BBC.co.uk
Portsmouth's administrator Andrew Andronikou has said the club would not demand compensation for manager Avram Grant if he left the debt-ridden club. Israeli Grant is rumoured to be on a shortlist to take over at West Ham, who sacked Gianfranco Zola on 11 May. Grant revealed before Saturday's 1-0 FA Cup final defeat by Chelsea, that he had been approached by other clubs about becoming their manager. West Ham have vowed to recruit a new boss in time for pre-season training. A statement from the Hammers read: "Our efforts are focused on recruiting a high-calibre manager with the necessary experience to deliver good football and, most importantly, results. "A shortlist of candidates has been identified and the appointment will be made with enough time to prepare for pre-season."
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Pompey pave way for Grant move
Pompey not to stand in Grant's way if Hammers come knocking
Last updated: 18th May 2010
SSN
Portsmouth will not demand any compensation for manager Avram Grant should he make the move to West Ham, Sky Sports News has revealed. Israeli Grant has been named as a firm favourite to take the helm at the Upton Park club since Gianfranco Zola was sacked as manager last week. Pompey administrator Andrew Andronikou says that, while West Ham have not contacted the club as yet, Grant will be given permission to discuss terms if they do and the relegated side would not demand any payment for the remaining three years of the manager's contract. Grant, who against the odds guided financially-stricken Portsmouth to the FA Cup final on Saturday, was included on a manager short-list drawn up by Hammers co-owners David Gold and David Sullivan earlier this week. Blackburn Rovers coach Sam Allardyce, Cardiff City manager Dave Jones and Blackpool boss Ian Holloway are also reportedly in contention for the post.
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Rovers - No Allardyce approach
Potential West Ham move rebuffed by Rovers chief
Last updated: 18th May 2010
SSN
Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce will not be easily prised away from the club, according to chairman John Williams. Allardyce guided Rovers to a top 10 finish in the Premier League after recovering from a slow start and has been linked with a move out of Ewood Park following the turnaround. West Ham are believed to have Allardyce on a four-man shortlist for their vacant manager's job following the sacking of Gianfranco Zola earlier this month. But Rovers chief Williams say no formal approach has been made for his manager and that any offer would be promptly rejected - issuing a hands off warning to any potential suitors. He told the Lancashire Telegraph: "There's been no approach and we wouldn't welcome any approach."
Allardyce is said to be targeting a European finish with Blackburn as he looks to build a long-term plan for the club. The 55-year-old has lifted Rovers from relegation candidates since taking over from Paul Ince 18 months ago and is looking to strengthen his squad in the transfer market during the close season. Rovers last European adventure came in 2008 and the former Bolton boss has built a reputation for being able to work on a limited budget. West Ham escaped the Premier League drop themselves last season and are undergoing a period of transition, meaning Allardyce would prove an attractive option as owners David Sullivan and David Gold overhaul the finances and running of the club.
Meanwhile, midfielder Martin Olsson has received a first call-up to the Sweden squad for a friendly against Bosnia-Herzegovina in Stockholm on 29th May. However, following that match Olsson, who turned 22 on Monday, will drop back into the Under-21 squad for their Uefa qualifiers against Israel and Montenegro.
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West Ham United given green light to make approach for Avram Grant
Relegated Portsmouth will not seek compensation for manager
Hammers owners indicate they are keen to strengthen squad
Dominic Fifield guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 18 May 2010 12.24 BST
Avram Grant has edged closer to taking up the reins at West Ham United after Portsmouth indicated they would not seek any compensation should the Israeli desire a move to Upton Park.
Portsmouth's administrator, Andrew Andronikou, met with Grant last night to discuss his future with the relegated FA Cup finalists, with whom the manager still has two years to run on his contract. The 55-year-old could not be persuaded to stay and indicated he would favour a move to West Ham, where he is expected to sign a three-year contract worth around £1.3m, after the dismissal of Gianfranco Zola last week.
No formal approach has yet been made by the Londoners to Portsmouth, though that is anticipated to come later today, with Grant the club's preferred candidate on a four-man shortlist to take over at Upton Park. The joint owners, David Sullivan and David Gold, issued a statement earlier today insisting an appointment of a "high-calibre manager with the necessary experience to deliver good football and, most importantly, results" would "be made with enough time to prepare for pre-season".
Grant is expected to make the Everton striker Yakubu Ayegbeni his first signing for around £7m, with two players with whom he worked at Fratton Park – Kevin-Prince Boateng and the Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Jamie O'Hara – also on a wishlist of potential new recruits.
Gold and Sullivan added in their statement their intention to strengthen a squad that finished only 17th under Zola last term. "For too long, the focus has been on players leaving rather than arriving," they said. "We will strengthen in the right areas to ensure an exciting and balanced squad that is well placed to cope with the rigours of the Premier League season."
The London club had identified Grant, the Blackburn Rovers manager Sam Allardyce, Blackpool's Ian Holloway and Dave Jones of Cardiff City – the last two go head to head in the Championship play-offs final on Saturday – as their managerial targets, after the likes of Mark Hughes and Steve McClaren distanced themselves from a possible move to the Boleyn Ground. McClaren has since swapped FC Twente, where he had won the Dutch league, for the Bundesliga club Wolfsburg.
Grant has been championed by the agents Pini Zahavi and Barry Silkman, who is close to Sullivan, with his achievement in steering Pompey to the FA Cup final having impressed his suitors. The Israeli, for his part, is willing to work with West Ham's often outspoken joint owners, having emerged with dignity intact from his spells at Chelsea and Portsmouth.
The appointment process is now expected to speed up, with Andronikou effectively having granted the Londoners permission to make a formal approach for Grant's services.
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Portsmouth won't stop Grant switching to West Ham
ESPN Soccernet staff
May 18, 2010
ESPN
Avram Grant is in pole position to be the next West Ham manager, but the final decision has yet to be taken, according to ESPNsoccernet sources.
Portsmouth administrator Andrew Andronikou has reluctantly given Grant permission to speak to Hammers co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold, and has even agreed not to demand any compensation for the remaining three years of the manager's Fratton Park contract.
The likelihood of Grant's appointment as successor to Gianfranco Zola was put at "65%" by a Hammers insider and the former Chelsea boss is now free to talk to West Ham after it became clear that Grant can walk away from Pompey without the club claiming recompense.
The Hammers also want to interview Sam Allardyce, Ian Holloway and David Jones before making a final decision, which means it might be a week, perhaps even two before an announcement is made.
Meanwhile, the Hammers have missed out on signing France star Sidney Govou on a free transfer from Lyon, as he accepted a €65,000-a-week offer to play in Turkey.
Birmingham and Sunderland were also interested in the 30-year-old winger, who won seven league titles with Lyon, but the Hammers were left the most disappointed, having been expected to seal a deal for him this week.
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Grant free to talk to West Ham
By Harry Harris, Football Correspondent
ESPN
May 18, 2010
Avram Grant is in pole position to be the next West Ham manager, but the final decision has yet to be taken, according to ESPNsoccernet sources. Portsmouth administrator Andrew Andronikou has reluctantly given Grant permission to speak to Hammers co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold, and has even agreed not to demand any compensation for the remaining three years of the manager's Fratton Park contract. Grant's appointment as successor to Gianfranco Zola was put at "65%" by a Hammers insider and the former Chelsea boss is now free to talk to West Ham after it became clear that Grant can walk away from Pompey without the club claiming recompense. The Hammers also want to interview Sam Allardyce, Ian Holloway and David Jones before making a final decision, which means it might be a week, perhaps even two before an announcement is made. Meanwhile, the Hammers have missed out on signing France star Sidney Govou on a free transfer from Lyon, as he accepted a €65,000-a-week offer to play in Turkey. Birmingham and Sunderland were also interested in the 30-year-old winger, who won seven league titles with Lyon, but the Hammers were left the most disappointed, having been expected to seal a deal for him this week.
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