BBC.co.uk
Page last updated at 14:34 GMT, Saturday, 21 May 2011 15:34 UK
West Ham's caretaker boss Kevin Keen says the players do care about the
club's Premier League relegation. Last Sunday's 3-2 defeat at Wigan sent the
Hammers into the Championship and manager Avram Grant was sacked. Some
players who are set to leave the club in the summer have indicated they do
not want to play Sunderland in the last game of the season on Sunday. But
Keen said: "It's a myth that people don't care. Foreign players get tainted
with that mainly, it's totally untrue."
Keen, 44, has stepped up from his role as first-team coach since Grant's
dismissal and will take charge for the Sunderland match at Upton Park. The
Hammers have had a troubled week. Their relegation and Grant's exit was
followed by an altercation involving Demba Ba at the end-of-season dinner at
the Grosvenor House Hotel in London on Monday, with allegations that the
striker was racially abused by a fan. There has also been criticism of the
attitude of some of the players, but Keen says relegation has hit the whole
squad hard. Keen added: "The scenes in the dressing room [at the DW Stadium]
were as fans would hope, especially with the way that we lost the game,
being 2-0 [ahead], 2-2 and then losing. "There was genuine disappointment.
You come back into the dressing room and academy manager Tony Carr has his
head on the floor as he has worked so hard to bring players through and
promote."
West Ham hope to end the season on a high note against the Black Cats but
Keen, who is set to make changes and field a young side, says he will
understand if fans vent their frustration. "There may be a small element but
we have had a rubbish season haven't we?" continued Keen. "If you can't go
to West Ham and pay your money and say 'why don't you try harder?'... that
is part of football. "You need to be big enough and strong enough to deal
with it. I am sure the majority, with the team I am picking, will be behind
us and want us to get a win."
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Keen realistic on Parker
West Ham midfielder could make sentimental farewell
Last Updated: May 21, 2011 10:38pm
SSN
Kevin Keen has admitted that Scott Parker could be set to make a farewell
appearance for West Ham against Sunderland. The midfielder is doubtful for
the club's final game of the season due to a niggling Achilles injury,
meaning he may have already played his final game for the Hammers. West Ham
have been relegated from the Premier League following a dismal campaign but
Parker's own performances have been exceptional and he is widely expected to
leave in the summer. Keen will therefore allow him the opportunity of a
sentimental goodbye so the supporters can show their appreciation. "There is
a possibility he could be fit to start. I think he has been a fantastic
ambassador for this football club," said the caretaker manager. "Whatever he
decides to do this summer, whether he decides to go to pastures new, which
is a possibility, I don't think any West Ham fan can complain about that.
"The way he has conducted himself, the way he throws himself in front of
footballs for West Ham over the past few years has been unbelievable. "Yes,
I would say there will be a little bit of sentimentality with Scott. If
there is a chance he can play at Upton Park maybe for the last time for West
Ham, I am sure he will give it everything."
Green future
Robert Green has also been linked with a move away from Upton Park but Keen,
who has thrown his hat in the ring to be appointed West Ham manager on a
full-time basis, insists the goalkeeper has a future at the club if he wants
to stay. "He was the runner-up (behind Parker) for Hammer of the Year.
That's what the fans thought of his performances this season," said Keen.
"There isn't a team in the Premier League that wouldn't want his services. I
would love to see him here as our goalkeeper."
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Keen defends relegated stars
Caretaker boss says suggestions players do not care is 'a myth'
By Jamie Casey. Last Updated: May 21, 2011 8:18pm
SSN
West Ham caretaker manager Kevin Keen has rejected claims the players are
unbothered by the club's relegation. The Hammers were confirmed as the first
relegation casualties last weekend after losing 3-2 to Wigan, a game which
they led 2-0 at half-time. Fans have since vented their anger towards
certain members of the squad, but Keen insists the mood in the dressing room
was one of despair. "It's a myth that certain people don't care," said Keen,
who is temporarily filling the void left by Avram Grant, who was sacked
following the loss at Wigan. "Foreign players get tainted with that mainly,
it is totally untrue," he added. "The scenes in the dressing room were as
fans would hope, especially with the way that we lost the game, being 2-0
(ahead), 2-2 and then losing.
'Myth'
"There was genuine disappointment. You come back and (academy manager) Tony
Carr has his head on the floor as he has worked so hard to bring players
through and promote. "It is a myth that people don't care."
West Ham host Sunderland on the final day of the season on Sunday, with home
fans expected to make their feelings known from the stands. Keen plans to
name a youthful side against the Black Cats, though, and he has urged fans
to get behind them to see a disappointing season out with a win. "There may
be a small element (of fan anger) but we have had a rubbish season haven't
we?" said Keen. "You need to be big enough and strong enough to deal with
it. I am sure the majority, with the team I am picking, will be behind us
and want us to get a win."
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Keen outlines Hammers vision
Caretaker boss reiterates interest in replacing Grant on full-time basis
Last Updated: May 21, 2011 11:16am
SSN
Kevin Keen believes West Ham United's next manager must have a strong
connection with the club after reiterating his interest in the job.
Following Avram Grant's dismissal on the back of the Hammers' relegation to
the Championship, Keen has been placed in caretaker charge for the final
game of the season against Sunderland on Sunday. Keen has been quick to
declare his desire to be given an opportunity in the Upton Park hot-seat
after working his way through the coaching ranks at the club. But, even if
he is not offered the position by owners David Gold and David Sullivan, he
is adamant West Ham need to return to their former traditions.
Family traditions
"For me, I think the next West Ham manager should have a connection and a
history with the football club," said Keen. "I want us to get back to the
family traditions of this football club, a way of playing that promotes
imagination, creativity but also has that edge of people wanting to play for
the club and die for the club. "Over the last few years with Avram (Grant)
and Gianfranco (Zola), the club slightly went a different way and we had a
different way of playing and a different ethos. "I am West Ham through and
through. I had nine years as a player and this is my ninth season back
coaching. "If the opportunity was given to me it would be a great honour and
I'd love to be able to do it. "If you had said to me three or four weeks ago
that I was an obvious candidate, I think people would have laughed at you.
"But after the way I have conducted myself over the last week, hopefully
people have said: 'Actually, he knows what he is doing and what he is
talking about, he loves the football club, he has got a vision of the
future. Yes, he is a candidate'."
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Hammers braced for Rob Green bidding war
Published 07:00 22/05/11 By Marc Isaacs
The Mirror
West Ham are expecting to receive a number of offers for their England
keeper Robert Green despite a nightmare season for club and country. Few
could forget his blunder in the World Cup last summer when he allowed a
Clint Dempsey shot to slip through his hands and cost England an opening
game victory. Green did get his form back – and was even voted runner-up, to
Scott Parker, as Hammers' player of the year – but he failed to help his
side avoid relegation. Caretaker boss Kevin Keen said: "I would be very
surprised if there isn't a team in the Premier League that wouldn't want his
services."
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Baggies plotting £4million move for Hammers star
Published 23:30 21/05/11 By The People Sport
The Mirror
Carlton Cole is being targeted for a move as West Ham's player exodus
begins. Roy Hodgson wants to take the striker to West Brom – and the Hammers
are willing to sell for around £4million.
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West Ham will lose Ba and Hitzlsperger for NOTHING next month
Published 23:00 21/05/11 By Paul Smith
The Mirror
West Ham stars Demba Ba and Tomas Hitzlsperger will join the exodus from
Upton Park this summer without the club receiving a fee for the duo. Both
players have agreements with West Ham stating that in the event of
relegation they could move on as free agents.
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Pearson, Holloway and Hughton will head-up Hammers shortlist
Published 22:58 21/05/11 By Paul Smith
The Mirror
West Ham's directors will meet after today's final game of the season and
draw up a shortlist for their vacant manager's job. A week after suffering
relegation and sacking Avram Grant, the Hammers hierarchy are ready to plan
their way forward. West Ham will lose Ba and Hitzlsperger for NOTHING next
month High on their list of recruits will be Hull manager Nigel Pearson,
Blackpool's Ian Holloway and former Newcastle boss Chris Hughton. They have
already reached agreement with Grant following his dismissal. The Israeli
will be paid £500,000 in compensation. The new manager will have to devise a
plan for the club to return to the top flight as quickly as possible.
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Sam Allardyce 'opens talks to become West Ham's new manager'
Metro.co.uk
Sam Allardyce's representative has spoken to West Ham United about their
managerial vacancy, it has emerged. The Hammers axed Avram Grant just
minutes after their relegation from the Premier League was confirmed last
weekend and are hoping to make a quick appointment as they prepare for life
in the Championship. Ex-England bosses Steve McClaren and Glenn Hoddle have
already declared they are not interested in taking charge at Upton Park, but
it seems Allardyce is willing to consider the job. There has been no direct
contact between Allardyce and the West Ham board, but his representative has
held initial discussions about the possibility of him becoming the club's
next manager, reports suggest. Allardyce has been out of work since his
shock sacking by Blackburn Rovers in December last year, but remains one of
the most respected managers in English football thanks to his achievements
at Bolton Wanderers. He guided the Trotters to promotion to the top-flight
in 2001 and then helped to establish the club in the top half of the Premier
League, before stepping down in 2007 and taking charge at Newcastle United
for a brief spell. Allardyce's main rival for the West Ham job appears to be
another ex-Newcastle manager, Chris Hughton. A former Hammers player,
Hughton guided the Magpies to the Championship title in 2010, but the
hire-and-fire culture at St James' Park saw him sacked in December.
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Swindon sponsor pulls out after Paolo Di Canio appointment
Trade union cancels deal over manager's political views
Di Canio has 'openly voiced his support for Mussolini'
guardian.co.uk, Saturday 21 May 2011 17.56 BST
A leading trade union has decided to end its sponsorship of Swindon Town in
protest at the appointment of Paolo Di Canio as manager. The GMB said the
former Italy international, who was named manager yesterday, had previously
voiced right-wing views of which it strongly disapproved. The union's local
branch is believed to have paid up to £4,000 to the club this season as part
of its sponsorship deal. "Our local branch has decided to end its
association with Swindon following the appointment of Paolo Di Canio," said
a GMB spokesman. "He has openly voiced support for [Benito] Mussolini so it
beggars belief that Swindon could have appointed him, especially given the
multi-ethnic nature of the team and the town."
Di Canio is due to fly to England on Monday to complete the paperwork and be
formally introduced as the new manager. The club have been relegated after
finishing bottom of League One. A statement from Swindon said the club are
confident he would build a team with the "passion, pride and
professionalism" to ensure it could return to League One "at the earliest
opportunity".
Di Canio has spoken freely about being a fascist and an admirer of
Mussolini. He has faced bans and fines for making the fascist straight-arm
salute while playing for the Italian club Lazio. In his autobiography he
praised Mussolini as "basically a very principled, ethical individual".
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PRIZES CAN'T CONSOLE SCOTT PARKER
Daily Express
Scott Parker has been outstanding for West Ham
Sunday May 22,2011
By Sunday Express Reporter
SCOTT PARKER insists he would swap being Footballer of the Year for keeping
West Ham in the Premier League. Parker has been outstanding for the east
London club but could not stop them being relegated to the Championship. The
Hammers midfielder won back his place in the England team and was voted the
Football Writers' Player of the Year last week. To complete a memorable
season for the former Chelsea player, Parker was also voted Hammer of the
Year by West Ham fans for the third consecutive season. But he admitted: "If
I could hand back all the accolades to stay in the Premier League I would."
"I was involved in a relegation team at Charlton and it is not nice. We knew
it would be difficult for us but nothing can prepare you for the day when it
happens. It is very disappointing and we need to look forward. "The fans
have been unbelievable. Considering the situation we were in we took 4500
fans to Wigan and it was something quite special. They are credit to West
Ham and with their support they deserve to be back in the Premier League."
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CARLO ANCELOTTI: I'M THE MAN FOR WEST HAM
Daily Express
Carlo Ancelotti wants to stay on in England – even if it means managing West
Ham
Sunday May 22,2011
By Colin Mafham
IF Chelsea sack Carlo Ancelotti the Italian wants to stay on in England –
even if it means managing West Ham. The Stamford Bridge boss, under fire
after failing to win anything this season, has been tipped to get the bullet
this week and return home to coach his beloved Roma. But although he does
hope to return there eventually, Ancelotti reckons he loves England so much
he would drop a division and take a pay cut to stay. "It doesn't matter if
you manage a top team or a smaller team," he claimed. "For me it's important
just to work. "So why not West Ham? The Championship and the stadiums are
fantastic. The difference is the money, but when you manage you don't think
about money, you think about working with passion. This is my job," he
added. "The money has never been a motivation for me or for the players. The
motivation is to stay at the top as a player and as a manager."
Ancelotti has overseen the Blues' worst campaign of the Roman Abramovich
era. That is despite masterminding the club's fi rst double during his
maiden year in charge. But he will not be pleading with the club's owners to
stay on. "I don't want to fi ght to keep my job," said Ancelotti. "The club
have to judge two years of my job. "If they think that my job was good for
this club, I will stay. If they think that my job was not so good, I will
have to go."
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Allardyce and Jones are now top of West Ham's wish-list
By Andrew Warshaw
Sunday, 22 May 2011
The Independent
Sam Allardyce and Dave Jones have emerged as front-runners for the West Ham
job as they prepare for life in the Championship. They have made no secret
of their intention to sign a British manager after Avram Grant's
unceremonious dismissal. Both Allardyce and Jones were in the frame to take
over last December before David Sullivan, David Gold and Karren Brady took
the fateful decision to stick with Grant for the rest of the season.
Allardyce has been out of work since being sacked by Blackburn but has huge
experience of turning round under-achieving clubs and a reputation for
motivating players. While Allardyce would instill the kind of fighting
spirit West Ham have been lacking, Jones has an impressive track record in
terms of team building and talent-spotting. The longest-serving manager in
the Championship, Jones has transformed Cardiff without managing to achieve
top-flight football. It is understood that Sullivan and Brady are keen for
one or the other to take over at Upton Park but that Gold has not yet made
up his mind. While Martin O'Neill would be the No 1 choice among many West
Ham fans, the Northern Irishman is presumably still unhappy at how West Ham
handled his supposed move to Upton Park in January.
Chris Hughton, who played for West Ham in the early 1990s, is another name
being linked with the vacant manager's job. Meanwhile, Fabio Capello will
name his England squad tomorrow for their final European Championship
qualifier of the season against Switzerland at Wembley on Saturday week. Rio
Ferdinand and Theo Walcott should be available but Steven Gerrard is out.
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As Ancelotti prepares for the sack, he claims: 'I'll manage West Ham'
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER
Last updated at 1:27 AM on 22nd May 2011
Daily Mail
Carlo Ancelotti insists he is prepared to drop out of the top flight and
take charge at managerless West Ham when he is jettisoned by Chelsea. The
Italian boss is expected to be sacked soon after Sunday's final game of the
season at Everton and claims he would have no problem picking up the pieces
from Avram Grant's reign and taking a pay-cut. Ancelotti said: 'I would
coach West Ham - why not? It's a challenge to manage a team in the
Championship. 'The atmosphere at West Ham is amazing. It doesn't matter if
you manage a top team or a smaller team. 'It's more important to work. I was
happy to train in the second division when I was learning.'
Ancelotti earns £5million a year at Chelsea and would get a fraction of that
at Upton Park, but he said: 'When you manage, you don't think about the
money. It has never been a motivation for me.'
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CLARET CARLO ANCELOTTI!
Daily Star
22nd May 2011 By Tony Stenson
CARLO ANCELOTTI will throw his hat in the ring for the vacant West Ham job
if Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich axes him next week. The pair are due to
meet to talk over the season after today's final game but when asked if he
fancied a crack at the Upton Park job, he said: "West Ham? Why not." The
odds are stacked against Carlo Ancelotti surviving in the hotseat because
Roman Abramovich doesn't do second place. The fact Italian Ancelotti won
the Double in his first season at Stamford Bridge – and has secured the
runners-up slot to Manchester United this season – cuts no ice with
trigger-happy Abramovich. All Ancelotti can do is wait and prepare another
chapter for his book. "Another chapter? I will need to write a new book!" he
said. "But West Ham? Why not. "It has been a good experience and I will
have a good memory of this year. "It's not so good at the moment but when
you are winning it's fantastic. "Obviously, we are not happy with this
season and to finish in second place but if you offered us the Double again
and to finish second in the next two years, then I think we'd have to sign
up for that immediately."
When Jose Mourinho left the Blues, Abramovich sent the Special One a
Ferrari six months later as a belated 'thank you'. And laughing, Ancelotti
said: "I'm here and I am able to drive a Ferrari. I'd have no problem with
that. It's an Italian car." Come what may, he will be delighted to shake the
hand of every player today. Few will turn their back. He said: "I will say
thank you to every one of my players because every time, more or less, they
tried their best. They were focused. "I said a lot of times the atmosphere
in training sessions was good. It was correct, they were very professional.
Maybe they didn't reach their best but I have to shake their hands and say
thanks.
"Yesterday Petr Cech won the Player of the Year at our awards and that was
good because he had a fantastic season. But there are other players who had
a great season, John Terry and Ashley Cole to name two. "Every one of
them tried to do their best. "I knew a lot of players but I didn't know John
Terry, Cole or Didier Drogba so well. They were new players for me but I
understood their characteristics, their ability, skill, professionalism, so
it was a fantastic experience."
Asked about staying in England, he said: "Why not? I have respect for every
team. It doesn't matter if you can manage a top team or a smaller team.
It's important to work. "I was happy to train in the second division when I
was learning and I'm happy to train now I have the possibility to train a
top team. For me it's important to work. "The difference is the money but
when you train, when you manage, you don't think about the money, you think
about working with passion. "West Ham? Why not? The Championship is also
fantastic. "I have never seen a Championship game live but I've seen a lot
of games on TV and the atmosphere is fantastic. "If you watch a game in
Italy in the second division there will be, say, 2,000 people. It is
totally different here."
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WEST HAM WANT ALEX MCLEISH
Daily Star
22nd May 2011 By Paul Hetherington, EXCLUSIVE
ALEX McLEISH is on David Gold and David Sullivan's shortlist to succeed
sacked West Ham boss Avram Grant. Birmingham boss Alex McLeish could be
relegated at Tottenham today. And that would put his position under threat –
despite qualifying for the Europa League through winning the Carling Cup.
But 'Big Eck', 52, could bounce back at West Ham, whose owners Sullivan and
Gold appointed him at Birmingham four years ago when they were in charge at
St Andrew's. The Hammers are also eyeing two of their original targets when
Grant was first under pressure – former Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill
and ex-Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce. But former Motherwell, Hibernian,
Rangers and Scotland chief McLeish is also in the frame. He remains a highly
respected boss, despite Birmingham's slide. West Ham are planning a quick
appointment after going down and want their squad reshaped for an immediate
promotion challenge next season. Decisions will be made on high-profile
players including Footballer of the Year Scott Parker, who is expected to
move to Spurs.
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