WHUFC.com
On-loan defender Matt Fry is eager to learn from new Charlton Athletic
manage and ex-Hammer Chris Powell
17.01.2011
Matt Fry has spoken of his excitement at the prospect of working under
former West Ham United and England defender Chris Powell. Powell began work
on Monday at League One promotion-chasers Charlton Athletic, where Fry is
currently on loan. The 20-year-old is eager to learn from his new boss, who
made 42 appearances for the Hammers during the 2004/05 season and was capped
five times by his country. Fry's loan has recently been extended until 5
February and the defender is keen to make the most of his remaining time at
The Valley. "It was the manager's first day on Monday and he held a meeting
before training during which he gave us all a really inspirational speech
outlining what he wants to achieve," confirmed the youngster. "Everyone has
respect for Chris Powell as a great player and we have got a bit of a lift
with him coming in. "Every player will be fighting to prove to the new
manager that they are worth their place in the team and I'm sure the
intensity will be up in training over the next few weeks. "Going out on loan
is all about gaining experience and I am fortunate that the new manager
played in my position to the highest level. "I can learn a lot from Chris in
the time I have left at Charlton because he was a top player and I'm sure
he'll also want to help me get better. I am sure he will teach me a lot."
Powell's reign will begin with the visit of Plymouth Argyle to The Valley on
Saturday - a game that could pitch Fry against former West Ham Academy
team-mate Bondz N'Gala. "We've got Plymouth at home on Saturday and although
they are a good side, we'll be looking to take three points from that game.
"It will be good to see Bondz again. I didn't play when we drew 2-2 at their
place in October, so it would be great to be involved this time around. "We
are only a place and a point outside the Play-Offs, so a win would be a
great start for the new manager and great for our promotion chances."
While promotion from League One is Charlton's No1 priority, the
Dartford-born defender also enjoyed the experience of performing in front of
nearly 36,000 fans when the Addicks took on Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup
third round. Charlton held their Barclays Premier League opponents for 49
minutes before three goals in quick succession - including two from ex-West
Ham striker Jermain Defoe - ended their Wembley dreams. Regardless of the
result, Fry thoroughly relished the experience of playing at a packed White
Hart Lane. "It was good. It was obviously a fantastic experience to play in
front of more than 35,000 fans, which was the biggest crowd I'd ever played
in front of. It's all about learning and it was a great experience for me.
"I get nervous before every game I play in and I must admit I did get some
feelings in my stomach before the kick-off, but once the whistle was blown
it was down to business and just like any other game. "In the first half we
held them really well, played some good football ourselves and went in at
half-time nil-nil and anything could have happened. "They brought on Luka
Modric at half-time and he was a different class and ran the game. We maybe
switched off a bit and they scored three goals in pretty quick succession.
"Overall, though, we played some good football. That's the sort of stadium
and stage where I want to be playing and it's certainly given me the taste
for it. "I'm on loan at a big club and we get big crowds, too, so it's all
good experience and I'm learning more and more every day."
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Board back Grant (for now)
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 18th January 2011
By: Staff Writer
West Ham have released a statement confirming that the club remain committed
to Avram Grant. A statement posted on whufc.com this morning said:
"The club are committed to retaining Avram Grant as manager and have
identified potential transfer targets to give us the best possible chance of
retaining Premier League status."
The brief statement represents the first official communication from the
club's board on the subject since speculation regarding Grant's future began
to spead like wildfire. That silence has been generally regarded as a lack
of faith in Grant, who has led his side to back-to-back Premier League
defeats in recent weeks (5-0 at Newcastle and 3-0 at home to Arsenal last
weekend). However it seems now, with Martin O'Neill apparently out of the
running, that the board have little option but to back their man - for the
time being, at least.
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O'Neill out, says friend
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 18th January 2011
By: Staff Writer
Martin O'Neill is out of the running to replace Avram Grant, according to a
well-placed source. BBC Radio 5 live's Pat Murphy, a close confidante of the
former Aston Villa and Celtic manager said last night that O'Neill was
unlikely to accept West Ham United's offer as it reeked of 'desperation'.
"The way I read it is that it has all been too hurried for him," said
Murphy. "Martin has never been the sort of manager to rush into decisions.
He's always had a measured attitude towards his next move. He's very
rational. "It seems West Ham's key executives were premature in assuming
they had landed him. The West Ham board have appeared too desperate to
appoint a marquee name like O'Neill. He has always concentrated on the
football aspects of the club rather than the local politics and he has never
been one to be rushed. "[Whilst] he may be available and very keen to return
to management, any manager would struggle to revive a West Ham team that has
won just four league matches with the January transfer window due to close
in just a fortnight."
West Ham's board are once again said to be dithering over whether to replace
Grant, whose weekend press conference offered the impression that it may
well be his last. But according to Harry Harris, a journalist close to
Hammers' co-chairman David Sullivan, O'Neill's decision could mean a stay of
execution for Grant, whose weekly 'Manager on Monday' column failed to
appear on the club's website yesterday.
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New date
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 17th January 2011
By: Staff Writer
West Ham United's trip to White Hart Lane on Saturday, 19th March is being
be broadcast live. As a result of their revised schedule, SkySports have
confirmed they will be airing the Premier League London derby. The kick-off
time has been brought forward to 12:45pm as a result.
West Ham's full live fixture schedule for the rest of the season cuurently
looks as follows:
Wednesday 26th January: Birmingham (a) Carling Cup semi final, second leg
(7:45pm)
Sunday 6th February: Birmingham (h) Premier League (1:30pm)
Sunday 27th February: Liverpool (h) Premier League (1:30pm)
Saturday 19th March: Tottenham (a) Premier League (12:45pm)
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Brady involved in fresh row
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 18th January 2011
By: Staff Writer
A story in today's Daily Mirror claims that vice chairman Karren Brady sent
texts to players, effectively asking them to request the removal of manager
Avram Grant. The article, by Martin Lipton says that Brady - who, it has
been suggested on a number of occasions, is far from Grant's biggest fan -
sent messages to the playing staff ahead of last weekend's Arsenal game
which ended in a 3-0 defeat. An unnamed 'dressing room source' is reported
to have told the Mirror: "When the texts came in, asking some of us what we
thought of Avram and whether we felt he should go, none of us could believe
what was happening. "As far as I know, no one replied to the texts, which
seemed to be asking us to go to the owners and ask for a change of manager.
But the players who received them showed the texts to the coaching staff and
pretty soon everybody knew what had gone on. It simply wasn't right."
Another 'dressing-room insider' insisted that the speculation surrounding
Grant was a major factor in the Arsenal defeat, with the players completely
unaware of the manager's situation. "Nobody had a clue what was going on and
the fact we were all left out of the loop made it worse," they said. "It was
still going on when we were arriving before the game and it was no way for
any of us to prepare for playing Arsenal. "After the game a few of us told
Avram he shouldn't go and face the press and that he should let the board
take the flak but he said it was his job and went and spoke."
However the club have hit back at Lipton's claims in a brief statement
posted on whufc.com this morning. "West Ham United categorically deny the
allegations made in today's Daily Mirror with regard to Karren Brady," it
said. "Karren has worked tirelessly to improve all aspects of the club's
operation and is extremely disappointed by the nature of these unfounded
allegations. West Ham fully intend to identify the source of these unhelpful
and untrue comments and remove them from the club. "West Ham have placed
the matter immediately in the hands of their lawyers."
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The mole revealed
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 18th January 2011
By: Staff Writer
A member of the West Ham board has been fingered as the source who revealed
that Martin O'Neill was set to replace Avram Grant. According to Times
journalist Oliver Kay, the leak emanated from within the West Ham boardroom
hours ahead of West Ham's vital Premier League clash with Arsenal.
The source was considered so strong that all major news outlets - including
the BBC and SkySports - ran with the story, despite being unable to name the
individual responsible for claiming O'Neill was ready to replace Grant - and
despite West Ham's official press team maintaining that contrary to reports,
Grant's position was not under any immediate threat.
Speaking on his Twitter page late last night, Kay said: "Never quite sure
who's the biggest fool on WHUFC board, but leaking that they'd got O'Neill
(who has of course turned them down) was absurd."
O'Neill - who was at West Ham's recent FA Cup clash with Barnsley - is
thought to have rejected West Ham's overtures after his link with Avram
Grant's job was revealed.
The Irishman is said to have been furious at the leak and the club's lack of
professionalism and withdrew from the process as a result.
* Jack Collison posted the following on Twitter last night: "Sitting and
thinkin...feeling like I could let loose and tell people my thoughts but
shud probably keep quiet..."
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Hammers confirm Grant stay
Basement club back under-fire boss
By Graeme Bailey - Follow me on Twitter @graemebailey Last updated: 18th
January 2011
SSN
West Ham United have released a statement confirming that Avram Grant will
be staying on as their manager. The Hammers have confirmed the news,
following Martin O'Neill's decision to pull out of a proposed offer to join
the club. O'Neill is one of a number of managers approached by the club in
recent weeks, as Grant's tenure looked to be coming to a close. However, the
club are now seemingly ready to back the Israeli as they Premier League's
basement club look to beat the drop. The statement also reacts to reports in
the press on Tuesday, which claimed the club's vice-chairman Karren Brady
had contacted members of the playing squad in a bid to unsettle Grant. The
club though have vehemently denied these reports whilst also delivering
their official backing to Grant.
"West Ham United categorically deny the allegations made in today's Daily
Mirror with regard to Karren Brady, the club's Vice-Chairman. Karren has
worked tirelessly to improve all aspects of the club's operation and is
extremely disappointed by the nature of these unfounded allegations. "West
Ham fully intend to identify the source of these unhelpful and untrue
comments and remove them from the club. West Ham have placed the matter
immediately in the hands of their lawyers. "The club are committed to
retaining Avram Grant as manager and have identified potential transfer
targets to give us the best possible chance of retaining Premier League
status."
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West Ham confirm Grant is to stay
Published 09:39 18/01/11 By MirrorFootball
The Mirror
West Ham say they are committed to retaining manager Avram Grant after weeks
of speculation over his future at Upton Park. The Israeli appeared on the
brink of the sack, with reports at the weekend linking Martin O'Neill with
the post. However, the club issued a statement this morning insisting they
were standing by Grant, despite the club sitting bottom of the Barclays
Premier League with just four wins from their first 20 matches.
A statement posted on www.whufc.com read: "The club are committed to
retaining Avram Grant as manager and have identified potential transfer
targets to give us the best possible chance of retaining Premier League
status."
The 55-year-old Grant is due to take training at the club's training ground
in Essex this morning. Today's statement should appease supporters to a
certain extent after they urged the Hammers board to either back or sack
Grant, with former West Ham captain Julian Dicks warning the club earlier
this week that they were in danger of turning into a "laughing stock" by not
providing clarity over Grant's position.
Dicks said: "All I know is what I have seen in the newspapers and on the
television - I heard one minute that Avram was leaving, then the next I hear
it's Martin O'Neill who's coming in, and then he isn't. We're becoming a
laughing stock really. "They (Gold and Sullivan) have the best interests of
the club and the supporters at heart, I'm sure, but they need to come out
and end all this speculation and say 'we support you' or they should sack
him. "They need to get this sorted out so everyone can start concentrating
on the football again."
Reports emerged in the last 24 hours that O'Neill had ruled himself out of
the running to succeed Grant.
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West Ham Prepare Shock Loan Move to Bring Joe Cole Back from Liverpool
Nightmare
CaughtOffside.com
by Matt Rowan on January 18th, 2011
According to ESPN Under fire West Ham boss Avram Grant is set to be
preparing a shock 6 month loan deal for Liverpool winger Joe Cole, who Grant
believes won't fit into new Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish's plans for the
rest of the season. Cole, 29, scored 10 in goals in 126 appearances for West
Ham, his first club, between 1998 and 2003. Cole then moved to Chelsea where
in the 2007-08 season, current Hammers boss Grant was manager. When Grant
was sacked after less than a season at the Chelsea helm, Cole sent him a
"very touching message about how much he had enjoyed his time" under the
Israeli. Liverpool would be happy to see of Cole for the remainder of the
season, making the move beneficial for all parties involved. The struggling
England winger signed for Liverpool on a free in the summer when Roy Hodgson
was in charge. Cole has failed to spark life into Liverpool though, scoring
once in 11 Premier League appearances this season. Meanwhile, Former Aston
Villa boss Martin O'Neill has said he won't be replacing Grant, apparently
appalled at the West Ham board's treatment of their current man at the top.
Sam Allardyce formerly of Blackburn is now the main target for the Hammers,
although ex–Newcastle gaffer Chris Houghton is also set to be contacted.
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West Ham confirm Avram Grant stays and promise new arrivals in fight for
survival
By Sportsmail Reporter
Last updated at 9:57 AM on 18th January 2011
Daily Mail
West Ham have today confirmed that manager Avram Grant will remain in charge
and have promised him funds to recruit new players to boost the club's
chances of survival. The decision to retain Grant, at least until the end of
the season, comes after Martin O'Neill rejected the chance to take the
manager's job at Upton Park. The Hammers have finally broken their silence,
backing the beleaguered Israeli boss in a statement on the club's official
website this morning, despite the club sitting bottom of the Barclays
Premier League with just four wins from their first 20 matches.
It read: 'The club are committed to retaining Avram Grant as manager and
have identified potential transfer targets to give us the best possible
chance of retaining Premier League status.' Grant will now be given the
chance to steer West Ham off the bottom of the table and possibly to the
Carling Cup final, with his side just 90 minutes away from their first
Wembley final in 30 years. The 55-year-old Grant is due to take training at
the club's training ground in Essex this morning.
Today's statement should appease supporters to a certain extent after they
urged the Hammers board to either back or sack Grant, with former West Ham
captain Julian Dicks warning the club earlier this week that they were in
danger of turning into a 'laughing stock' by not providing clarity over
Grant's position. Dicks said: 'All I know is what I have seen in the
newspapers and on the television - I heard one minute that Avram was
leaving, then the next I hear it's Martin O'Neill who's coming in, and then
he isn't. We're becoming a laughing stock really. 'They (Gold and Sullivan)
have the best interests of the club and the supporters at heart, I'm sure,
but they need to come out and end all this speculation and say 'we support
you' or they should sack him.
'They need to get this sorted out so everyone can start concentrating on the
football again.'
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The Sorry Saga Continues…
West Ham Till I Die
Here's a statement from the club's website…
West Ham United categorically deny the allegations made in today's Daily
Mirror with regard to Karren Brady, the club's Vice-Chairman. Karren has
worked tirelessly to improve all aspects of the club's operation and is
extremely disappointed by the nature of these unfounded allegations. West
Ham fully intend to identify the source of these unhelpful and untrue
comments and remove them from the club. West Ham have placed the matter
immediately in the hands of their lawyers. The club are committed to
retaining Avram Grant as manager and have identified potential transfer
targets to give us the best possible chance of retaining Premier League
status.
I'm not going to pass much comment on the Karren Brady stuff. I have to say
I think it is full of holes and I cannot imagine Karren Brady would have
been stupid enough to incriminate herself in that way. She's not stupid.
However, this is an incredibly terse statement which appears to imply that
the search for a new manager has been called off and that Avram Grant is now
secure in his position. If I were Grant, I'd resign anyway as he clearly
doesn't have the full confidence of the board. Whatever one thinks of Grant
as a manager – and you know what I think – he doesn't deserve this.
And the biggest problem the club now faces is this. Who on earth, of any
quality, would want to sign for us in this transfer window?
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West Ham to launch loan bid for Cole
January 18, 2011
Email Print
By Harry Harris, Football Correspondent
ESPN
West Ham are ready to make an approach to take one of their old heroes, Joe
Cole, back to Upton Park on loan from Liverpool. Cole joined the Hammers as
a schoolboy and made his name at the club before moving to Chelsea in 2003
when West Ham were relegated from the Premier League. A West Ham source told
ESPNsoccernet: "It's a very long shot, but we are willing to have a go."
Owners David Gold and David Sullivan were willing to pay Cole a small
fortune to return to the club before he opted to join Liverpool when he left
Chelsea on a free transfer in the summer - that was again another "long
shot" that didn't come off. But the Hammers are ready to have another go
with Cole unable to hold down a place in the Liverpool team, and the club
about to embark on a spending spree in the January transfer window, which
might give Cole even less of a chance of holding down a place at Anfield.
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Luyindula won't rule out Hammers
January 18, 2011
ESPN
Paris St Germain striker Peguy Luyindula would not rule out a move to West
Ham in the January transfer window. The 31-year-old, who has been used 17
times as a substitute in league action by PSG this season, is enjoying the
challenge of helping the capital club push for the Ligue 1 title, but is
happy to leave his future in the hands of his agent and the club. Asked
whether he would be tempted by a move to the Hammers, despite their position
at the bottom of the Premier League, he told Le Parisien: "To say otherwise
would be wrong. West Ham is London, and I have half my family in London. In
football, nothing is impossible. "If a club offers something that PSG cannot
refuse ... I will leave it with my agent. I feel good in Paris, the next six
months can be wonderful and I think I have a part to play in that. There may
be something really good at the end.'' PSG sit second in Ligue 1 and
Luyindula, whose most prolific season saw him score 16 goals in 37 league
games for Lyon in 2003-04, insists he will not rock the boat or agitate for
a move. "People who are interested in signing me should contact the club,''
he said. "They should discuss it with PSG. I could shoot my mouth off and
create a showdown, but this is not my state of mind. But there are
discussions to have.''
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Obinna wanted by Hammers
Nigerian's representative claims West Ham want to keep striker
Last updated: 18th January 2011
SSN
The agent of Victor Obinna claims that West Ham want to keep the on-loan
striker on a permanent basis. Liverpool have been linked with a move for
the Nigeria international, who will be out of contract at parent club Inter
Milan at the end of the season and has little chance of a new deal. But
Obinna's representative, Valentino Nerbini, thinks that West Ham want to
reach a long-term agreement, although there will no rush to accept any
offer. "Obinna will be released in June," Nerbini told ilsussidiario.net.
Interest
"We do not want to make a quick decision on the next good club for Victor."
Nerbini believes that his client has impressed at Upton Park, despite a
petulant red card against Birmingham in the Carling Cup, and that is why
there is interest. "He is doing well at West Ham. This is why the English
club would like to keep him," added the agent. Obinna moved to the Premier
League strugglers in August on a season-long loan and he said at the
beginning of 2011 that he could sign a permanent deal at Upton Park if he
received the right offer. The 23-year-old has scored three goals in 21
matches in all competitions in the current campaign and has not been on
target since the victory over Wigan at the end of November.
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Luyindula open to Hammers move
PSG striker remains coy on links with West Ham
Last updated: 18th January 2011
SSN
Paris St Germain striker Peguy Luyindula has hinted he could join West Ham
United this month. The 31-year-old striker has been used from the bench 17
times and in his bit-part role has helped the Ligue 1 title chasers into
second. Luyindula has been strongly linked with a move to the Premier League
with West Ham, who are bottom of the table. However, despite their perilous
position, he admits the move still has some appeal.
Wrong
"To say otherwise would be wrong," he told Le Parisien. "West Ham is London,
and I have half of my family in London. In football, nothing is impossible.
"If a club offers something that PSG cannot refuse....I will leave it with
my agent. "I feel good in Paris, the next six months can be wonderful and I
think I have a part to play in that. There may be something really good at
the end."
Professionally
Luyindula has insisted he will act professionally and will not agitate for a
transfer away from PSG. He added: "People who are interested in signing me
should contact the club. "They should discuss it with PSG. I could shoot my
mouth off and create a showdown, but this is not my state of mind. But there
are discussions to have." Luyindula's most prolific season in Ligue 1 came
with Lyon in the 2003-04 campaign when he scored 16 goals in 37 games.
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West Ham star knocks Tottenham's Olympic Stadium bid
TalkSport
By Marc Isaacs
Tuesday, January 18
West Ham captain Matthew Upson has hit back at Tottenham's intention to
demolish the Olympic Stadium and hopes the east London club will be awarded
the bid to play there. Tottenham have announced controversial plans to knock
down the £500m arena and build a new football stadium. The move has outraged
the athletics world and International Olympic Committee executive board
member Frankie Fredericks is adamant that the stadium should keep the
athletics track after the end of the Olympics in 2012.
West Ham have every intention of keeping the running track and want to keep
the Olympic theme alive when they move into the new ground. Upson fully
understands why his club want to keep the track around the pitch and hopes
the right decision is made on January 28 when the Olympic Park Legacy
Committee announce the preferred bidder. Upson said: "I do understand why
the club see the importance of athletics within the stadium and also for
what it will mean for the community. "It is a great stadium and there are
many positives that outweigh any concerns over the track. It would be great
if it was the centre-point of British athletics after the Games. "A great
heritage would come with that and it would be a positive thing for future
generations. It is important and would be for the greater good of UK sport."
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Hammers hope for Ben-Haim deal
Tuesday 18th January 2011 12:02
TeamTalk
West Ham are hoping to extend the loan deal of Portsmouth defender Tal
Ben-Haim until the end of the season. The Israeli has been on loan with the
Hammers since August and boss Avram Grant has made clear he wants to keep
hold of the 28-year-old. Pompey are short of players, with injuries and
suspensions affecting Steve Cotterill's squad, but Ben-Haim's wages are
believed to be beyond the club's budget. "Discussions are ongoing regarding
Tal Ben-Haim," said Portsmouth chief executive David Lampitt. "There have
been talks between the clubs, the player and his representatives. We're
working with West Ham and have been in contact with them frequently.
"Hopefully, there will be a resolution in the near future but it's difficult
to go into details at this stage."
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Peg: I won't Luy , Irons interest me
The Sun
Published: Today
PARIS ST GERMAIN striker Peguy Luyindula admits he could be tempted to join
Premier League basement boys West Ham. The 31-year-old is enjoying the
challenge of helping PSG push for the Ligue 1 title, but is refusing to rule
out a move to East London. Asked if he would be keen on joining the Irons,
Luyindula said: "To say otherwise would be wrong. "West Ham is London, and I
have half my family in London. In football, nothing is impossible. "If a
club offers something that PSG cannot refuse...I will leave it with my
agent. "I feel good in Paris, the next six months can be wonderful and I
think I have a part to play in that. There may be something really good at
the end."
PSG sit second inthe French league but Luyindula has been used mainly as a
substitute this season. And the forward admitted he will make a decision
about his future soon, with several clubs showing an interest in his
services. Luyindula added: "People who are interested in signing me should
contact the club.
"They should discuss it with PSG. I could shoot my mouth off and create a
showdown, but this is not my state of mind. "But there are discussions to
have."
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Hammers : We're sticking with Av
The Sun
Published: Today
WEST HAM have confirmed manager Avram Grant will NOT be sacked. The East
London side issued a statement this morning to end speculation about his
future. It said: "The club are committed to retaining Avram Grant as
manager. "We have identified potential transfer targets to give us the best
possible chance of retaining Premier League status." Hammers co-owners David
Gold and David Sullivan were reported to have approached Martin O'Neill
about taking over from Grant. But the former Aston Villa boss snubbed the
chance to return to management at Upton Park.
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2012 ambassador slams plan to demolish Olympic Stadium
Tottenham Stadium Plan appalling
BBC.co.uk
A basketball player who led the publicity for London's 2012 bid says tearing
down the Olympic Stadium after the Games is an "appalling" idea. Amber
Charles, from East Ham, was 14 in 2005 when she accompanied the British team
to Singapore for the IOC meeting that awarded the Games to the capital.
Tottenham Hotspur have said they will demolish the stadium if they win a bid
to take it over. Charles told the BBC: "To pull it down would destroy the
whole idea." In an interview with BBC sports news correspondent Dan Roan,
she added: "I think it's appalling really. A lot of our bid was about it
being a lasting legacy for London and it being there for years to come."
Charles, who is now on a basketball scholarship at Temple University in
Tennessee in the United States, became a youth ambassador for the 2012 bid,
presenting London's 600-page proposal to members of the International
Olympic Committee. "The stadium is meant to be something for London to be
proud of but that's not going to be the case if Tottenham win," she said.
"What's going to be left to say the Olympics have been here at all?"
Spurs have revealed they would take down most of the new stadium if their
bid is successful because it is unsuitable for their purposes. The Premier
League club argue that the seating is too far from the pitch because of the
presence of a running track.
West Ham United are also bidding to take over the stadium after the Games
but say they will retain most of the structure, although they will reduce
the venue's capacity from 80,000. They want to create a 60,000-capacity
arena for football, athletics, concerts and community use in a collaboration
with Newham Council. The Olympic Park Legacy Committee will make its
recommendations on the site's future to the Mayor of London and the
government by 28 January.
Tottenham have promised to invest in London sport as part of their proposal
to take over the stadium, pledging to contribute to the refurbishment of the
National Sports Centre at Crystal Palace. But Charles, who hopes to
represent Great Britain at the 2012 event, said the club's plans would mean
east London misses out on a valuable sporting facility. Having the stadium
in east London would be a massive thing for the area, something to be proud
of," she said.
The Tottenham bid has been submitted in collaboration with entertainment and
sports giants AEG, which runs the O2 Arena beside the River Thames in
Greenwich, south London. The Spurs proposal has already attracted criticism
for its lack of provision for athletics, with UK Athletics (UKA) labelling
the initiative "completely unacceptable".
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Crystal Palace eye move to National Sports Centre
Crystal Palace are reported to be planning a move from Selhurst Park to the
nearby National Sports Centre. The Championship club are set to reveal plans
for an "exciting new venue" at a news conference on Thursday. If the NSC is
confirmed as that venue, it could have a major impact on plans by Tottenham
Hotspur to relocate to the site of the 2012 Olympic Stadium. Spurs want to
demolish the 2012 stadium and start from scratch while revamping the NSC for
athletics. The NSC in Crystal Palace Park is currently a 15,000-seat
athletics stadium and hosts the annual London Grand Prix meeting, but it is
in need of major refurbishment work. The park was the original home of
Crystal Palace FC when the club was formed in 1905 and they played there
until the outbreak of World War One. They have been at Selhurst since 1924.
Tottenham's plan to build a new football-only stadium on the site of the
main venue for the 2012 Olympics in east London has caused controversy as an
athletics legacy was part of London's successful bid to host the Games in
2005. To fulfil that obligation, their plan involves refurbishing the NSC
as a 25,000-capacity athletics venue. Premier League rivals West Ham have
submitted their own bid, which would involve them retaining the athletics
track at the 2012 stadium for use in elite events as well as by local
communities. The Olympic Park Legacy Company has a board meeting on Friday,
28 January when it is expected to decide on its preferred bidder.
Its recommendation then has to be ratified by two government departments -
the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, and the Department of
Communities and Local Government - and the London Mayor's office. Palace
were taken over by new owners CPFC2010 last June, when the possibility of
relocating from Selhurst Park - parts of which are also in need of upgrading
- was raised. It is not clear at this stage whether the club would retain a
running track at the NSC site.
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Liverpool's Joe Cole rules out loan move back to boyhood club West Ham
Out of favour midfielder snubs former boss Avram Grant
18 Jan 2011 11:15:00
EXCLUSIVE
By Tom Bellwood | Southern Correspondent
GOAL.com
Liverpool's out of favour midfielder Joe Cole will remain at Anfield despite
links with a loan move to former club West Ham, Goal.com UK can reveal. Cole
has struggled to find form following his free transfer from Chelsea in the
summer and is yet to feature under new Reds boss Kenny Dalglish. The Hammers
board have backed manager Avram Grant after Martin O'Neill rejected the
chance to take the manager's job at Upton Park. But Cole will not be
rejoining the east London club in the current transfer window. "He's not
going back to West Ham, there's no chance of that happening. Certainly not
now," a source close to the player told Goal.com UK. "Joe's not heard
anything from Avram, or anyone else at West Ham for that matter. He's
focused on the job at Liverpool."
Former Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson lured Cole north with an £80,000-a-week
deal and virtually guaranteed him regular first-team football.
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