WHUFC.com
West Ham United have released a statement in relation to the Olympic Stadium
23.03.2012
West Ham United Vice-Chairman Karren Brady has today confirmed the club has
submitted a bid to be the anchor user of the Olympic Stadium post-Games in
line with the OPLC deadline. Brady said: "Having spent the last two years
dedicated to this project I am privileged to once more be submitting West
Ham United's bid to become the anchor concessionaire of the Olympic Stadium
post the 2012 Games. "From the outset it has been my firm, unwavering belief
that the Stadium can truly become a multi-use destination of which east
London and the nation as a whole can be proud. I have never lost sight of
our vision to play our part, along with the Stadium's major stakeholders, in
ensuring it grows into a global asset, the 'jewel in the crown' of the Park
that will be watched by the world. "Our vision for the Stadium has always
been about standing up for the promises made for London back in Singapore in
2005 and what they meant for our future generations. We are honoured to have
once more received the support and backing of our friends at UK Athletics.
"I would like to thank the many West Ham supporters who have given their
time to share their opinions on our proposed move ahead of this decision and
despite the considerable constraints and confidentially agreements we were
required to enter into, I can assure them their feedback has been
instrumental in informing the Board's approach to our bid. "We have not
taken this decision lightly and I should be clear that any move to the
Stadium is conditional on the fact that it must provide an arena that is fit
for world-class football and feels like home to our deserving fans.''
West Ham United's Joint-Chairmen David Sullivan and David Gold issued a
joint statement, adding: "It has now been over two years since we came home
to West Ham United and realised our lifelong ambition of running the club we
grew up supporting. "As we have always said, we remain committed to this
magnificent Stadium and provided we are able to offer a world-class stadium
for football for our prolific, loyal and passionate supporters we believe
there is nobody better placed to help deliver the legacy for the East End
community than us. "This area - the one from which we both originate -
deserves a true and lasting legacy to follow the 2012 Games. It will be a
tremendous event that the whole world will be watching and will therefore
present a real opportunity to showcase the UK at its best. However, the
showcase must not stop there. "We know that using the Stadium as our home
will bring with it huge responsibility, but we are fully committed to making
it our home for at least the next 99 years. We will take on with pride the
mantle of what that means in terms of giving something back to the
community."
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Stats back Hammers cause
WHUFC.com
West Ham United have statistically dominated in their five recent draws
23.03.2012
West Ham United have thoroughly dominated their opponents in all areas of
their previous five draws in the npower Championship - except for the
scorelines.
Independent statistics show the Hammers have completed more passes, had more
shots on target, put in more crosses, had more final-third and penalty area
entries and run further than Crystal Palace, Watford, Doncaster Rovers,
Leeds United and Middlesbrough. Sam Allardyce's side have consistently
outplayed the opposition and the statistics show that West Ham have done
more than enough to win all five of these games.
Head of performance analysis David Woodfine (B.A. hons) explained: "People
will obviously look at results first and foremost, but these can hide the
fact that the team has played well without being rewarded. "It is clear to
see from the statistics below that we have dominated possession, worked
harder and created more goalscoring opportunities than our opponents.
"Variable factors also influence games and it is hard when external factors
beyond our control have not gone in our favour. For example, Mark Noble
could easily have added to his tally of successful penalty kicks had events
been interpreted differently. "Sometimes in football, you do not get what
you deserve. I'm convinced that, if we continue to do the right things as we
clearly have been, then it is only a matter of time before we turn our
domination into the points return that the players' efforts warrant."
*All statistics are provided by Amisco (incorporating ProZone), the world
leader company in sports match analysis, tracking technology and data
creation.
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Burnley match preview
WHUFC.com
All the background information and team news ahead of Saturday's trip to
Turf Moor
23.03.2012
BURNLEY v WEST HAM UNITED
npower CHAMPIONSHIP
SATURDAY 24 MARCH 2012
KICK-OFF: 3PM
FULL AUDIO COMMENTARY - WEST HAM TV
Ticket update
• West Ham United supporters will be able to purchase Adult/Concession
tickets (cash only) from Burnley's Ticket Office from 9am on the matchday.
Alternatively (cash only) Adult tickets will be available for the Away
Turnstiles in the David Fishwick Stand from 1pm on the matchday. Supporters
requiring to collect duplicate tickets are also advised to head over to the
Ticket Office from 11am onwards on the matchday. Full ticket information and
prices can be found by clicking here.
Introduction
• West Ham United go into Saturday afternoon's npower Championship fixture
at Burnley unbeaten in nine games. The Hammers begin the weekend in third
place in the table, two points behind second-place Reading with a game
in-hand.
• Burnley sit in 16th place in the table. The Clarets have not won a league
game in six attempts last tasting victory when they beat Barnsley 2-0 at
Turf Moor on 14 February.
• The reverse npower Championship fixture this season between the two sides
came on 3 December 2011 when Burnley snatched a 2-1 win at the Boleyn
Ground. This was the last time the Hammers lost a league match at home.
• West Ham and Burnley have faced each other 78 times over the years. Both
clubs have won the same amount of fixtures, 31, while there have been 16
draws.
Team News
West Ham United
• West Ham United will once again be without the services of Ricardo Vaz Te
(hamstring), Julien Faubert (groin), Winston Reid (head), Papa Bouba Diop
(hamstring) and Guy Demel (thigh).
• The Hammers have no new injury concerns nor suspensions for Saturday's
game in Lancashire.
• Pablo Barrera and Jordan Spence are on season-long loans at Real Zaragoza
and Bristol City respectively. Freddie Piquionne (Doncaster Rovers), Marek
Stech (Leyton Orient), Freddie Sears (Colchester United), Olly Lee
(Gillingham), Peter Kurucz (both Rochdale), Callum Driver (Burton Albion)
and George Moncur (AFC Wimbledon) are all out on temporary loans.
Burnley
• Forward Danny Ings (hip) missed Wednesday's 1-0 defeat at Ipswich Town and
could miss Saturday's game.
• Full-back Danny Lafferty came off midway through Wednesday's game at
Portman Road with a hamstring injury and is also a doubt.
• Former West Ham United striker Zavon Hines has joined npower League One
club Bournemouth on loan. Hines is one of a number of Burnley players
currently out on loan, the others being Jon Stewart (Alfreton), Kevin Long
(Rochdale), Clarke Carlisle (Northampton Town), Leon Cort (Charlton
Athletic), Alex-Ray Harvey (Barrow), Alex MacDonald (Plymouth Argyle), Joe
McKee (St Mirren) and Joseph Jackson (Barrow).
Last time out
Tuesday 20 March 2012
npower Championship
West Ham United 1-1 Middlesbrough
West Ham United: Green, O'Brien, Faye, Collins, McCartney, Noble (Baldock
87), Tomkins, Nolan, Cole (Carew 71), Maynard (Collison 71), Taylor
Subs not used: Lansbury, Morrison
Goals: Faye (67)
Wednesday 21 March 2012
npower Championship
Ipswich Town 1-0 Burnley
Burnley: Grant, Trippier, Lafferty (Mee 53), Duff, Edgar, McCann, Marney
(Wallace 58), Stanislas, Bartley, Rodriguez, Austin (Paterson 59)
Subs not used: Jensen, McQuoid
Last six meetings
(Championship unless stated)
3 December 2011 - West Ham United 1-2 Burnley
21 February 2011 - West Ham United 5-1 Burnley (FA Cup fifth round)
6 February 2010 - Burnley 2-1 West Ham United (Premier League)
28 November 2009 - West Ham United 5-3 Burnley (Premier League)
5 April 2005 - Burnley 0-1 West Ham United
28 August 2004 - West Ham United 1-0 Burnley
Overall record v Burnley (all competitions) W 31 D 16 L 31
Ten-year records
West Ham United
2010/11 Premier League 20th (relegated to Championship)
2009/10 Premier League 17th
2008/09 Premier League 9th
2007/08 Premier League 10th
2006/07 Premier League 15th
2005/06 Premier League 9th
2004/05 Championship 6th (promoted to Premier League via Play-Offs)
2003/04 Division One 4th
2002/03 Premier League 18th (relegated to Championship)
2001/02 Premier League 7th
Burnley
2010/11 Championship 8th
2009/10 Premier League 18th (relegated to Championship)
2008/09 Championship 5th (promoted to Premier League via Play-Offs)
2007/08 Championship 13th
2006/07 Championship 15th
2005/06 Championship 17th
2004/05 Championship 13th
2003/04 Division One 19th
2002/03 Division One 16th
2001/02 Division One 7th
Referee
• Saturday's referee will be Mark Haywood.
• Haywood took charge of his first-ever Hammers game earlier this season
when he was the man in the middle for the Hammers' 0-0 home draw with
Bristol City on 1 November.
• Haywood has also taken charge of one Burnley game this season. Back in
September 2011, Haywood was in charge when Middlesbrough won 2-0 at Turf
Moor.
• Haywood became a referee in 1993 after taking up the challenge of a work
colleague who was already a match official, joining the National List of
assistant referees nine years later.
• He was promoted to the National List of referees in 2006 and has taken
charge of matches in all three divisions of the Football League over the
past five seasons.
• So far this term in nine npower Championship games Haywood has given out
23 yellow cards and no straight red cards.
• Haywood's assistants on Saturday will be Richard Clark and David McCallum
and the fourth official will be Lee Metcalfe.
Old Boys
• The following players have worn the colours of both West Ham United and
Burnley during their careers - Reg Attwell, Frank Birchenough, Alan Brown,
Herman Conway, Joe Gallagher, Zavon Hines, William Jenkinson, F.Kippax,
Tyrone Mears, Walter Pollard, Junior Stanislas and Jack Tresadern.
Next Up
• West Ham United's next match is the re-arranged npower Championship trip
to Peterborough on Tuesday 27 March, with kick-off at 7.45pm.
• Burnley's next game is an npower Championship trip to Portsmouth on
Saturday 31 March at 3pm.
General Information
• Saturday's weather forecast is for a warm, sunny day in Burnley with
maximum temperatures of 15C (59F).
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Lock looking up
WHUFC.com
Former Hammers defender Kevin Lock believes old adversary Sam Allardyce will
take the club up
23.03.2012
Kevin Lock enjoyed many a battle with Sam Allardyce during his playing days.
The former West Ham United centre-back, now 58, regularly locked horns with
Big Sam during the 1970s and early 1980s. Thirty years later, Lock believes
the Hammers manager will lead his old club back to the Premier League.
Speaking to the matchday programme the 1975 FA Cup winner, who now works as
an usher at Chelmsford Magistrates Court in Essex, also revealed his
admiration for present-day defender James Tomkins. "I think Sam Allardyce
has done a fantastic job," said the Plaistow-born Lock. "We have come down
from the Premier League but there are a lot of good teams in the
Championship, so to be where we are in the table at the moment is fantastic.
"I was delighted when Sam got the job. Playing against him, he was always
uncompromising and he is exactly the sort of person we needed to get
everybody together and get us out of this league."
Concentrating on Tomkins, the man who was once labelled 'the new Bobby
Moore' has been impressed with the 22-year-old's form and composure
throughout what has been a long and challenging 2011/12 season. "James has
been outstanding. The times I have been over to watch or seen him on the
television, I have always thought he is a fantastic player. "He has been so
consistent this season and is the type of player West Ham need to build
around. He has had his chance to play every week this season under Sam
Allardyce, who was a centre-back himself, and Sam has obviously seen
something in James. I was at the Nottingham Forest game in January and he
was clearly man of the match. "West Ham fans love their own and James has
claret and blue running through his veins. I was always a fan myself and
from the age of ten I used to come over and watch the games at Upton Park.
"The supporters want players like James and Mark Noble in the team."
While he still takes a big interest in his old club's fortunes, Lock is
keeping himself busy with his new career, taking pride in organising his
courtroom just as he organised the West Ham back four 35 years ago. "I
absolutely love it," he confirmed. "I have always been interested in the law
and I read a lot of novels about trials. When I finished playing and
coaching and had had enough of getting sacked every couple of years, I
bought a pub. "When I finished running the pub, the Prince of Wales in
Mountnessing in Essex, I didn't know what to do until I saw an advert for
ushers. "That was six years ago and I've been doing this ever since. I run
the courtroom and I am there to make sure everything runs smoothly and that
the solicitors and anybody else who needs to be there is in the room."
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Hammers inspired by Hewitt
WHUFC.com
Walking with the wounded hero Capt Martin Hewitt was a welcome guest at
Chadwell Heath
21.03.2012
West Ham United welcomed Capt Martin Hewitt to Chadwell Heath to listen to
the soldier's inspirational story of how he overcame a life-threatening
injury to reach the North Pole. Hewitt, who lost the use of his right arm
after being shot while hunting down drug producers in Afghanistan in 2007,
was one of four severely injured servicemen who walked 160 miles to the Pole
to raise millions of pounds for the charity Walking with the Wounded in last
April. The amazing trek, which was filmed by BBC television, saw the
31-year-old and three other wounded soldiers - Capt Guy Disney, Sgt Steve
Young and Pte Jaco van Gass become the first disabled human beings to make
an unsupported expedition to the Pole. The quartet walked alongside Walking
with the Wounded founders Simon Dalglish and Edward Parker, Polar guide Inge
Solheim and, for three days, Prince Harry. Hewitt, who received a medical
discharge from the Army after the North Pole mission, now splits his time
between working for the charity and training and competing as a member of
the British Disabled Ski Team. Next week, he will lead a team of five
injured soldiers on the second Walking with the Wounded trip - climbing
Mount Everest. Liverpool fan Hewitt took time out of his preparation to
speak to the Hammers' players and staff.
"I am a football fan and have been since I was a kid," he confirmed. "Now
I'm older, I'm into lots of different sports and obviously I specialise in
skiing. "The good thing about meeting a sports team like West Ham is that
you are speaking to a lot of people who work closely together in a team and
that's what I have always loved, whether that was in the military or in my
ski team or on my expeditions. "I respect guys who work hard and push each
other and I get a lot out of being with the guys and talking to them about
what I do and sharing experiences."
The players listened intently as Hewitt talked about his military career,
being shot and his trek to the North Pole before asking questions about his
mental and physical preparation and approach. "When you are involved in
something at a certain level, you are immersed in it 100 per cent.
"Hopefully, after having a chat with the lads, they will see that there are
a lot of similarities between our world and their world and it will
reinforce the points that their coaches are telling them from a completely
different angle. "That's what I hope I achieved - the reinforcement of the
key motivational messages that the coaches are trying to get across every
day."
Hewitt's visit also gave him the chance to make the players aware of the
work of Walking with the Wounded - a charity that helps to retrain and
educate the 100s of servicemen and women injured on duty every year. "We
have demonstrated that you can overcome adversity and a debilitating injury
and that life goes on. It's amazing what you can go on to achieve
post-injury if you have the right support structure around you and you push
yourself. "There is a big demand for the work done by Walking with the
Wounded and it's ever-growing. I'm very lucky because my injuries are not
significant compared to some of the guys, whose injuries are so horrific
that they'll need support for the rest of their lives. "We want to provide
education and training so that, when these people come out of the Army, they
can go on and get a job and the financial stability and focus, purpose and
pride that come with it."
West Ham club psychologist Lee Richardson, who also invited Olympic rowing
champion Mark Hunter to speak to the squad before Christmas, said the
players would draw inspiration from meeting Hewitt. "While they are on
completely different levels, there is some crossover between some of the
challenges that Martin faced to some of the challenges that we face. "When
you look at achieving any objective, sometimes looking outside football is a
good thing to do. "I saw Martin present to Lancashire County Cricket Club
and was very impressed with him and his very powerful story. "His visit has
gone down very well with the players and is another of the things we can do
to maximise the potential of the players."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
London 2012: West Ham bid to be Olympic Stadium tenants
BBC.co.uk
West Ham are among four bidders seeking to become tenants at the Olympic
Stadium after the London 2012 Games. The Championship club had looked set to
move into the venue but a deal with Newham Council collapsed in October.
Sixteen parties expressed an interest when the tender process was announced,
but only four submitted proposals, and Leyton Orient are not among them.
Hammers vice-chairman Karren Brady said any move was conditional on the
stadium being "fit for world-class football".
OLYMPIC STADIUM TIMELINE
23 March, 2012: Deadline for bidders to submit proposals
May: Decision on successful bid
27 July-12 August: Olympic Games take place
29 August-9 September: Paralympics take place
2014: Stadium reopens with new tenants
West Ham's original deal to take over the stadium fell through following
complaints from Tottenham, Orient and another anonymous party. The Olympic
Park Legacy Company (OPLC) decided to start the process again but instead
offered the stadium on a lease basis, rather than a permanent one. A
spokesman for the OPLC said: "We have received four bids from parties
interested in using the stadium after the Games. "The legacy company will
shortly start its evaluation process with the aim of announcing which
concessionaires will occupy the stadium alongside athletics before the
Games. Legacy planning is further ahead than any previous Olympic host
city."
Leyton Orient chairman Barry Hearn confirmed that his club had not applied
for tenancy and that West Ham using the stadium will be "disastrous" for the
O's.
"This stadium is going to kill the area and kill our football club," Hearn
said. "We organised a £30,000 survey of the effect that West Ham will have
on moving to Stratford and the results are pretty disastrous." Hearn added
that he thinks the stadium, which will be reduced to a 60,000-seater arena
from its Olympic capacity of 80,000, is not fit to host top-tier football.
"The stadium is a magnificent athletics stadium, it's just not built for
football," he said. "The pitch is 40 to 50 yards away from the front row of
seats and I personally find that abhorrent for football. Football grounds
have steep stands but this one doesn't. The view from the lower tier is
dreadful. "It's not a white elephant. It's a white elephant that they're
trying to make into a pink flamingo. If you're talking about atmosphere,
then forget it. "This represents a quantum change in the experience of a
football punter and frankly it could be the demise of West Ham if they move
there. It's a huge slap in the face to their fans and their history."
West Ham hope to move about four miles from their current home at Upton Park
in east London to the new venue. Brady said the decision "had not been taken
lightly" to apply for a 99-year lease of the stadium. "I would like to thank
the many West Ham supporters who have given their time to share their
opinions on our proposed move ahead of this decision," she said. "Despite
the considerable constraints and confidentially agreements we were required
to enter into, I can assure them their feedback has been instrumental in
informing the board's approach to our bid. "From the outset it has been my
firm, unwavering belief that the stadium can truly become a multi-use
destination of which east London and the nation as a whole can be proud."
The OPLC has said it wants tenants to retain a running track at the stadium,
which is reported to have cost £486m to build and is due to host the 2017
World Athletics Championships. "Our vision for the stadium has always been
about standing up for the promises made for London back in Singapore in 2005
and what they meant for our future generations," said Brady. "We are
honoured to have once more received the support and backing of our friends
at UK Athletics." A decision on the successful bidder is expected in May,
two months before the Games open on 27 July.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Burnley v West Ham
BBC.co.uk
KO 15:00
23 March 2012
Last updated at 12:07
NPOWER CHAMPIONSHIP
Venue: Turf Moor Date: Saturday 24 March Kick-off: 1500 BST
Coverage: Watch highlights on The Football League Show; listen on BBC Radio
5 live and BBC local radio; text commentary on the BBC Sport website
TEAM NEWS
Burnley manager Eddie Howe will assess left-back Danny Lafferty and forward
Danny Ings before naming his squad. Top-scorer Jay Rodriguez is also likely
to start again after completing 90 minutes against Ipswich in midweek.
West Ham manager Sam Allardyce will be hoping to end a run of four
successive 1-1 draws but will be missing players. Julien Faubert (groin) and
Ricardo Vaz Te (hamstring) are still absent while defender Guy Demel and
midfielder Papa Bouba Diop have long-term injuries.
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
• Burnley and West Ham have each won 31 of their 78 competitive
matches over 88 years.
• Burnley won 2-1 at Upton Park in December, and could complete their
first double over the Hammers in 65 years.
• West Ham are eager to avoid a third successive league defeat to the
Clarets, but they have only won four of their 36 league trips to Turf Moor.
Burnley
• Mid-table Burnley are one point shy of 50 for the season, and
seeking a first win in seven Championship games.
• They have drawn two and lost four since beating Barnsley on 14
February.
• 15% of their league goals have been scored in the first 10 minutes
(seven of 48). Only West Ham have found the net more often in that opening
period (eight goals scored).
West Ham United
• Third placed West Ham closed the gap on the automatic promotion
spots to two points, after a fourth successive 1-1 draw, at home to
Middlesbrough on Tuesday. Another point here will equal the club record of
five consecutive league stalemates.
• Sam Allardyce has witnessed a nine-match unbeaten sequence by his
club, but maximum points were garnered from only three of those games.
Conversely, the 5-1 loss away to Ipswich on 31 January is their only reverse
in 13 league fixtures in 2012.
• The Hammers boast an unrivalled 21 players on their Championship
goalscorers list.
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West Ham confirm Olympic Stadium bid
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 23rd March 2012
By: Staff Writer
Was it ever in doubt? West Ham have confirmed they the club have
re-submitted a bid for the Olympic Stadium. With today's midday deadline for
bid submissions having just passed, Vice Chair Karren Brady has confirmed
that West Ham United WILL be one of several parties vying for use of the
stadium. Speaking via a statement on whufc.com, Brady said: "Having spent
the last two years dedicated to this project I am privileged to once more be
submitting West Ham United's bid to become the anchor concessionaire of the
Olympic Stadium post the 2012 Games. "From the outset it has been my firm,
unwavering belief that the Stadium can truly become a multi-use destination
of which east London and the nation as a whole can be proud. I have never
lost sight of our vision to play our part, along with the Stadium's major
stakeholders, in ensuring it grows into a global asset, the 'jewel in the
crown' of the Park that will be watched by the world. "Our vision for the
Stadium has always been about standing up for the promises made for London
back in Singapore in 2005 and what they meant for our future generations. We
are honoured to have once more received the support and backing of our
friends at UK Athletics. "I would like to thank the many West Ham supporters
who have given their time to share their opinions on our proposed move ahead
of this decision and despite the considerable constraints and confidentially
agreements we were required to enter into, I can assure them their feedback
has been instrumental in informing the Board's approach to our bid. "We have
not taken this decision lightly and I should be clear that any move to the
Stadium is conditional on the fact that it must provide an arena that is fit
for world-class football and feels like home to our deserving fans." The
winners of the latest bidding process - for which, it has been confirmed,
there are four applicants - will be announced on 21st May.
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Cole: Unity is the key
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 23rd March 2012
By: Staff Writer
West Ham striker Carlton Cole has plead with fans to get behind the team as
the team prepare for the Championship run-in. Cole, speaking via Twitter
this morning urged all the club's supporters - a minority of whom once again
booed the team off against Middlesbrough on Tueday evening - to rally around
the team for a concerted promotion push. "Our recent form has not been as
bad as people think," wrote Cole, "But I do understand we need to turn the
draws into wins ASAP. Everything is still within our grasp; once some of our
injured players get fit it will give us an extra boost to what we already
have for the last big push. "Our fans are no mugs and know when we are
playing well and also know when we've been poor or unlucky. But to boo your
own players off at half time only only empowers the visiting team and puts
us under even more pressure as they just sit back. "I've been through the
booing before. When it has been directed at me. It makes me want to prove
people wrong. But the booing affects players in different ways. Teams come
to us thinking if they sit back and try to frustrate us that their job is
half done because our fans start to get frustrated too, which puts us under
even more pressure. "I admit it's not just about the fans that boo and some
may argue we have to show more mental strength. But at this stage of the
season it's all about the inches. Any advantage we can get over the
opposition is needed."
Cole, whose own form has been indifferent of late - he has scored just once
in 2012, in the 2-1 home win over Millwall at the beginning of February -
admitted that he was going through a tough spell. However he urged fans to
keep the faith not only in him and his team mates but also Sam Allardyce,
who was forced to endure calls for Swindon boss Paolo Di Canio during the
Middlesbrough game. "For me personally I get really frustrated when I'm not
scoring as free flowing as I want," he added. "But I still keep the faith
and trust the managers. "Sorry if I've chewed up your timeline but I am
also a massive West Ham fan and only want what's best for my team."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Burnley v West Ham preview
Last updated: 23rd March 2012
SSN
Team news ahead of the Championship clash between Burnley and West Ham at
Turf Moor on Saturday. Burnley manager Eddie Howe has a pair of injury
concerns to contend with. Left-back Danny Lafferty followed up his full
debut against Cardiff last Sunday by retaining his place in the Clarets'
line-up for Wednesday's 1-0 defeat at Ipswich, where he came off with a
tight hamstring after half-time. Ben Mee came on to replace Lafferty and is
on standby to resume his role on the left side of the defence. Danny Ings
missed out against the Tractor Boys with a hip problem following
back-to-back starts in attack and will be assessed before kick-off. Top
scorer Jay Rodriguez played the full 90 minutes in East Anglia after a groin
injury ruled him out against Cardiff and the striker suffered no ill
reaction. Clarets winger Keith Treacy has played his last game for the club
this season after joining Sheffield Wednesday on loan.
Sam Allardyce will choose from an unchanged West Ham squad. The Hammers boss
is still without a host of players as he looks to end a run of four
successive 1-1 draws which has seen them slip out of the automatic promotion
places. Wingers Julien Faubert (groin) and Ricardo Vaz Te (hamstring) are
closest to returning but will not be ready in time for the weekend. Winston
Reid is still out after suffering concussion playing for New Zealand a month
ago while fellow defender Guy Demel and midfielder Papa Bouba Diop have
long-term thigh injuries. Allardyce will have to choose which of his
shot-shy strikers will start, with Carlton Cole, Sam Baldock, Nicky Maynard
and John Carew having scored two goals between them since the turn of the
year.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hammers hit back at Hearn
Leyton Orient chairman warns of West Ham's demise
Last Updated: March 23, 2012 10:25pm
SSN
West Ham have responded to Leyton Orient chairman Barry Hearn's comments
that a move to the Olympic Stadium could signal their demise. The Hammers,
along with three other unnamed rivals, submitted applications to lease the
stadium in Stratford earlier on Friday. Leyton Orient officially withdrew
from the campaign but chairman Hearn has offered a word of warning about
what the future could hold for West Ham. West Ham won the original contest
to move to the stadium last year, but that deal collapsed following a number
of complaints and the Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC) decided to start
the process again, instead offering candidates a temporary lease, rather
than permanent residency.
The Championship club have applied for a 99-year lease - the maximum on
offer - but insist they will only move there if the stadium is converted to
a 'world-class' 60,000-seater football ground after the 2012 Games. One
gripe West Ham fans have is the running track will remain at the stadium as
part of the OPLC's commitment to ensuring an athletics legacy in the
capital. The Hammers are confident they will be able to fill the stadium
regularly and create a vibrant atmosphere to match the one they currently
have at Upton Park. But Hearn said: "This represents a quantum change in the
experience of a football punter and frankly it could be the demise of West
Ham if they move there. "It's a huge slap in the face to their fans and
their history. "This represents a quantum change in the experience of a
football punter and frankly it could be the demise of West Ham if they move
there. It's a huge slap in the face to their fans and their history. " "The
stadium is a magnificent athletics stadium, a magnificent building. It's
just not built for football. "The pitch is 40 to 50 yards away from the
front row of seats. I personally find that abhorrent. "It is designed for
athletics. Football grounds have steep stands but this one doesn't. The view
from the lower tier is dreadful. "It's not a white elephant. It's a white
elephant that they're trying to make into a pink flamingo. "If you're
talking about atmosphere, then forget it. "You would have to rebuild the
entire stadium to create any atmosphere in that place."
West Ham believe that leaving Upton Park - their home for the last 108 years
- to move to Stratford is 'an opportunity too good to miss'.
Vision
And a statement from the Hammers on Friday night read: "While others spend
their time speculating on our plans we are focusing only on the long-term
prosperity of our great club and how we can take it to the next level for
the benefit of our loyal and deserving fans. "We will ensure that we make
our vision a reality should we get the opportunity to do so. "Our aim is to
sell out a 60,000 stadium and we have a plan to do it. "Other people's five
favourite words might be 'What's in it for me', while West Ham's are 'What's
in it for us'. "We want a world-class stadium fit for football, not the
stadium that is there today, but one that will be first-class for football
in 2014. "To have no vision is to have no dream. We have the vision and
we'll realise the dream."
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Hammers confirm new bid
West Ham submit bid to move to London's Olympic Stadium
Last Updated: March 23, 2012 4:20pm
SSN
West Ham have submitted a new bid to become tenants of the Olympic Stadium
after the 2012 Games in London. The Hammers won the original bidding process
to move to the stadium last year, but the deal collapsed after complaints
from Tottenham, Leyton Orient and another anonymous party. The Olympic Park
Legacy Company (OPLC) have started a new bidding process, but this time
offering the venue on a lease basis rather than a permanent one. A statement
on the Hammers' official website read: "West Ham United vice-chairman Karren
Brady has today confirmed the club's intention to submit a bid by lunchtime
(Friday 23rd March) to be the anchor user of the Olympic Stadium post-Games
in line with the OPLC deadline."
West Ham have applied for a 99-year lease of the stadium, which is reported
to have cost £486 million to build.
'Jewel in the crown'
Ms Brady said: "Having spent the last two years dedicated to this project, I
am privileged to once more be submitting West Ham United's bid to become the
anchor concessionaire of the Olympic Stadium post-the 2012 Games. "From the
outset it has been my firm, unwavering belief that the stadium can truly
become a multi-use destination of which east London and the nation as a
whole can be proud. "I have never lost sight of our vision to play our part,
along with the stadium's major stakeholders, in ensuring it grows into a
global asset, the 'jewel in the crown' of the (Olympic) Park that will be
watched by the world. "Our vision for the stadium has always been about
standing up for the promises made for London back in Singapore in 2005 and
what they meant for our future generations. We are honoured to have once
more received the support and backing of our friends at UK Athletics. "I
would like to thank the many West Ham supporters who have given their time
to share their opinions on our proposed move ahead of this decision and
despite the considerable constraints and confidentiality agreements we were
required to enter into, I can assure them their feedback has been
instrumental in informing the board's approach to our bid."
Committed
Despite being third in the Championship, West Ham are not assured of
promotion after their poor recent form and there is no guarantee that the
Londoners will be able to fill the 60,000-capacity ground if the club wins
the tenancy battle. Co-owners David Gold and David Sullivan have said they
remain fully committed to the idea of leaving Upton Park. In a joint
statement, they said: "As we have always said, we remain committed to this
magnificent stadium and provided we are able to offer a world-class stadium
for football for our prolific, loyal and passionate supporters, we believe
there is nobody better placed to help deliver the legacy for the East End
community than us. "This area - the one from which we both originate -
deserves a true and lasting legacy to follow the 2012 Games. It will be a
tremendous event that the whole world will be watching and will therefore
present a real opportunity to showcase the UK at its best. However, the
showcase must not stop there. "We know that using the stadium as our home
will bring with it huge responsibility, but we are fully committed to making
it our home for at least the next 99 years. We will take on with pride the
mantle of what that means in terms of giving something back to the
community."
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The hidden side of Sam Allardyce
He can be perceived as arrogant but West Ham's manager has worked hard to
get from his days knocking down walls and mowing lawns to the top of the
game – and he's proud of his achievements
MARTIN HARDY SATURDAY 24 MARCH 2012
Independent.co.uk
"I started my coaching badges when I was 26 or 27," recalls Sam Allardyce.
"But the odds are against you, there's a pretty good chance you won't make
it."
Then, perhaps typically some would argue, come the statistics, about how few
managers and first-team coaches and reserve managers in league football can
actually have a job at the same time (for the record, it is just 276). But
then comes the admission that as a result he started a building company up
in Tonge Fold in Bolton, while he was still playing. During the season he
would buy up old terraced houses, sorting out mortgage advisers and
solicitors and getting his team of builders together. In the summer, free
from the constraints of his playing career at Burnden Park, he would turn up
on site in his overalls and get covered in the dirt and grime that house
refurbishment entails. "Yeah, I would go in and knock down walls and help
out," he adds. "But you see, in my life, right as a very young kid from when
I went to Bolton, I would always work in the summer anyway. "I went cutting
the grass in the parks, I went working in laboratories making aspirins,
because you'd get paid more than you were earning as a footballer. Being
brought up from a Scottish background, I was a bit of a tight bastard, which
is what I'm not now. "In the holidays I thought I might as well earn some
money. I met my wife Lynn and I thought I'm not going to wait years, I'm
going to get married and have kids and I'll have to have my own house. I'll
have to graft for it. If I don't make it as a footballer, I've had these
experiences in between that might help me."
But he made it as a footballer – a big, strapping centre-half. It was as a
coach that the door was more difficult to open. "I'm serious," he adds.
"When I started doing my coaching badges, I thought this might not happen.
There are probably a hundred people going for a job every time they become
available and if you have no track record, how are you going to break in on
the ladder? "I think by doing your badges early and showing a willingness to
learn how to go over to the other side of football, to the FA, and the
coaching courses and the management courses, that even though you don't know
it at the time, people see you. That gives you an opportunity. It might stay
in their mind that they want to give you a job. "Then I got the daft phone
call from Father Joe [Young, the then chairman]. He said 'Come and manage
Limerick.' He called me because he needed a player-manager. He didn't know
me. He said 'I've picked you off the PFA list.' He knew about me playing."
It was an alphabetical list? "Yeah."
So if you were Sam Thompson you wouldn't have got it? "Yeah, probably. "When
he first called I thought it was someone taking the piss. I put the phone
down. But he called me back." It is a side to Allardyce that seems important
to bring up in light of a difficult week at West Ham, where his side drew
for a fifth successive time at Upton Park, and his post-match television
interview was fractious, so much so that he defended himself in his column
in yesterday's Evening Standard. "Telling the truth can be detrimental to
your career," he wrote. "We didn't lump the ball against Middlesbrough. It
annoys me, it constantly comes up, but it can't get me down. I don't live in
the world of perception, I live in the world of reality. We made more passes
than Middlesbrough. My job is to see everything and when I'm asked my
opinion, I give it from a position of knowledge and therefore strength."
Knocking down the perception of Allardyce is something that seems to have
become more difficult with time. He reminds people of his success for a
reason. "It rankles with me at times that I have to remind people what I
have done," he adds. "You have to accept it for what it is. If you start
talking about it too much, you just get labelled big- headed, people go
'He's blowing his own trumpet again, what's he on about this time?' But if
no one else is going to talk about it, you have to talk about it. You have
to fight your own corner. "The lingering long-ball shit, the old style, all
that rubbish that's never been me and never been a part of what I am. I'm a
purist in football terms. I love football. I hate the politics that are
involved in football because it's destructive and not for the good of
football. I believe in what I do because it works. People work with me, not
for me, they enjoy being in this environment."
Allardyce is a genuine football man, good company, thoughtful (he lists
every squad member that took West Ham down last season and is still stunned
they did) and with the scientific forethought that has left many of his
contemporaries behind. Behind the apparent arrogance is a real street
fighter, a manager who has dragged himself by his fingertips to the top of
English football. Back in his former life as a Bolton builder, when the
property market crashed, he had to dig his family out of a financial black
hole. "There was no money or very little money," he adds. "I went into the
world of darkness and it was disturbing. My wife caught me staring into
fresh air. "I still had a business with my playing partner, Roy Greaves. We
had a couple of businesses between us, licensed pubs and a social and
snooker club. I could go and work there for some money. I had a small
pension that could keep me going but this was going to be a period of time
that, having got on the ladder, I got kicked off it very quickly. "West Brom
was my first job as reserve-team manager. The second season, Brian Talbot
made me his assistant. By January I was sacked with Brian, and you go
'Right, what am I going to do now?' Those businesses couldn't afford to keep
me. I had a wife and two kids. So Walshy [Mike Walsh] lost Sam Ellis who
joined Reidy [Peter Reid] at Man City and was in charge of Bury. I just rang
up and said 'I'll come in.' He said 'We've got no money.' I said 'It's all
right, I'll just come in anyway. I might as well come in and try and help'."
A big former northern footballer, in charge of a pub – it was the ultimate
cliché. Yet Allardyce turned to science to a spectacular degree. He built a
managerial career at Blackpool and Notts County and when he took over at
Bolton he was mocked for the size of his back- room staff and its modern
approach – a backroom staff currently employed at Manchester City, Chelsea,
Fulham, Sunderland and in America.
Allardyce had met Billy Beane years before anyone in England had even heard
of Moneyball, the book about sport's "metrics" which last year was released
as a film starring Brad Pitt. His methods took Bolton to regular top-seven
finishes in the Premier League. They reached a cup final, they qualified for
Europe. They beat Arsenal on a consistent basis, driving Arsène Wenger to
distraction in the process, and would flirt with Champions League
qualification. No team of such stature has got anywhere near doing anything
like that since. Now people bemoan the predictability of the top six or
seven.
"I loved Bolton, where I was allowed to build a football club, it was where
I had started my career and then you get the opportunity to manage that
football club. We achieved things we were never supposed to do. Then you
want to see if you can take it a step further.
"How did I feel going for the England interview? I felt proud and privileged
and honoured to be considered at the time. I was looking forward to getting
the job if I got it. I thought, however much pressure there is on you, which
there is in that particular job, the group of players who were very, very
good would hopefully be suited to my style of management, that it would get
the best out of them. It wasn't to be, but it was nice to be close. I hit
the crossbar.
"Are England, Newcastle and Blackburn [the two clubs where he lost his job
to new owners] my three 'if onlys'? I think you're right there."
Now he has another real fight on his hands. At the start of the season, he
said he expected to be sacked if West Ham were not promoted inside two
years. Despite recent events, they sit only two points behind second-placed
Reading with a game in hand. They have not lost for nine games but there is
an admission of how hard it was taking over a relegated club with a massive
wage bill.
"The initial stages were difficult," he says. "You have to sift through the
negativity and the depression and the job cuts and job losses that
relegation brings, and it's in every area. People have to lose their jobs
and players have to go, whether we want to or not if they have high
earnings. Then you have to address the situation and produce a team that is
worthy of playing for West Ham.
"Once that period of time has [gone] and you've obviously got staff in and
you're implementing your own philosophy, you can then see the light at the
end of the tunnel. To bounce back is a hard ask, based on what a club has to
go through when it falls out of the Premier League. The hardest part was
when I first came in and people are losing their jobs. There is so much
discontent. It is a real challenge, but challenges are what you like as a
manager.
"[Before we played Leeds] our lads were listening to [Captain Martin Hewitt,
one of the former servicemen featured on the BBC's Walking with the Wounded
documentary] who was deployed with the troops in Afghanistan. He told us,
'If you don't get the basics right [there], you don't lose a football match,
you're dead.'
"The players reacted brilliantly, there was a massive round of applause at
the end. He was a super human being, he has no use of his right arm and yet
he's been to the North Pole. He was great, inspirational. Without drive, you
can't achieve anything."
No one can question Allardyce on that score.
My other life
"I went to watch Dancing On Ice the other day. All that the city of London
gives you makes life enjoyable away from West Ham, more so than anywhere
else I've been. There's so much available to go to.
"At Bolton and Blackburn I had a great amount of friends and you could go
out for a meal, but here you can go and watch Rihanna or go and watch a show
or go and watch Dancing On Ice, like I did with the missus the other day.
You can sit down and enjoy life a bit more.
"The best thing is the environment I'm living in. Living in Canary Wharf has
been a great experience.
"Am I a bit more anonymous here? Yeah, it's great. I've been on the Tube a
couple of times, and no problem there."
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West Ham favourites for Olympic Stadium after rugby rivals drop out of fresh
bid process
By JONATHAN MCEVOY
PUBLISHED: 23:03, 23 March 2012 | UPDATED: 23:03, 23 March 2012
Daily Mail
West Ham remain overwhelming favourites to move into the Olympic Stadium
post-Games after London's major rugby union clubs snubbed the idea of making
the £500million arena their new home. Bidding for the Stadium closed on
Friday with four names having entered but Saracens, Wasps and London Irish
all confirmed they are not among them. It leaves the way clear for West Ham,
who were granted the tenancy initially before it was abandoned amid legal
dispute, virtually to name their own terms. It is understood the Olympic
Park Legacy Company had hoped to accommodate both football and rugby at the
stadium, only for West Ham to resist the idea. The American entertainment
company Live Nation are thought likely to have entered a bid. AEG, who run
the O2 Arena, have not, though may be involved in operating the stadium once
a bidder has been picked. Saracens have chosen to redevelop Barnet Copthall
and play their big games at Wembley. A decision on the stadium is promised
before the Games start on July 27.
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