Icelandic bank Straumur has the majority
interest. Sullivan said he and Gold have "have a long-term intention of
increasing our shareholding, while we have also invited professional
investors to share in our vision".
In a statement on the club website, Sullivan added: "Myself and David Gold
are, like you, West Ham United fans and our aim is to ensure our club enjoys
a stable and successful future. "To this end, we have both invested a
further £4m to increase our shareholding to 30% each." Meanwhile, Brady
admitted the club still has an "enormous amount of debt" which they were
trying to tackle. But she told BBC Radio 5 live there was no way the Hammers
would sell England midfielder Scott Parker. Asked about rumours Aston Villa
were preparing a £10m bid, she said: "David Sullivan has given his word that
Scott Parker is not going to be sold. "It's very unsettling for the player
and the club. But he is the Player of the Year and is very important to us."
Any transfer dealings may also be on hold until the club appoints a new
manager after they sacked Gianfranco Zola on 11 May. Avram Grant is widely
expected to fill the vacant post after he quit relegated Portsmouth on 21
May.
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Clarke fired, say reports
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 26th May 2010
By: Staff Writer
Assistant manager Steve Clarke has been fired, according to reports. Clarke,
who joined the Hammers from Chelsea two seasons ago had been expected to
team up with Avram Grant, whom he worked alongside at Chelsea prior to
moving across the City. However the Sun are claiming in this morning's
edition that the former Scottish international defender has followed former
partner Gianfranco Zola out of Upton Park having been sacked yesterday. The
brief meeting in which he was fired is said to have been a similar scenario
to that which saw the end of Zola's two-seaon spell in charge, with Karren
Brady delivering the fatal blow at the Boleyn Ground yesterday morning. An
un-named source is quoted by the paper, saying: "Zola and Clarke were nice
guys but finishing with 35 points is just not good enough. Most seasons that
would see you relegated so there can be no excuses. They had to go. It's a
clean sweep of the old management team to allow the new boss the opportunity
to build his own team here." 55-year-old Grant is expected to be confirmed
as West Ham United's thirteenth full time manager early next week.
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Parker is staying put
Hammers refuse to contemplate selling skipper
Last updated: 25th May 2010
SSN
West Ham United have reiterated that they have no intention of allowing
Scott Parker to leave this summer. The 29-year-old midfielder is currently
away on international duty with England, hoping to force his way into Fabio
Capello's 23-man World Cup squad. He has been thrust into contention for a
place on the plane to South Africa after an impressive season at domestic
level. Parker helped to spearhead the Hammers' survival bid in 2009/10,
leading by example on and off the field. Having set impeccably high
standards, he has inevitably been dragged into the transfer rumour mill -
which is now at full throttle. Various Premier League clubs are reported to
be weighing up an approach, with Aston Villa among those said to be keen.
West Ham have no plans to part with their skipper, though, and vice-chairman
Karren Brady insists there is no chance of the board sanctioning a sale.
"It's interesting that David Sullivan has given his word that Scott Parker
will not be sold and I think that's absolutely what we wish to deliver to
the supporters, that he's not going to be sold," Brady said. "So I think
Aston Villa should reconsider making any approach because the worst thing is
that it's very unsettling for the player, very unsettling for the club. "I
think if we wanted to sell him we'd go about it a different way but we
really don't. He's the player of the year and he's very important to us in
building a better team to take West Ham into a better future."
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Hammers duo increase stake
Sullivan and Gold pay £8million to acquire further 10% share
Last updated: 25th May 2010
SSN
West Ham United chairmen David Gold and David Sullivan have increased their
stake in the Premier League club to 60 per cent. Gold and Sullivan took
control at Upton Park back in January when buying a 50 per cent from
previous owners CB Holdings. Both Gold and Sullivan held a 25% share each
and they have now purchased another five per cent apiece to top up their
stake in the club. The deal has cost the duo £8million, with half going to
CB Holdings and the remaining half put towards bridging the gap in the
club's finances. The two chairmen have a three-year option to buy the
remaining 40% of CB Holdings' share in the club and Sullivan remains
determined to put the Hammers back on a stable financial footing. "Myself
and David Gold are, like you, West Ham United fans and our aim is to ensure
our club enjoys a stable and successful future," Sullivan told the club's
official website. "To this end, we have both invested a further £4m to
increase our shareholding to 30 per cent each. "We have a long-term
intention of increasing our shareholding, while we have also invited
professional investors to share in our vision for this special club. Also,
in the near future we hope to extend to supporters the opportunity to invest
in the club. "We are committed to putting West Ham on a firm financial
footing that will form the basis, we hope, for success both on and off the
pitch."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Sullivan's Shocker
The Sun
By ANDREW DILLON
Published: Today
WEST HAM owners David Gold and David Sullivan have been forced to bail out
the club with another £8million cash injection. The pair yesterday increased
their stake in the Hammers by 10 per cent to 60 per cent to plug a black
hole in the finances. West Ham must pay Sheffield United an instalment of
the £25m compensation owing over the Carlos Tevez affair. Ending last season
in 17th place has also left a £5.6m shortfall in Premier League prize money
after the previous Icelandic owners budgeted for finishing 10th. West Ham
fans Gold and Sullivan laid out £50m to buy 50 per cent of the club in
January and ploughed in another £15m to keep it going. They have now stumped
up another £4m each to pay the wages over the summer. Sullivan wrote in a
statement on West Ham's website: "We have a long-term intention of
increasing our shareholding. "Myself and David Gold are West Ham United fans
and our aim is to ensure our club enjoys a stable and successful future. "To
this end, we have both invested a further £4million to increase our
shareholding to 30 per cent each."
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Hammers axe coach Clarke
The Sun
By ROB BEASLEY
Published: Today
STEVE CLARKE has been sacked as West Ham coach - paving the way for Avram
Grant to be appointed boss next week. Clarke, who had three years left on
his contract, was axed by vice-chairman Karren Brady in a meeting yesterday.
Talks are under way to agree a pay-off which could be as much as
£1.3million. Clarke's exit follows the dismissal of manager Gianfranco Zola
two weeks ago. Both have paid the price for a disappointing season in which
West Ham finished 17th in the Premier League on just 35 points - one place
above the relegation zone. A Hammers insider said: "Zola and Clarke were
nice guys but finishing with 35 points is just not good enough. "Most
seasons that would see you relegated so there can be no excuses. They had to
go. "It's a clean sweep of the old management team to allow the new boss the
opportunity to build his own team here." Clarke quit as Chelsea coach to
join the Hammers in September 2008, just four months after helping to guide
the Blues to the Champions League final with Israeli Grant. But
ex-Portsmouth boss Grant, set to be unveiled as West Ham's new manager on
June 2, has clearly decided he does not want to renew the partnership.
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West Ham to unveil Grant next week
Published 22:45 25/05/10 By James Nursey
The Mirror
West Ham will unveil Avram Grant as their new boss next week. The Hammers
have decided upon Grant, 55, as Gianfranco Zola's replacement following the
Italian's sacking.
And the club expect to parade Grant next Wednesday as he prepares to start
work at Upton Park 24 hours earlier on June 1. Israeli Grant freed up
himself to move to West Ham by quitting crisis-club Portsmouth last week
following their FA Cup final defeat. West Ham supremo David Sullivan
considered a raft of other possible bosses including Croatia's Slaven Bilic.
But Grant is the unanimous choice of the Hammers' hierarchy including fellow
joint-chairman David Gold and Karren Brady. Now Grant has been kept informed
of moves behind the scenes to re-build the club's squad after their brush
with relegation. Sullivan has lined up 20-30 possible transfer targets
including Christian Benitez, Burnley's Steven Fletcher, Everton's Yakubu,
Pompey's Kevin-Prince Boateng, Aston Villa's Nicky Shorey and French
international Sidney Govou. Grant will now decide who to bring in once he is
formally appointed. The club insist their ambitious move to sign Thierry
Henry from Barcelona is at a very early stage.
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Liverpool plot £6m move for West Ham target Tardelli
Published 10:26 25/05/10 By David Anderson
The Mirror
Rafa Benitez is weighing up a £6million move for Brazil striker Diego
Tardelli. But the cash-strapped Reds boss faces competition from West Ham
for Tardelli, who plays for Brazilian side Atletico Miniero. Tardelli, 25,
is attracting attention after scoring 42 goals in 58 games for Miniero and
played three times during Brazil's World Cup qualifying campaign. However he
failed to make Dunga's final squad for South Africa, despite being named in
his preliminary 30-man party. Benitez has already lined up a Bosman move for
Milan Jovanovic from Standard Liege and feels Tardelli could further boost
his strike force.
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David Sullivan and David Gold up stake in West Ham United
The Times
Nick Szczepanik
David Sullivan and David Gold, the co-owners of West Ham United, have
increased their joint stake in the East London club from 50 to 60 per cent.
The former Birmingham City owners raised each of their shares from 25 per
cent to 30 per cent at a total cost of £8 million, with half going to CB
Holdings, the Icelandic group from whom they bought the club in January, and
half going to the club itself.
In announcing the deal, Sullivan and Gold also revealed plans to allow
supporters to invest in the club eventually. "We have a long-term intention
of increasing our shareholding, while we have also invited professional
investors to share in our vision for this special club," Sullivan said in a
statement on the club's official website. "Also, in the near future we hope
to extend to supporters the opportunity to invest in the club. We are
committed to putting West Ham on a firm financial footing that will form the
basis, we hope, for success both on and off the pitch. "Myself and David
Gold are, like you, West Ham United fans and our aim is to ensure our club
enjoys a stable and successful future. To this end, we have both invested a
further £4 million to increase our shareholding to 30 per cent each."
Sullivan and Gold also have a three-year option on the remaining 40 per cent
of the club retained by CB Holdings, in which Straumur, the collapsed
Icelandic bank, has the majority interest. The official statement added that
the £4 million contributed by Sullivan and Gold would "bridge the gap in the
club's finances", but it would appear to be more of a temporary stepping
stone than a permanent span over an abyss of debt which they claimed
amounted to £110 million soon after they took control of the club in
January.
Yesterday Karren Brady, the vice-chairman, assured supporters that the
latest move would help bring West Ham "the much-needed stability that it
needs". She admitted that debts remain high, but promised that financial
pressures would not mean the sale of Scott Parker, who has been linked with
a possible move to Aston Villa should they sell James Milner. "David
Sullivan has given his word that Scott Parker is not going to be sold," she
said. "It's very unsettling for the player and the club. But he is the
player of the year and is very important to us."
Other transfer business is likely to be put on hold until the confirmation
of Avram Grant as the new manager in succession to Gianfranco Zola. Grant is
expected to attempt to sign several players from Portsmouth, his former
club, including Kevin-Prince Boateng and Nadir Belhadj, who could be had for
bargain prices with the Hampshire club in administration and still needing
to raise cash to pay off creditors and reduce the wage bill. However,
reports linking Grant with Tal Ben-Haim, presumably on the grounds of their
shared Israeli nationality, are understood to be wide of the mark, while
Jamie O'Hara, Portsmouth's player of the season while on loan from Tottenham
Hotspur, would cost about £8 million and may be beyond the Upton Park
transfer budget. A World Cup warm-up match between Nigeria and Colombia, due
to be played at Upton Park this Sunday, has been cancelled.
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Karren Brady insists Scott Parker will not be sold by West Ham this summer
West Ham vice-chairman Karren Brady has insisted midfielder Scott Parker
will stay at the club this summer.
By Telegraph staff
Published: 8:29PM BST 25 May 2010
Scott Parker is coveted by several Premier League clubs but West Ham insist
he is not for sale . The 29 year-old, who still harbours hopes of securing
a place in Fabio Capello's 23-man World Cup squad, has been linked with a
move to a number of Premier League clubs. Aston Villa are the latest to be
rumoured to have expressed an interest, with a £10 million bid reportedly
being prepared by manager Martin O'Neill. Grant closer to West Ham move But
Brady is adamant that Parker, who was the stand-out player for West Ham in
their disappointing Premier League campaign and scored the goal against
Wigan that effectively sealed their survival, is going nowhere. "It's
interesting that David Sullivan has given his word that Scott Parker will
not be sold and I think that's absolutely what we wish to deliver to the
supporters, that he's not going to be sold," Brady said.
"So I think Aston Villa should reconsider making any approach because the
worst thing is that it's very unsettling for the player, very unsettling for
the club. "I think if we wanted to sell him we'd go about it a different way
but we really don't. He's the player of the year and he's very important to
us in building a better team to take West Ham into a better future."
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A Star Rising in the East End?
West Ham Till I Die
I have written previously about the enormous potential of Robert Hall and
the indicators are that we could have another really top draw talent
emerging from the Academy.
Hall has consistently played at levels above his age. Although only 16
years of age, he has appeared regularly for the West Ham u-18s and is
making quite an impression with England U-17s. Earlier this week he fired
the goal that saw the U-17s progress to the semi-finals of their version of
the European Championships. All in all, Robert Hall has scored 8 times in
14 appearances for the England U-17 side. That is a better than 1 in 2
average.
At U-18 level for West Ham, he forms a very promising strike partnership
with the Academy's Colombian prospect, Montano. And both youngsters will be
looking to speed their development even further next season, with regular
appearances for the Reserves.
If Hall maintans his current rate of progress we could see him, and indeed
his strike partner, Montano, entering the first frame by the end of next
season. There are always ifs and buts where the development of youngsters
are concerned, but Robert Hall genuinely looks to be a future first team
star in the making.
Elsewhere, it was good to see Jordan Spence get his first team debut against
Man City. Spence is a prospect that has a big reputation and he probably
would have debuted earlier in the season, but for our poor season and
subsequent relegation battle. He is one that should be nailed on to make
further first team appearances next season, whether at centre back or
right-back.
There are reports that Franco has been released by the club. Personally, I
feel that is a big shame. Yes, he is 33 years of age, but he is also a
player of significant technical merit. I always enjoyed watching him play
and, for me, his performances (Scott Parker aside) were one of the very few
highlights in a poor season. He could have been offered another year and,
at worst, operated successfully from the substitutes bench.
Similarly, I hope that Avram Grant, or whoever becomes the manager, retains
Diamanti and sets themselves the significant challenge of deploying him
productively within the context of the team unit. Diamanti is a very
talented forward and deserves another chance to show what he can really do
in the PL. I have consistently suggested playing him in 'the hole ' or as a
second striker, playing behind Cole or Nouble. If Grant does, as rumoured,
favour deploying a 4-3-3 formation then Diamanti could thrive in that
system, alongside say Cole and Hines.
I will also be sorry to see the back of Ilan. He really stepped up to the
plate in the final few matches and his equaliser at Everton was a pivotal
moment. I can understand why he and the club might decide to part company,
but if he goes, he goes with the my gratitude and best wishes for making
such a vital ontribution. Ilan could have took his money and just gone
through the motions, but he did not, he made a real effort. He combined
well with Cole and gave us a timely boost by providing a real threat in the
final third.
One of my greatest wishes is to see Mark Noble build upon his excellent
final performances in 2009-10 and carry that sort of form in to 2010-11. I
feel that his future is as a holding midfielder, winning the ball and using
his distribution ability to make decisive forward passes. For that to
happen, Kovac probably needs to make way to allow Noble to settle in that
anchor midfield role.
Good luck to Jack Collison in his rehabilitation from injury. Jack had a
tough time last season, with the sad death of his father and ongoing injury
problems. We need this outstanding young prospect back asap, fulfilling
his potential both for West Ham and Wales.
Finally, I also feel that next season will also be crucial to the
development of both James Tomkins and Junior Stanislas. These youngsters
have great ability and should really push on to tie down regular first team
places. Similarly, both Hines and Nouble should make a major first team
impact in the next campaign. Both have the tools to succeed, they just
need to apply themselves and make it happen!
I am not sure how things are going to shape up on the transfer front, but we
may well rely on these latter youngsters to deliver the goods at some point
next season. Lets hope, when needed, that they step up and do the business!
SJ. Chandos.
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Steve Clarke Exits?
West Ham Till I Die
This morning 's edition of The Sun contains a story alleging that Steve
Clarke has now followed Zola out of the door at Upton Park, pending the
negotiation of a financial settlement.
The report quotes an unnamed Hammers 'insider' as alleging that the 17th
place finish sealed the former management team's fate and that the decks
have now been cleared for the new manager to bring in his own assistant.
The story also states with some certainty that Avram Grant will be unveiled
as the club's new manager on 2 June 2010.
The Sun claim the reporting of Steve Clarke's exit as an exclusive.
Certainly, by way of a caveat, it has to be acknowledged that this is
currently an isolated report. We can now only await an official statement
of confirmation or denial to be posted on the club website. As for the 2
June 2010 press conference, we shall just have to wait and see? No doubt,
wherever possible, we will all be keeping a close eye on SSN that particular
day?
SJ. Chandos.
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AVRAM GRANT IS UP AND RUNNING
Daily Express
Wednesday May 26,2010
By Tony Banks Have your say(0)
AVRAM GRANT has already begun lining up his own backroom staff for when he
takes over at West Ham. Grant is expected to be formally announced as West
Ham's new manager when he returns from holiday next week, but has already
begun his preparations for when he starts work. Grant is expected to bring
three members of the Pompey backroom staff he worked with last season:
coaches Paul Groves and Ian Woan, and goalkeeping specialist David Coles.
Steve Clarke, who was previous manager Gianfranco Zola's assistant, is
expected to stay on for now. Grant is also hoping to lure at least two
players from Pompey – midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng and goalkeeper David
James.
Hopes of also bringing in Jamie O'Hara from Tottenham have been dashed by
the £6million price tag placed on his head by Spurs boss Harry Redknapp.
Promoted Newcastle now head a pack of clubs still interested in O'Hara. West
Ham are also poised to land unsettled Aston Villa midfielder Luke Young in a
£4m deal. Hammers co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold have increased
their stake in the club to 60 per cent, at a cost of £4m each. Sullivan and
Gold, who bought half of the stricken club in January, now each own 30 per
cent, with £4m of the money going to previous owners CB Holdings, who own
the other 40 per cent of the club, and the rest to West Ham itself. Sullivan
said: "Myself and David are West Ham fans and our aim is to ensure our club
enjoys a stable and successful future. To this end, we have both invested a
further £4m to increase our shareholding to 30 per cent each." The pair have
estimated the size of West Ham's debts at about £110m but have ambitious
plans for the club. They are pursuing Barcelona striker Thierry Henry, and
are reportedly willing to pay him about £75,000 a week. Sullivan and Gold
have a three-year option to buy the rest of the shares owned by CB Holdings,
and have also been trying to attract outside investment. Sullivan added: "We
have a long-term intention of increasing our shareholding, while we have
also invited professional investors to share in our vision for this special
club. "In the near future we hope to extend to supporters the opportunity to
invest in the club. We are committed to putting West Ham on a firm financial
footing that will form the basis, we hope, for success both on and off the
pitch."
The club say the £4m received in yesterday's deal will "bridge the gap" in
their finances. Sullivan and Gold have already tabled a joint bid with
Newham Council to move into the new Olympic Stadium when the Games have
finished in 2012. The duo are determined to fight off an imminent £10m bid
for England midfielder Scott Parker from Aston Villa.
Parker was the only player Sullivan exempted when he put the whole Hammers
squad up for sale in April and remains a player the club desperately want to
hold on to. Chief executive Karren Brady said: "David Sullivan has given his
word that Scott Parker is not going to be sold. It's very unsettling for the
player and the club. He is the player of the year and he is very important
to us."
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West Ham Prepare £3m Bid for Championship Bound Playmaker: Hammers
Interested in Wade Elliott
by Mr Neutral on May 26th, 2010
caughtoffside.com
West Ham are reportedly keen on making a move for Burnley flair player Wade
Elliot this summer. The Upton Park side, currently without a manager, are
apparently interested in signing the 30 year old and hope that the chance to
taste more of the Premier League football he experienced during his doomed
top tier season at Turf Moor will tempt the former Bournemouth man into
making a move.
Having scored the goal that sealed promotion to the top flight in the
Championship play-off final, Elliott stood out in the Clarets line up as a
player who could make things happen and had the ability to make something
out of nothing. He scored a some crackers, including against Everton and
away Hull City and is the type of player the Hammers are looking to bring to
the club as they try to push themselves away from the drop zone next term.
The east London club are apparently willing to make a move of around £3m for
the attacking midfielder who has been at Burnley for five seasons.
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