Pompey loan for Potts
WHUFC.com
West Ham United defender Dan Potts is heading to Portsmouth for a month-long
loan
19.11.2013
Dan Potts has joined Sky Bet League Two side Portsmouth on loan until 21
December. The 19-year-old defender will get a second taste of the Football
League, having enjoyed a loan spell with Colchester United last season.
Potts has been a mainstay of Nick Haycock's Development Squad, who have
stormed to the top of the Barclays U21 Premier League with a fine start to
the season, scoring twice in six league appearances. He also started at left
wing-back in the Hammers' 2-0 victory over Burnley in the Capital One Cup
fourth round late last month. That first team run-out added to the ten he
has already made at that level in his fledgling career, and he will now
bolster his experience with a month at Fratton Park. Guy Whittingham's men
currently sit 16th in League Two, but are only six points off the Play-Offs
in a tight division and Potts could make his debut in a home match against
Scunthorpe United this Saturday. The Hammers youngster joins Elliot Lee
(Colchester United), Jordan Spence (MK Dons) and Paul McCallum (Torquay
United) out on loan at Football League clubs.
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Vice-Chairman hails exciting step
WHUFC.com
West Ham United Vice-Chairman Karren Brady oversaw a significant milestone
for the Olympic Stadium
20.11.2013
West Ham United Vice-Chairman Karren Brady hailed an exciting step in the
transformation of the Olympic Stadium to a UEFA Category 4 venue for the
Hammers on Wednesday. Ms Brady was present at the Stratford site along with
first-team stars Kevin Nolan, Joe Cole, Mark Noble and Mohamed Diame as work
to take down the floodlighting towers and begin the construction of a
stunning new roof was set to start. The iconic Stadium is undergoing a
process of change, which will see the new 84-metre span roof cover the
entire seating bowl, and retractable seats being installed to bring
supporters close to the action and giving the venue the highest grading for
football stadia. Ms Brady said: "It's a great milestone for us and our
supporters to see the conversion work start to take place. We always felt it
was critical, as did Newham and the LLDC, to the stadium's success that it
had retractable seating and a roof that covered them, and this is the first
part of that process. "The right solution has been found, not only to cover
the seats but also to create a fantastic atmosphere inside the ground. One
thing we're very proud of at West Ham is the atmosphere and the roof has
been designed to help with that. "It's a very exciting day for us, and one
of the other things from a community point of view is that the jobs we'd
always say we'd create have started to be created and it's fantastic to see
so many local people working here and continuing to carry the flame of the
good work the Stadium has already done."
The Hammers Vice-Chairman is excited by the prospect of the Hammers playing
in front of 54,000 passionate fans and is determined to provide a fitting
arena for the Club. She continued: "We have a strategy to do it [fill the
Stadium]. Part of creating the atmosphere is that it's full. We have a
policy that football should be affordable for everybody and that there
should be as many entry points as possible. "Whether you're Kids for a Quid
or a top executive who wants all the benefits that hospitality can bring,
there should be something for everybody at the Olympic Stadium. And it
should be something that the local community can enjoy, multinational
companies can enjoy as well and sit side by side. "We have made a
commitment that our Season Ticket Holders will get first rights to come. So
we're confident that we'll have a policy that will work. We know that we
have enough supporters to fill this Stadium but we also want to bring a new
generation of people into football, those that just want to be part of this
iconic Stadium. "We have a lot of young people in our area that don't have
anywhere to go or anything to do on a regular basis and we want the Park and
the Stadium to be a key part of delivering that legacy going forward."
From a technical standpoint, Balfour Beatty have been contracted to carry
out the roof works and their Project Director Stuart Fraser was on hand to
explain the process of the next eighteen months. He explained: "Technically,
this is an enormous challenge. The roof is going to be taken down over the
next four months and the lighting panels are starting to come down now.
"There are 14 of them in total, they weigh around 34 tons each. There are
cables around the tips of the tops of the lighting towers and essentially,
what's happening now is that the towers are tied together on a
circumferential cable, which provides stability. "We have to put in a new
network of cables across the venue, and this spider's web of cables is now
in place, which means we can start snipping the circumferential cables and
taking the towers down. "Once the lighting towers are down, we take down the
ceremonies' tripods, which are at the back of the roof. They were the
structures that were put into place to take the temporary cables during the
ceremonies. They come down next, and then we embark on taking down the
fabric of the roof, and gradually lower down the existing cable-net
structure. We're due to complete late February, early March of next year.
"Then, the deconstruction is complete and we start on the construction of
the new roof, which is 84 metres in depth, a very large span roof and one
which will cover the entire seating arena. "That will take a year, we will
complete in the Spring of 2015, which gives a period of five months to get
ready for the Rugby World Cup preparations."
On the subject of another football club being able to use the Stadium
alongside the Hammers, London Legacy Development Commission (LLDC) chief
executive Dennis Hone was clear in his organisation's standpoint. He stated:
"I have received a letter from [Leyton Orient Chairman] Barry Hearn
requesting a meeting and we will have a meeting. "I have read the House of
Lords report and their desire to see community use within the stadium -
which is a desire that we all share and are working actively towards - and
that there could be occasional use for Leyton Orient. "Mr Hearn and Leyton
Orient's stated position though is that they want to look at groundshare,
and his letter to me reiterates that. It goes further than occasional use
and talks about groundshare. "We've had detailed competition factors - we
ran two competitions - and the process of those competitions was robust,
they were transparent and they were tested in the courts and found to be so.
We're not going to do anything that re-opens those competitions and we're
not going to do anything that leads to a re-run."
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New chapter for Olympic Stadium
WHUFC.com
The next step in the conversion of West Ham United's new home at the Olympic
Stadium has begun
20.11.2013
West Ham United are celebrating another landmark step en route to the
Olympic Stadium, with preparations now underway to facilitate the venue's
magnificent new roof. With the stunning conversion of the iconic arena
moving on apace, the first of 14 floodlight panels are to be removed later
this week, such that construction of the new roof, twice the size of the
original, can begin in earnest next spring. This is but one of a series of
fundamental changes that are to be implemented prior to 2016, transforming a
world-class athletics arena into a state-of-the-art, UEFA Category four
football Stadium. West Ham United Vice-Chairman Karren Brady explained:
"This marks a key milestone in the stunning, £200 million transformation of
the Olympic Stadium - one that will culminate in an iconic new home for our
Club. "My team and I fought exceptionally hard on behalf of our supporters
to ensure these modifications, which we knew were of paramount importance to
our supporters, took effect. "The roof is a truly phenomenal design that
will enhance the iconic status of this sporting arena and help to lock in
the world-famous atmosphere that our supporters create when we play at home.
"There will also be an innovative seating solution that will bring fans
closer to the pitch, new hospitality areas and a bespoke Ticket Office and
Club Store. "It was vital for us that this Stadium offers an incredible
viewing experience for West Ham United fans and I think that will become
ever clearer as the conversion progresses. "We're wholly committed to
delivering a state-of-the-art home for West Ham United by 2016 that will
honour the Olympic legacy pledge. Today represents another significant step
toward that hugely exciting goal."
Measuring 84 metres at its deepest point, the world's longest cantilevered
roof will cover every single seat, thereby locking in the world-famous
atmosphere that West Ham have long been known to create. Additionally,
floodlights suitable for a football stadium will become a fully integrated
feature of the new roof, incorporating the existing lighting system. The new
floodlights will retain the look of the iconic triangular design made famous
during the 2012 Olympic Games.
While the roof will augment the acoustics and protect spectators from the
elements, the innovative seating solution allows intimate pitch-side views,
as well as the retention of a running track to honour the nation's Olympic
legacy pledge. Work to construct the 45,000sq metres roof is set to be
completed by spring 2015, prior to the fit-out of concessions, toilets,
turnstiles and hospitality areas. The Olympic Stadium will firstly play host
to five 2015 Rugby World Cup matches, before becoming the Hammers' permanent
home the following summer. In the interim, a bespoke Ticket Office and Club
Store are to be constructed, while the most important items from our current
home will make the short journey with us to help fans, players and staff to
settle in as quickly as possible.
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Jarvo wants to repeat 'incredible' win
WHUFC.com
Matt Jarvis believes West Ham United can emulate last year's fantastic home
win over Chelsea on Saturday
20.11.2013
Matt Jarvis wants West Ham United to emulate their 'incredible' victory over
Chelsea a year ago by downing the Blues again on Saturday. The Hammers
roared back from a goal down to defeat their west London rivals 3-1 in
December 2012. Twelve months on, the No7 believes he and his team-mates can
score another eye-catching Barclays Premier League victory over Chelsea.
Having found himself on the bench in recent weeks, the England winger is
also hoping to play a central role in this weekend's mouth-watering London
derby. "I think beating Chelsea was the highlight of last season really,
being at home, getting a fantastic win and it was just a really good time
for us, just before Christmas," Jarvis confirmed. "It was fantastic for the
fans and for us. "It was incredible. We came out second half, played some
fantastic football and dominated the game really. We scored three goals. "I
certainly enjoyed the game. Mo Diame came off the bench and was superb, but
I think the whole team played well and we really dominated the second half."
For Jarvis, last season's superb victory - West Ham's Team Performance of
the Season - was not the first time he has enjoyed success against the
Blues.
During his time at former club Wolverhampton Wanderers, the 27-year-old was
part of the side that defeated Chelsea 1-0 in the Premier League at Molineux
in January 2011. When asked what the secret of overcoming Roman Abramovich's
expensively-assembled team is, Jarvis' own theory is a clear and simple one
- play well! "You have got to be on song and playing your best football. You
have to make sure that in every position you are beating your opponent and
hoping that they are not having as good a day as normal."
In recent weeks, Newcastle United and West Bromwich Albion have both played
well against Chelsea. The Magpies beat Jose Mourinho's side 2-0 at St James'
Park, while only a disputed added-time penalty denied the Baggies a famous
victory at Stamford Bridge. "I think there is always a chance you can beat
them. We did it last year. It has shown already in the league that everyone
is beating everyone. No one has been dominant at the moment, so hopefully we
can show the qualities we did last year and get a good result."
Jarvis is desperate to show his own quality, having found himself out of Sam
Allardyce's starting XI in recent matches. An automatic starter last season,
the wideman admitted he has not hit the targets he set himself at the start
of the 2013/14 campaign. Two factors Jarvis certainly is not blaming for his
lack of goals and assists is the absence of the injured Andy Carroll and the
4-6-0 formation the Hammers have favoured in their past five league matches.
"Of course, you understand why you are not playing, but it is frustrating
and you want to play every game. You have to work hard and make sure when
you get the chance that you can take it. "I think it has been tough. I have
been hoping to pick up more goals myself when we have not been playing with
a main striker. We have been having a lot of midfielders getting in the box,
so that when we do deliver a cross we still have two or three in the box,
which is always great for a wide man, but unfortunately we have just not
been able to convert the chances. "You are used to seeing a big man [in the
penalty area], but we have still been able to get players in the box. When
we look at the reviews of the games you can see there are players getting
into the box so that is not really a problem."
While many players enjoy the break afforded them by international football,
Jarvis has played twice since West Ham were beaten at Norwich City on 9
November, scoring twice in a friendly victory over former club Gillingham.
"You have to be confident in yourself. I have had a good international
break, played two friendly games and I feel good and if called upon I am
ready to play on Saturday. "It is not the same as the Premier League but it
is good to get two run-outs to improve your fitness and sharpness and be
ready if called upon." Whether or not he is called upon, Jarvis hopes to be
celebrating another famous victory over Chelsea come Saturday evening. "We
are at home, we have our fan base behind us, we need a good result and so
hopefully we can get one."
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The Big Interview - Graham Gooch OBE
WHUFC.com
West Ham United fan and England cricket legend Graham Gooch OBE is ready for
the Ashes
20.11.2013
While the Barclays Premier League season approaches the halfway mark, the
sporting attentions of much of the country will turn to cricket this week as
the Ashes begin in Australia. England arrive Down Under having won the last
three Ashes series and will be confident of winning four in a row for the
first time since the 1890s. One man who will have a key part to play in
England's success is the country's record Test run scorer, current batting
coach and lifelong West Ham United supporter Graham Gooch OBE. The Official
Website caught up exclusively with Gooch from Australia to ask him about the
Ashes, the role of backroom staff in international cricket and how he will
keep in touch with the Hammers from the other side of the world.
Graham, the Ashes are about to begin. England come into the series on the
back of a 3-0 series win at home and victories in 2009 and 2010/11.
Presumably, confidence is high that we can make it four in a row?
GG: "Confidence is high in the England camp, although our practice has been
hampered by lots of rain. I think three-nil in our summer series was not
true reflection on the standards of the teams it was closer than that. We
will have to play a lot better to win here Down Under."
Both teams have a few injury niggles and selection decisions to make ahead
of the First Test, so how important is it that every squad member can
contribute to the cause?
GG: "Injuries as you know are a part of sport and it is important now to
have a strong squad and not just a strong XI. Hopefully our injuries will
clear up in time for the Brisbane Test."
As in a football match, how important is it for England to make a solid
start to the series in Brisbane?
GG: "Getting a good start is important in a series as you need to make a
strong showing, set the tone for the whole tour. For me, 2010 was a
highlight in Brisbane. Alastair Cook scored a double hundred, Andrew Strauss
a hundred and Jonathan Trott a hundred. A scoreboard showing 517/1 in
oursecond innings can't be bettered."
A lot has been written in recent years about the growing backroom staff used
by England. You have been in the set-up for 40 years, so just how have
things changed behind the scenes in terms of support structures for players?
GG: "There are now many more backup staff than when I started, covering
every aspect of the touring party from coaching to medical to security staff
and media. On my first tour to Australia in 1978, there was a manager,
assistant manager, physio and that was it. Presently here in Australia there
is 17 backroom staff."
You famously trained with West Ham United during your playing days. How does
the training done by international cricketers differ from that done by
footballers? Do different types of player (batsmen/seam bowlers/spinners) do
different types of physical training depending on their role?
GG: "Training for the players nowadays is different to the standard net
practice of years ago. Training is now geared to stimulate the players,
challenging their techniques their mental application. We stress training
for fitness and concentration and above all encouraging them to think on
their feet for themselves."
Concentrating on specific areas, performance analysis is something used
widely at West Ham United. How is this tool used in cricket to give England
an edge over the opposition?
GG: "Yes we have an analyst with us here in Australia. In fact England
Cricket has a whole department focused on this aspect of the game. This work
is very important in backing up the coaches in terms of real-time
performance and feedback."
Nutrition has become a hot subject with the publication of the England
'cookbook' recently. On a serious note, how much have players' eating (and
drinking!) habits changed and how important do you think it is for England's
cricketers to eat the right things?
GG: "As for nutrition, the players are very aware and much more in tune with
this than when I was playing. Across the board cricketers and much fitter
and stronger these days, partly because every club has a department for
strength and conditioning."
In football, goalkeepers are the only players who receive specific
positional coaching on a daily basis. Do you feel football could benefit
generally from cricket's more specialised approach to coaching? (eg
defensive coaches, striker coaches, set play coaches).
GG: "Specialist coaching is important to look after every aspect of the
players' skills. Here in Australia England have a head coach, batting coach,
fast bowling coach, spin bowling coach, wicket keeping coach and fielding
coach. Nothing is left to chance. I think possibly football could improve
with this type of set-up."
You will be away from family, friends and West Ham United for months on end.
How do you keep in touch and, more importantly, will you be able to catch
the Hammers' matches on television Down Under?
GG: "With the Internet it is easy to keep in touch and up to date on all the
Hammers news, plus I can watch matches and highlights on the TV."
Are there any other Hammers among the playing/coaching staff?
GG: "I think I am the only West Ham fan here. Sometimes with our results
it's difficult to fight the Hammers corner here. We have to find some goals
from somewhere!"
Football matches have often used as part of training sessions by cricket
teams, presumably for a bit of light-hearted exercise. Who are the star
players among the squad/backroom staff?
GG: "Sorry but I don't know because we don't play football as warm-up here
with the team. It's too much of a risky for a possible injury."
Finally, watching England playing overseas on television, there is always an
abundance of football club-related flags on show, including many West Ham
United flags. Do you have much interaction with the supporters? How
important is that 'away' support to the team?
GG: "Cricket supporters always are a great part of a cricket tour. It's
fantastic to see the thousands who come with the Barmy Army. It makes a huge
difference to the team when they are singing at the matches. The players
love the songs and all that goes with it. They are a fantastic bunch."
*The Ashes First Test will start in Brisbane overnight between Wednesday 20
November and Thursday 21 November at midnight UK time, with the match being
screened live on Sky Sports 2 HD.
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Dan Potts: West Ham defender joins Portsmouth on loan
BBC.co.uk
Portsmouth have signed versatile defender Dan Potts from Premier League club
West Ham on a month's loan. The 19-year-old played two Premier League games
last season after a loan spell at League One side Colchester. His only
senior appearance so far this term came in West Ham's 2-0 Capital One Cup
win at Burnley last month.
Dan Potts factfile
Dan Potts
Born: 13 April, 1994
West Ham (2011-present) 11 appearances
Colchester (2012-13, loan) five appearances
"The thought of playing at Fratton Park before the sort of crowds that come
to Pompey is a really exciting prospect," Potts told the club website.
Potts, who has represented England at Under-18, Under-19 and Under-20
levels, is the son of former West Ham captain Steve who played for the
Hammers between 1985 and 2002. He came through West Ham's youth system
before making his senior debut in the Championship in December 2011 - a 1-0
victory against Barnsley.
This season Potts has been been a mainstay of Nick Haycock's development
squad which sits top of the Under-21 Premier League, scoring twice in six
appearances. He is available to make his Pompey debut against Scunthorpe in
League Two on Saturday. "I just want to play first-team football, so
hopefully I can benefit the team and help us get some good results," Potts
said.
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Brady raises the roof
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 20th November 2013
By: Staff Writer
The first step in the two-year plan to convert Stratford's Olympic Stadium
into West Ham United's new home took place today. Watched by the likes of
club captain Kevin Nolan plus Londoners Joe Cole and Mark Noble*,
contractors began the long and arduous task of removing 14 large floodlight
panels - the first of which is expected to be detached later this week - in
order to vacate sufficient space for the new roof, the installation of which
will begin in Spring 2014.
"This marks a key milestone in the stunning, £200 million transformation of
the Olympic Stadium - one that will culminate in an iconic new home for our
Club," said Vice Chair Karren Brady. "My team and I fought exceptionally
hard on behalf of our supporters to ensure these modifications, which we
knew were of paramount importance to our supporters, took effect. "The roof
is a truly phenomenal design that will enhance the iconic status of this
sporting arena and help to lock in the world-famous atmosphere that our
supporters create when we play at home. "We're wholly committed to
delivering a state-of-the-art home for West Ham United by 2016 that will
honour the Olympic legacy pledge. Today represents another significant step
toward that hugely exciting goal."
The new roof, which will cover all 54,000 spectator seats in the revamped
stadium is expected to take a year to install. Twice the size of the
existing roof and with a span of some 84 metres, its cost forms the brunt of
the estimated £200million conversion. Brady also revealed that as well as
new hospitality areas which, it is hoped, will considerably raise the Club's
annual turnover, fans can also expect a "bespoke" ticket office plus a new,
on-site, Club shop. Due to open temporarily in Summer 2015 in order to host
the Rugby World Cup - of which the Olympic Stadium is one of 13 chosen
venues across England and Wales - the arena closes again shortly after for
another year to make the final changes in preparation for unveiling the
stadium at West Ham's new home in 2016.
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UNCERTAIN TIMES AT UPTON PARK
By Tony Hanna 20 Nov 2013 at 15:13
West Ham Till I Die
The longer you have supported West Ham you the more you realise that nothing
is ever certain when supporting our club. Just when you think things are
looking pretty good along comes another spanner in the works. Relegations,
promotions, FA Cups, play off finals, European success, the Global Financial
meltdown and the Icelandic's, the Tevez affair, new stands, Lou Macari, the
'Arry and Billy breakup, Bobby Moore sold to Fulham, Peters to Spurs, Hurst
to Stoke, the Mile End mob and ICF hooligan years, the team of '86 with
Trevor, Devo, Billy, Alvin, Frank and Tony, Chicken Run replaced, John Lyall
sacked, cup defeats at Swindon, Mansfield and Blackpool, the passing of
Bobby, John and Ron, PD Canio, selling the new golden generation of Cole,
Ferdinand, Lampard and Carrick, the Beauchamp farce, Bobby, Geoff and Martin
winning the World Cup…….our motto should be "we are Moore than a yoyo club"?
To the present and the Olympic Stadium looms as possibly the biggest event
in the clubs history. However, before then we have the difficult task of
cementing our Premier League status. After our lofty tenth position last
season and an apparent strengthening of the team with Ravel, Downing and
Rat, this season should have been one where we could sit back and cheer the
team on without any fear of nasty surprises? Our clubs current precarious
position has been disguised in some ways by the fact we don't have a Premier
League quality striker. Well, we do – Andy Carroll, but of course we don't
know if and when he will play again. The last time we played Russian
roulette with no recognised strikers we were relegated. The expected return
of Andy has just been a conveyor belt of different dates, set backs and
rumours. When we did try to get good cover for Andy, apparently no one was
interested as they didn't want to be on the bench! Then when we did get two
strikers in, Cole and Petric, neither were fit and both look out of their
depth anyway?
So with January looming will Andy be back? If he is how long before he gets
fully fit and in form? How long before he is injured again? Knowing our luck
he will be back around Xmas and will get injured again just as the January
window slams firmly shut. Whilst 4-6-0 worked against Spurs it doesn't look
as though it is a recipe that will bring enough points long term for
survival. In many ways I think the best thing that may happen is that Andy
does not return this season, leaving the way open for us to negotiate with a
high profile striker in January with the knowledge that they will be playing
regularly. Whether that be a signing or a loan deal, it is of the utmost
urgency. If we go over the FFP then so be it, because without goals the
inevitable is unthinkable. But there again, nothing is certain when you
follow West Ham.
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WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE PROMISED SAVIO INVESTIGATION?
By Sean Whetstone 20 Nov 2013 at 08:21
West Ham till I Die
This time last year Karren Brady announced that West Ham had begun an
investigation into the reported £8.3 million transfer of Savio Nsereko from
Brescia in January 2009.
One year on to the week we are still none the wiser.
Savio made just one Premier League start during a seven-month spell at West
Ham "The deal is something I'm investigating," Brady said in her Diary
column in the Sun in November 2012. "Just before this board took over, the
club paid a huge amount to Brescia for the German Under-21 who took part in
a handful of matches and then departed for Fiorentina at a fraction of the
price."
Savio was once hailed "the talent of the century" in German football
circles, when Savio Nsereko won the 2008 European Youth Championship under
coach Horst Hrubesch.
He was sold to Fiorentina for a reduced fee of £3m according the Telegraph,
with Manuel da Costa going the other way as part of the deal. West Ham
retained the rights to 50 percent of the player's sell-on fee. Manuel Da
Costa who later had personal problems of his own was sold by West Ham for
1.5 million Euros.
Savio never broke into Fiorentina's first team and in January 2010 was
loaned out to Bologna
In July 2010, he was sent back to Germany, joining 1860 München on a season
loan; the loan agreement was however cancelled in October, after the player
was reported missing for a week before being found at his sister's place.
He was later loaned to Juve Stabia but after only one game with the club,
Savio was reported missing once again in September 2011. Fears have grew
over the whereabouts after he was officially reported missing in Italy.
Interpol joined the search to find the Ugandan-born German. The then
22-year-old hadn't been seen since texting his manager to say he wouldn't be
at training for 'personal reasons'
This led his club to ask for an unilateral rescission of the contract. He
was successively found in London.
Savio then moved SpVgg Unterhaching of the third division in Germany in
September 2012 for an undisclosed fee. In an interview on the club's
website, Nsereko cited his desire to play in his home town of Munich as one
of the motivating factors for his move. He was released by Unterhaching
after three months with the club.
In 2012 it is claimed he called his family from Thailand telling them he had
been abducted and demanding a sum of 3,000 euros (£2,400). However, police
arrested him after becoming suspicious at the small ransom demand. He later
claimed it was a misunderstanding.
Earlier this year he was back in the headlines for the wrong reasons.
According to German website Bild.de he stole a watch from his own team-mate,
Salvatore Amirante, who was recovering from a knee injury while playing in
the German regional leagues with FC Viktoria Koln.
In July this year he completed a free transfer move to an obscure Israeli
side called Hapoel Ironi Akko. Last season they finished bottom of the
Israeli Premier League table but survived by two points in the Bottom Half
Play off.
This year he was quoted as saying: "I made a lot of mistakes. In fact, I did
everything wrong that I could. I was handed a million Euro in cash thanks to
the move and earned 65'000 Euro (more than £50,000) a month at West Ham. I
lost grip with reality completely."
It is claimed for two of his birthdays, he flew himself and female friends
of his to Miami. In a private jet costing 160,000 Euros. "Nobody ever told
me how to deal with that amount of money" he said.
When Gianfranco Zola and Gianluca Nani splurged £8.3 million on 19-year-old
German youth international Savio Nsereko in 2009 Scott Duxbury, West Ham;s
then CEO said "We are delighted to sign Savio, particularly with the fierce
competition for his services across Europe. He is an exciting prospect, who
Gianfranco Zola believes will prove a valuable asset for this club now and
in the years to come. It is a significant investment and shows our
determination to continue moving this club forward."
Zola, Nani and Duxbury are now all at Watford.
Will we ever know the truth about Savio and any dodgy dealings or is he just
a troubled youngster who didn't fulfil his potential? How much of did West
Ham pay and how much did we get back?
I asked West Ham's press office for an update to the Savio investigation
last week but received no update.
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West Ham United start conversion of Olympic Stadium new home for 2016
20 Nov 2013 19:20
The Mirror
West Ham United have revealed the next step they have taken in moving into
the Olympic Stadium. The club took to their Twitter account to show how the
stadium could look, as they prepare to move into their new home in 2016. A
picture of the potential stadium was uploaded alongside the words: "The next
step in the conversion of West Ham United's new home at the Olympic Stadium
has begun." The conversion includes the construction of a new roof, one of a
number of changes that will be implemented to transform the stadium from its
original athletics purpose. Hammers' fans will be no doubt delighted by the
proposed venue with the state-of-the-art looking spectacular in the image
uploaded, as current captain Kevin Nolan leads out his team mates.
Vice-Chairman Karen Brady revealed her happiness at what could be a huge
breakthrough for the stadiums future. She told the club's official website:
"My team and I fought exceptionally hard on behalf of our supporters to
ensure these modifications, which we knew were of paramount importance to
our supporters, took effect."
"It was vital for us that this Stadium offers an incredible viewing
experience and I think that will become even clearer as the conversion
progresses." Last month, Leyton Orient, who were vying with West Ham to
become the tenants of the stadium, lost their battle to award a ground
share. However peers in the House of Lords this week claimed that the League
One club should in fact be allowed to use the stadium, and put an end to the
squabble between the clubs.
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