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Jussi Jaaskelainen - The Big Interview
WHUFC.com
Save of the Season winner Jussi Jaaskelainen reflects on a fine first season
with West Ham United
12.05.2013

Jussi Jaaskelainen has become something of a terrace hero among the West Ham
United supporters during his first season in east London. The veteran former
Finland international was already well-known to his team-mates and Hammers
fans alike, having spent 15 seasons between the sticks at Bolton Wanderers.
Arriving at the age of 37 and after a difficult final campaign with Bolton,
some fans were concerned that Jaaskelainen's best days were behind him, but
the likeable stopper has proven that he is still among the best goalkeepers
in the Barclays Premier League. A campaign that has seen him make numerous
outstanding contributions and keep eleven clean sheets was climaxed with a
deserved Save of the Season trophy at the 2012/13 Player Awards, which he
received from sponsors Thomas Fredrick Willetts Foundation Board member and
Trustee Raphael Sukaj. Added to that, Jaaskelainen was also voted as
runner-up to Winston Reid for the prestigious Hammer of the Year award.

Jussi, you must have been shocked to win Save of the Season!

JJ - "I looked in the programme a couple of months ago and I saw there was a
Save of the Season award and I thought 'If I can't win that, it's going to
be a bit embarrassing'! "It's nice to make those saves at the right times in
games and that's what football is all about. It's up to me to make saves and
we have two games to go and if we can finish in the top then, that would be
brilliant."

Your winning save was your outstanding fingertip effort to push Gareth
Bale's curler onto the crossbar in the 3-2 home defeat by Tottenham Hotspur
in February. Was that your own personal save of the season?

JJ - "Erm, I don't know because we lost the game. At the end of the day, I
want to make saves when we're winning points and winning games, so that's
why I was a bit disappointed because he scored that wonde rgoal afterwards.
"It would have been great to have saved that too and the game would have
finished 2-2 and we would have felt a bit better! "I think that West Brom
one from the free-kick [was important], because when you see it back it
deflects and comes close enough to me to make the save. "It's hard to pick a
save because I look to keep a consistent level through the season. We have
two more games, so hopefully I'll be making some more saves."

You have kept eleven clean sheets and produced some superb performances
during your first season with the Hammers after a difficult final campaign
at Bolton, so have you been happy with your contribution?

JJ - "It's the way we set up as a team. That's what Big Sam wants us to do -
to go out and keep a clean sheet because it is easier to keep a clean sheet
than score a goal in the Premier League. You start from a base so obviously
if you keep a clean sheet you get one point. I don't think we've been too
negative defensively, but it's a good thing to build on. "I don't really
read or think about what anybody else is thinking. I just try to work as
hard as I can and, if I get a chance to play on Saturday, I want to do my
best. In my career, I've been lucky enough to play many years in the Premier
League as a No1. I missed six months last season, so it's great to be here
and back playing. "I want to thank Big Sam because I have worked with him in
the past and I know his backroom staff are great and he has given me the
best possible opportunity to make those saves because of the way he looks
after his players."

You look as if you have enjoyed life at West Ham this term?

JJ - "I try to keep myself calm and collected because I don't want to get
too high when we're winning or playing well or too low when things go
against you.
"After every game, I just make sure that I prepare properly for the next one
because, at the end of the day, everybody makes mistakes and it can cost
you. If I do my best during the week, whatever happens, happens - that's the
way I always think."

Finally, you have won over even the most sceptical of fans with your
performances. Presumably you want to be West Ham's No1 again in 2013/14?

JJ - "Of course I want to carry on, but now we all start again in
pre-season. We all start on the same line and I want to work my way into the
team again when the first Premier League game of next season starts. "Like I
said, if people doubted me then there's nothing I can do. That's why
football is great, because everybody has their opinions and sometimes they
are wrong and sometimes they are right. As a person, I just want to enjoy my
football and do my best."

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Martin wary of 'formidable' Toffees
WHUFC.com
Former Hammers defender Alvin Martin runs the rule over Sunday's trip to
Goodison Park
12.05.2013

Alvin Martin believes West Ham United are in as good shape as they have been
for some years and has high hopes for the club's prospects in the next
decade.
After some turbulent times, the Liverpudlian defender is thrilled to see
calm and success restored to the Boleyn Ground, with the Hammers sitting
tenth in the Barclays Premier League ahead of Sunday's trip to Everton. But
Martin, an Everton schoolboy in his formative years, reckons Big Sam's men
will have their work cut out against a miserly Toffees side who have lost
just six league games all season long. He exclusively told whufc.com:
"Everton are a team that don't give anything away. When you look at the
number of games they have lost this year, they're not far behind Manchester
United and Manchester City. They're resilient and formidable. Admittedly,
they've drawn a lot of games, perhaps that they feel they should have won.
"Under David Moyes, this is the best side they've had by a long way and it's
the most creative as well. So it's going to be a tough game because they are
a top six side. That's credit to the manager and the team."

The Hammers lost the reverse fixture 2-1 in December, after goalscorer
Carlton Cole was dismissed by referee Anthony Taylor, a decision
subsequently overturned. Rough justice though it was, Martin thinks the
prospect of a top-ten finish will figure much higher in the players'
thoughts come Sunday. He continued: "I don't think the players will be
looking at it as if they have a score to settle. They will see it as another
game, another three points to try and finish as high as you can. "If West
Ham had come into this season saying we're going to finish mid table, we'd
have absolutely bitten your hand off at the time. We did have a brilliant
start then a little wobble, but Sam has done ever so well to see them
through that. Sam's a solid manager and a solid personality. He just focuses
and gets the job done."

Martin insists the stewardship of Allardyce has brought much needed
stability back to the club, a position that he hopes will help the Hammers
make the transition to the Olympic Stadium three years down the line. "From
what I've seen this year, West Ham are probably as in a stable position as
they have been for eight or nine years, which is where I want us to be. "We
seem to have a steadiness about us now and obviously with the Olympic
Stadium on the horizon, it's vital that we have stability here. From what I
hear, this could be a magnificent next decade for us. I think it's a case of
saying let's stay solid, certainly for the next three years."

Meanwhile, a three-time Hammer of the Year himself, Martin was as pleased as
anyone to see his former colleague Billy Bonds MBE collect the club's very
first lifetime achievement prize at Wednesday's Player Awards. "Bill is
somebody I idolised as a kid before I got into the team. It was a privilege
to play with him and if there's one player I played with, in all the games I
played with at West Ham, that you'd want alongside you in a game that you
had to win, it was Billy Bonds. "He was that sort of character. Great
footballer, strong man and a fantastic role model. I always hold Bill up as
an example to my boys, when we talk about how things should be done and how
you approach the game and how to prepare yourself mentally and physically.
Bill had all of that. He was way ahead of his time. But more than anything,
a man with morals and integrity."

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Trio relish Toffees test
WHUFC.com
Joe Cole, Mark Noble and Matt Jarvis are all looking forward to Sunday's
trip to Everton
11.05.2013

West Ham United complete their slate of Barclays Premier League away
fixtures when they travel to Everton on Sunday. It promises to be a unique
day at Goodison Park, with Toffees manager David Moyes taking charge of
Everton for the final time on home turf before leaving for Manchester United
this summer.
Hammers trio Joe Cole, Mark Noble and Matt Jarvis are all looking forward to
the fixture, with the Hammers seeking three points that would keep them in
the top half of the table going into the final weekend of the season. "We
definitely want to finish tenth so we will give it our all and we wouldn't
have it any other way," Jarvis confirmed. "We will be fighting right to the
end to make sure we get tenth spot and really pushing us on. "At the start
of the season, first and foremost we were aiming to be safe, so to be safe
with a few games to go is brilliant. Now, we can go out and enjoy the final
few games and make sure we get a good result and stay where we are in the
league. "For our first season back in the Premier League, I think we have
shown what a great squad of players and staff and manager we have got. To
finish in the top ten in our first season back is great and hopefully we can
build in the summer and who knows where we can go? Hopefully we can really
push on next season and do even better."

For Noble, just being in and around the squad over the closing weeks of the
season has been a boost following surgery to release a trapped nerve in his
arm that threatened to prematurely end his campaign. The midfielder, who
turned 26 on Wednesday, has returned quicker than expected and could play
his part again at Goodison Park. However, Noble knows he may have to be
patient due to the fine form of Gary O'Neil in the defensive midfield
position. "I had a really risky operation on my arm but they didn't have to
take a rib out so I got back a bit quicker. It's just a case for me of
getting fit and being ready for next season. "Gary has come in and done a
fantastic job and the team have been playing really well and we're safe so
we can relax. My wife said to me 'It doesn't feel like the end of the
season' and I asked 'What do you mean?' and she replied 'Normally we're
fighting relegation or going for promotion and I've had it for the last
eight years!'

"It's nice to relax a little bit, but we have two games left and we'll try
to get as many points as we can and then we can go on our holiday and enjoy
ourselves.
"Next season, I can't see why we can't push on. We're moving to the Olympic
Stadium, so hopefully we can spend some money and buy some top players and
have a real go next year. For our first year back, we've done fantastic this
year with the squad we have had - most of whom have come up from the
Championship. "We have added the likes of Andy Carroll and Joe Cole and it's
been a credit to us. If we can add a little bit more quality next season,
then we can push on a bit further."

Cole has loved life back at the Boleyn Ground following his return to the
Club in January. Having experienced both the highs of finishing fifth in the
Premier League and playing in Europe and the lows of relegation during his
first spell with West Ham, the No26 is enjoying a stress-free end to the
current campaign.
"It is strange because everything is so tight, but we've fallen into the
category where we're not fighting for one or the other - a place in Europe
or against relegation. For me every game is one I want to win, but there is
less pressure on us. "You have seen my form is still there when I've played
for West Ham and Liverpool this year. There is no doubt about that. It's
just a question of keeping fit and staying fit, so I'll be working very hard
in the summer to strengthen my body and make sure I can play 30 or 40 games
next year. I think I can without a problem because I've been very unlucky
this year. "We have two games left and we want to go to Everton and get a
good result. At home against Reading, we want to put on a show for the fans
and finish in the top ten."

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On this day - 12 May
WHUFC.com
A memorable game from this date in the West Ham United calendar
12.05.2013

Classic match
West Ham United 1-2 Nottingham Forest
Division One
12 May 1984
12 May has been a fallow date in the character for the Hammers, with only
two games played and no points recorded. Indeed, the only goal they have
scored on this particular day came in a 2-1 defeat to Nottingham Forest in
the penultimate game of the 1983/84 campaign. Ray Stewart notched it from
the penalty spot - one of eight successful spot kick conversions for the
Scot that campaign. Despite closing the season with another defeat to
Everton two days later, West Ham ended up in ninth place.

Complete record - 12 May
1984 West Ham United 1-2 Nottingham Forest (Division One)
1980 Sunderland 2-0 West Ham United (Division Two)
Played 2, Won 0, Drawn 0, Lost 2, Scored 2, Conceded 4

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Cottee previews Everton trip
WHUFC.com
West Ham United and Everton hero Tony Cottee on Sunday's showdown at
Goodison Park
11.05.2013

Tony Cottee knows a thing or two about Hammer of the Year awards, Lifetime
Achievement Award winner Billy Bonds MBE and West Ham United versus Everton
fixtures. The 47-year-old was crowned Hammer of the Year in 1986 and voted
runner-up on three occasions, played alongside Bonds for five seasons and
represented both West Ham and Everton during an illustrious playing career.
Cottee spoke to West Ham TV about all three subjects, as well as revealing
his own personal Hammer of the Year, in an exclusive interview conducted at
the 2012/13 Player Awards.

You attended the Player Awards, where Winston Reid was crowned Hammer of the
Year. You of course won the accolade in 1985/86 at the end of West Ham's
finest-ever league season. What are your memories of that achievement?

TC - "I didn't expect to win it, to be honest. It was a wonderful season for
everyone at the Club and my great mate Frank McAvennie had arrived from
Scotland and beat me to be leading goalscorer. I honestly thought that Frank
would win it. "Mark Ward had a great season as well and I thought maybe I
might get third or second place. It was fantastic to win it because it was
so unexpected. I had been runner-up in 1984 and 1985 and I thought I'd be
runner-up again. "I had another good year that year, but personally I think
Frank should have won it because he had come down from Scotland and his
impact was incredible. It was a wonderful year for me and a wonderful award
and I'm so pleased that I won it. "I was also runner-up in 1995 to Steve
Potts, so I had three runners-up and one win in 1986. I've still got the
trophy pride of place at home and it was a great achievement for me. "You
always like to be appreciated by your team-mates and fellow professionals
and I also won the PFA Young Player of the Year in 1986, so that was great
for me personally for the other players to vote for me.
"When the fans vote for you, it's even more special because they are the
ones who turn up every week and I have always said the West Ham fans are
among the most knowledgeable fans in the country. They know their football
and to follow the likes of Billy Bonds, Trevor Brooking, Geoff Hurst and
Bobby Moore was wonderful for me."

Winston Reid was the fans' pick for Hammer of the Year this season. Who
would you have picked?

TC - "There are probably a few who deserve a mention. Andy Carroll has done
well in spells when he has been fit. I think Kevin Nolan has also been
banging the goals in and deserves a mention. Joey O'Brien has been nice and
steady wherever he has played. "I think Mo Diame has had a decent season,
perhaps not all the time, but there have been games where he has been
fantastic and scored a couple of memorable goals as well. I'd maybe give
James Collins a mention as well. "For me, it's got to be Winston Reid. I
think he has been absolutely outstanding. Consistently, week-in, week-out
you know what you are going to get. More often than not he is the man of the
match. I think he deserves it."

Why has Winston been so good this season?

TC - "People say to me 'I'm surprised with how well Winston has done' and I
reply 'Well, why are you surprised?' because I worked on the World Cup in
2010 and he was absolutely outstanding for New Zealand. "The Club have
signed him and it has taken a bit of time to settle in, but that can happen,
particularly when you come from abroad. You have got to find your feet and
get used to the pace of the Premier League and it's not that easy. "After an
indifferent first season, I think he has been fantastic for the Club. He has
been wonderfully consistent and deserves to be given the Hammer of the Year
award."

Our first-ever Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Billy Bonds made his
debut when you were just two years old, but you later played alongside him
for five seasons. To play for the Club for more than 20 years and win Hammer
of the Year four times were amazing accomplishments, weren't they?

TC - "To do all that and to play more than 700 games for West Ham was a
fantastic achievement. When I grew up as a West Ham fan as a kid and watch
them play, I used to admire Billy Bonds. All of a sudden, as a 17-year-old,
I got into the first team and was playing alongside Billy Bonds! "He went on
to play until he was 41 or 42 years of age and his achievements speak for
themselves. If anyone ever deserved an inaugural Lifetime Achievement Award,
I cannot think of anyone better. Of all the living Hammers, there is no-one
more deserving of this honour than Billy Bonds."

We go to your other old club Everton on Sunday. David Moyes will take charge
of the Blues for the last time at Goodison Park before going to Manchester
United in the summer. What are your thoughts on Moyes' move to Old Trafford?

TC - "I've got a lot of time for David Moyes. I have had the privilege of
spending time with him in his office and he always makes me feel very
welcome at my other old club Everton. I think he will be a great appointment
and a great choice for Manchester United. I wish him all the best."

What are your views on Sunday's game itself?

TC - "It's a difficult ground to go to and always has been for West Ham. I
remember we always felt playing at Goodison was going to be a tough game
and, as an Everton player, we always knew it was going to be a relatively
easy game. I've been on both sides of the fence! "It'll be interesting to
see what happens. A nice, gentle 1-1 draw will suit both teams. From West
Ham's point of view, we are playing to finish as high as we can and maybe we
can get the points to take us above Swansea, which would be nice. "All the
players are playing for their places for next season. If you go into the
game and think 'I might not give it my all' and then you are not in the team
for the first game of next season, you can only look at yourself. There is a
lot of personal pride to play for and two or three thousand West Ham fans
going up there expecting a performance."

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Six of the best - Everton
WHUFC.com
A look back at six classic victories at the home of Sunday's opponents,
Everton
11.05.2013

West Ham United have faced Everton on 125 occasions in their history and
will be hoping to record a 37th victory over the Toffees when the two sides
meet at Goodison Park on Sunday.Here, whufc.com takes a look back at six
memorable successes on Merseyside, starting with the Hammers' last
three-point haul at Everton, back in 2005.

Everton 1-2 West Ham United
Premier League
14 December 2005
The Hammers had already established themselves in the top half of the
Premier League table - just seven months after achieving promotion from the
Championship - when they were faced with a trip to Everton just before
Christmas. The game started badly for the visitors when James Beattie gave
Everton a ninth minute lead, but Alan Pardew's men did not let their heads
drop and were soon level thanks to a David Weir own goal. West Ham pushed on
after the interval and secured all three points in the 67th minute with a
Bobby Zamora goal. The three points lifted them up to seventh in the table,
and they would end the campaign in ninth place and as FA Cup runners-up.

Everton 0-1 West Ham United
Premier League
1 January 1994
West Ham made the perfect start to 1994 by travelling back from Merseyside
with all three points thanks to a solid away performance. Tim Breacker
notched one of his three goals of the campaign to break the deadlock with
what turned out to be the solitary strike. Billy Bonds' men would go on to
finish a comfortable 13th that season with 52 points, but the Toffees were
in grave relegation danger right until the very end and only survived by a
narrow two point margin thanks to a dramatic 3-2 final day victory over
Wimbledon.

Everton 0-1 West Ham United
Division One
29 August 1983
West Ham met Everton at the start of the 1983/84 season and took over top
spot in the Division One table with this 1-0 victory over the Toffees. The
Hammers were fresh from a 4-0 thumping of Birmingham City on the opening day
and maintained their perfect record thanks to a Steve Walford goal. Pole
position would remain West Ham's until October, and they were in third as
late as March, but an indifferent run of form at the end of the campaign saw
them slip down to ninth position.

Everton 1-2 West Ham United
Division One
25 November 1972
Trevor Brooking and Clyde Best were the men on target as the Hammers
registered a 2-1 victory at Goodison Park in the winter of 1972. Brooking
would notch 11 goals that season, while Best weighed in with nine as West
Ham enjoyed a fine campaign which saw them finish up in sixth place. It was
not quite as plain sailing for Everton, who were down at the other end of
the table, although they did end with a relatively healthy seven-point gap
over the relegation zone.

Clyde Best
Everton 1-2 West Ham United
Division Two
27 March 1954
The Hammers were still searching for a way back to the top flight when they
faced Everton in the 1953/54 season, but it was their opponents who would go
on to secure promotion that campaign, with West Ham down in mid-table.
However, the Londoners still managed to inflict defeat on the Toffees in
their away fixture by the odd goal in three. Jim Barrett and Tommy Dixon
scored the goals for the Hammers, although Everton's promotion ambitions
were not harmed as they ended in second.

Everton 0-4 West Ham United
Division One
10 April 1929
The Hammers biggest margin of victory at Goodison was the 4-0 triumph they
enjoyed towards the end of the 1928/29 campaign. What made the scoreline
more remarkable was the fact West Ham were defeated 7-0 up at Everton in the
previous season. They made up for that with a four-goal showing thanks to a
hat-trick from Vivian Gibbins, added to an Everton own goal.

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Sam Allardyce: West Ham boss signs new two-year contract
BBC.co.uk

West Ham boss Sam Allardyce has signed a new two-year deal with the club. "I
am delighted to announce that our manager Sam Allardyce has signed a new
two-year contract," West Ham co-owner David Gold announced on Twitter.
Allardyce, 58, had always said he would only sign a new contract once the
club were certain of survival in the Premier League. West Ham are now eight
points above the relegation zone with only two games remaining.

Allardyce at the Hammers
Played: 91
Won: 39
Drawn: 25
Lost: 27

Allardyce's contract was due to expire at the end of the season. The former
Bolton and Newcastle manager said on Friday that he would be signing a new
contract "very shortly". "I never thought there would be any problem,"
Allardyce said. The Hammers recently learned they will be anchor tenants for
the Olympic Stadium, and Allardyce said he would be like to be in charge of
the team when they move into their new home in three seasons' time. "If I
can last that long, I'd like to be here," he said. "The sack is always
around the corner, that's how it is these days." The club go into their
penultimate game of the season away to Everton having won just one of their
last eight away matches - though they have lost only once in their last
eight at home.

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Junior on trial
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 11th May 2013
By: Staff Writer

West Ham have taken Honduran youngster Lacayo Junior Rochez on a week's
trial. The 17-year-old striker currently plies his trade for local club
Victoria in the LNP - the top flight of the Honduran league system - but
will spend a week in England trying to secure a contract with the Hammers.
"I travel with great expectations and if the transfer was to materialise, I
would be happy because I could secure both my future and that of my family,"
he told the Honduran press before leaving for England. "Every player wants
to go abroad; hopefully they can get either a first or second division club.
The important thing is to get out [of Honduras]." Likened to legendary
Honduran international Tyson Nunez, who made 86 appearances for his country
between 1994 and 2008, Rochez made his pro debut as a 16-year-old and scored
eight times in his first full season. Victoria head coach Omar Galindo
revealed that West Ham contacted his recently with view to taking Rochez on
trial. Few Hondurans have proved to be a success in Europe although Maynor
Figueroa (Wigan) and Wilson Palacios (Stoke) have both enjoyed careers in
the Premier League. On the European mainland Julio Cesar de leon (Genoa),
former Roma star Edgar Alvarez and ex_Milan striker David Suazo have spent
several years playing at the very highest level.

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West Ham manager Sam Allardyce signs a new two-year contract
Last Updated: May 11, 2013 4:47pm
SSN

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce has signed a new two-year contract with the
Premier League club. The news was announced by Hammers co-owner David Gold
via his Twitter account. "I am delighted to announce that our manager Sam
Allardyce has signed a new two year contract," Gold said. Allardyce's future
at Upton Park had been in question despite his insistence over the last
couple of months that he would be signing a new deal 'very soon' after
productive talks with Gold and David Sullivan. However, the 58-year-old
indicated at his press conference ahead of Sunday's game at Everton that he
was ready to sign and he has now put pen to paper. Allardyce said on Friday:
"There were processes we had to go through and put it together in the right
way, which it has now. I never thought there would be any problem - and
there hasn't. "There has been some issue with the legal jargon in the
contract which I couldn't understand so that has to go to both sides lawyers
to agree and then it gets signed. The size of a manager's contract is pretty
substantial in terms of responsibilities." Allardyce took charge of West Ham
on an initial two-year contract on June 1, 2011, guiding them to promotion
from the Championship via the play-offs last season and a comfortable 10th
place in the Premier League this term.

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West Sam
Published: 11th May 2013
The Sun

SAM ALLARDYCE has ended speculation about his future by signing a two-year
contract extension. Allardyce's previous deal was due to expire at the end
of the season. Co-owner David Gold said: "I am delighted to announce that
our manager Sam Allardyce has signed a new two year contract." Big Sam, 58,
last year led the Hammers back into the top flight and is on course for a
mid-table finish this term. Allardyce this week revealed that his deal had
been held up by legal "jargon". He said on Friday: "There were processes we
had to go through and put it together in the right way, which it has now. "I
never thought there would be any problem — and there hasn't. "There has been
some issue with the legal jargon in the contract which I couldn't understand
so that has to go to both sides' lawyers to agree and then it gets signed.
"The size of a manager's contract is pretty substantial in terms of
responsibilities."

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Fergie's retirement no surprise to me
The Sun
By KARREN BRADY
Published: 11th May 2013

SAT, MAY 4
MEN buy football clubs for an assortment of reasons — ego, popularity,
investment, loyalty. And a few do so because they believe football in
certain towns and cities gives people a sense of belonging. Hull chairman
Assem Allam is one of this rare set. He is an Egyptian who saved the club
from going down to League One by spending £27million to prevent
administration. And he did so because he was grateful to the Humber city for
providing him with the opportunity to create a giant manufacturing company.
That's called putting something back in and his reward today is promotion
back to the Premier League.

SUN, MAY 5
UNTIL today, Man U were the only club without a red card against them in
this Premier League. Sir Alex concluded long ago that you don't win trophies
with 10 men on the pitch or half-a-dozen serving time. So over the years he
has noticeably cracked down. His league record is destroyed today with a
retaliatory kick by Rafael on Chelsea's mickey-taking David Luiz. Ferguson
goes nearly as purple as he went when Nani was sent off against Real Madrid.
Watch the blood pressure, old chap.

MON, MAY 6
FUNNY old day. Someone in Hollywood wants to make a movie of my life.
Answers on a post card who should play me? My husband, recently deceased,
said Roseanne Barr, so be careful.

TUES, MAY 7
THE calls start to come in the early evening from across the world of
football informing me of the strong rumour that Sir Alex will announce he is
retiring tomorrow. This is not news to me, nor should it be to you as, in
this diary before Christmas, I told you he would be retiring at the end of
this season.
My thoughts turn to Lady Cathy. What will she do with husband Alex once he's
retired? It's a thought that crosses the minds of millions of women when
they hear their husband is going to be at home a lot more in future.
Famously, 11 years ago in persuading him not to retire she said: "When he's
under your feet, it's a nuisance." The mere idea of getting Ferguson to do
the washing up makes me laugh but she's a bonny lass is Cathy and she'll
find other things as well for the greatest manager of them all to do.

WED, MAY 8
AROUND Upton Park, no figure is more of a legend than Billy Bonds. Yes, here
he really does measure up to Bobby Moore, and the board are thrilled that at
West Ham's player of the year gala dinner in front of over 1,000 guests,
Billy received our first-ever lifetime achievement award. He played 663
times for us over 21 years and was a successful manager for four. From what
Sir Trevor Brooking and our joint-chairmen tell me, he'd have had a hatbox
full of England caps had he been playing today. More than that, they say
he's the most honest man alive. He had a tear in his eye and showed great
emotion when he collected his award, the club means so much to him. West Ham
over the years has produced some wonderful players and equally important,
some outstanding men.

THUR, MAY 9
THE fall-out from Sir Alex's departure has been dumped straight into the lap
of my pal, Everton chairman Bill Kenwright. He now has to find a successor
to David Moyes who is all but a clone of Ferguson even to the friendship and
mutual trust enjoyed between manager and the man who, on paper at least, is
his boss. Ferguson goes with his chief exec David Gill as Kenwright does
with Moyes, refreshing evidence that trust still exists in our game. All of
which only makes it harder for Kenwright to fill the Everton vacancy. But
Bill is a great judge of character and it won't surprise me if he already
has someone in mind.

FRI, MAY 10
A COUPLE of PL directors get together for a dinner tonight. These are
usually fun affairs and a chance to swap stories on our managers and our
chairmen, or other peoples. I recount a story told to me recently of a PL
chairman who saw one of his staff at the warehouse he owns with the sole
hanging from his shoe. He told him it was dangerous and asked him why it had
not been fixed. The poor chap explained he could not replace the shoe until
pay day. With that, the chairman pulls out a massive roll of £50 notes held
together by an elastic band. He unrolls the wad of cash, puts the notes back
in his pocket, hands over the elastic band and says: "Use this to secure it
until pay day."

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Go Figueroa ! West Ham boss set to sign bargain deal for Wigan defender
11 May 2013 23:00
The Mirror

Sam Allardyce is set to sign Wigan defender Maynor Figueroa on a
£40,000-a-week contract in a bargain deal for the Hammers, writes the Sunday
People.
Honduras international Figueroa is quitting the FA Cup winners at the end of
his deal to make a final pay-day move. Big Sam has been on his trail for
months – as Sunday People Sport revealed – and the wages offer will persuade
Figueroa to leave Latics whether they beat the drop or not. Figueroa can
play left back or centre half as Allardyce looks to improve his squad
without spending fortunes.

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