Daily WHUFC News - 22nd April 2015

Potts pleased to be back in action
WHUFC.com

Dan Potts is hoping his injury issues are behind him after making a welcome return to action for West Ham United. A fractured ankle and surgery to right a long-standing knee problem have restricted the home-grown left-back to just one first-team and seven Development Squad appearances in 2014/15. The defender celebrated turning 21 last week by returning to the pitch in the Development Squad's 2-1 Barclays U21 Premier League defeat by Norwich City on Friday. "It's definitely been a long few months for me, so to get back out on the pitch was a good feeling," Potts told West Ham TV. "I was disappointed with the way the game turned out in the last 15 minutes, but personally I felt good. "I didn't expect to get the full 90 minutes but I managed it as I went on and felt really good, which was pleasing."

After starting the Hammers' Capital One Cup tie with Sheffield United in August, Potts' luck has been out, with a pair of long-term injuries restricting his opportunities to add to the 13 first-team appearances he has made over the past three-and-a-half-seasons. "Against Liverpool at the start of the season, I had the bad luck of fracturing my ankle in a bad fall, but I came through that OK and recovered quickly and got back out there," he explained. "However, I had an ongoing problem with my knee which we tried to keep on top of without surgery. "We saw a specialist at the turn of the year and he suggested surgery. I had that done, got through it and had a lengthy lay-off of eight or nine weeks before coming back to training. I feel good as new, so from that point of view it is very pleasing.
"It was good to get it solved and be back out there pain-free."

Potts' pleasure at making a successful return was tempered by the frustration of seeing two late goals deny the Development Squad a deserved victory over Norwich at Rush Green. Playing alongside newly-signed professional Manny Onariase, the centre-backs looked in control before two late errors allowed the Canaries' full-backs to turn the game on its head in the final six minutes. "The disappointing thing was that I felt we were comfortable and in control throughout the game and they didn't have a sniff, aside from one chance when Sam Howes pulled off a good save," Potts observed. "I felt in control of the game and I think most of the boys did too, especially Manny alongside me. Their lad up front was a big unit and you're going to get that, but I felt we dealt with that well.
"It was just the last few minutes and a lack of concentration for both goals. You can't do that at this level because you'll get punished like we did on Friday. "When you're in that position, especially when you're winning, it's disappointing. It all boils down to results and winning the game. On Friday night we played well but we lost the game and the boys came in deflated."

While Friday may have been frustrating for Potts, the bigger picture is much brighter, with the No33 targeting a strong return to regular action next season. "This year has been frustrating and is definitely one to forget in that respect, but it's coming to the end of the season and I'm trying to get my fitness back and look ahead to next year," he concluded. "I'll be ready for pre-season and ready to go again in pre-season and hopefully luck will be on my side."

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Jenko: Our dressing room is fired up
WHUFC.com

Carl Jenkinson insisted his Hammers' teammates are more motivated than ever to secure a top half finish following the 2-0 defeat to Manchester City on Sunday. City's goals came courtesy of a freak James Collins own goal followed by a swift counter attack finished coolly by Sergio Aguero, and that was enough to collect the three points for the Citizens.

Speaking after the match, the 23-year-old right back said: "Our dressing room is fired up. If you go in the dressing room after the game people aren't resting on their laurels, people aren't happy finishing mid table. "We want to kick on, we've got things to prove because we've been on a bad run recently and we want to put that right for us and the fans."

Jenkinson continued to praise a City squad comprising of world class players, particularly Sergio Aguero and Joe Hart, both of which put in impressive displays. Describing how tough it is to play against the current Premier League champions, especially away at the Etihad Stadium, the defender explained: "City were good, I always expected a backlash because results haven't been going their way. "It's what you expect when you play a City side, they've got world class players all over the pitch and they showed it at times. "It is tough because they've got players rotating all the time, sometimes it's hard to know who to mark with players coming in and out of different positions."

Despite catching City in a dominant mood, Jenkinson maintained that the Hammers had put in a resolute performance while Enner Valencia showed glimpses of being back to his best after recovering from injury. "To be honest I thought we defended well, the first goal was a bit of a freak goal and the second was something that could've been avoided. "It was difficult once we conceded the first goal like that, it took the stuffing out of us a little bit. I thought we had defended well right up until that point. Obviously it was disappointing but these things happen, there's no one pointing the finger at Ginge. "Enner looks very confident at the moment and I'm happy for him because he's been out for a few weeks. He's been very sharp in training and he's showed it today with his run in the second half. "I'm happy for him and we're going to need him because it looks like we're going to be without Diafra Sakho for a while. It's good for Enner because it looks like he'll play a big part for us for the rest of the season."

Up next for the Hammers is a short trip across London to play Queens Park Rangers. With the R's fighting for their Premier League status, Jenkinson is expecting a stern test come Saturday afternoon. "Of course Queens Park Rangers need every point they can get but so do we. We want to finish as high up the league table as possible, after they start we had we're not just going to accept a mid-table finish. QPR need the points but we need to play our part 100 per cent."

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West Ham reduce ticket prices after record television deal
BBC.co.uk

West Ham have become the first club to announce they will reduce season ticket prices as a result of the Premier League's record television deal. Sky and BT Sport have paid £5.13bn for live Premier League television rights for three seasons from 2016-17.
West Ham's cheapest adult season ticket in that season will cost £289, down from between £620 and £940 for the 2014-15 campaign.
The 2016-17 season will be the club's first playing in the Olympic Stadium. West Ham's vice-chairman Karren Brady said: "We have always said that the move to our magnificent new stadium would be a game changer for West Ham. It was a chance to increase revenue, invest in the team and improve our performance on the pitch, but without putting an extra financial burden on the supporters who already come to watch every home match. "This announcement proves we have kept our promise."

Although the cost of season tickets at West Ham are rising for the 2015-16 season by a maximum of 5%, they will fall again for the following campaign as the new television deal begins. The Olympic Stadium will have 19,000 more seats than the 35,016 at West Ham's current home, Upton Park, with the club paying £2m a year to rent their new ground. If they are still in the Premier League in 2016-17, the club say their cheapest adult season tickets will cost £289, which represents a price of £15.20 for each of their 19 home league games.

All season tickets for under 16s will be cut to £99 - £5.21 per match. Since the television deal was announced, there have been protests at a number of Premier League clubs, including Crystal Palace and Liverpool, with supporters angry at the cost of watching football.
BBC Sport's Price of Football survey showed that 15 of the 20 Premier League teams offered cheaper 2014-15 season tickets than West Ham.
Manchester City had the cheapest tickets at £299, although the Hammers' lowest price for 2016-17 is £10 less than that.

However, Malcolm Clarke, chairman of the Football Supporters' Federation, has called for more details to be revealed and for more clubs to drop their prices. He told BBC Sport: "Any reduction is welcome so two cheers for West Ham for that. "But before we give them three cheers, we await to see what they do about price categories, what they do about away fans and what they do with ordinary admission. "We're hopeful this is the first of many moves by the clubs to significantly reduce ticket prices. We will definitely keep up the pressure to ensure it happens. "Now the other clubs have a year to respond so let's see who can offer the lowest season ticket in a year's time."
Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore said: "West Ham's announcement is further evidence that Premier League clubs do offer stretch pricing, and think about providing opportunities for families and young people when considering ticket offers for their fans."

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Sheringham set for Pompey role?
KUMb.com
Filed: Tuesday, 21st April 2015
By: Staff Writer

Former Portsmouth striker Teddy Sheringham is being linked with a return to his former club - as manager. West Ham United's part-time attacking coach currently works two days a week at Chadwell Heath but could be back in full-time employment before too long, if reports of the 49-year-old's interest in returning to the South Coast prove correct. The News claimed this afternoon that Sheringham, who also featured for England and Manchester United during a glittering playing career has thrown his hat into the ring to replace the recently-outed Andy Awford. Sheringham's application - one of around 60 the club are believed to have received have received, according to the local press - will be discussed later this week by the seven-man Board as they seek a replacement for Awford. Both Nigel Adkins and Mark Warburton are understood to have already turned down the opportunity to move to Fratton Park. Sheringham spent just one season with Portmouth, in 2003/04, under Harry Redknapp. He scored ten goals in 38 appearances for Pompey that season including a hat-trick against Bolton, making his the oldest player ever to score three in one game in the Premier League.

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West Ham deny 'state aid' charge
KUMb.com
Filed: Tuesday, 21st April 2015
By: Staff Writer

A spokesman for West Ham has insisted that the club have done nothing wrong and have no concerns regarding a potential legal challenge over the club's move to Stratford.

It was claimed earlier that West Ham's move to the Olympic Stadium may once again be in jeopardy after revelations regarding the club's failure to correctly follow protocol with regards to state aid applications were published by the Guardian.

However a spokesman for the club has told the (local) Guardian that they remain fully confident of completing the move without any hitches.

"West Ham United is confident that its agreement with the LLDC complies with all relevant UK and European legislation and categorically does not constitute state aid," they said.

"Indeed, the European Commission looked into a complaint in relation to our move to Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in 2013 but 'decided not to further pursue' the matter.

"The club was selected as anchor concessionaire following a fair, transparent and robust process that was open to any group or organisation in the country. Without West Ham United, the Stadium would continue to cost the taxpayer millions of pounds a year.

"With us, the public purse will see a return on the hundreds of millions of pounds that were committed to build the Stadium, long before West Ham's association had begun."

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Kouyate issues apology to Silva
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 21st April 2015
By: Staff Writer

West Ham United midfielder Cheik Kouyate has published a series of tweets apologising for the incident that left Manchester City's David Silva writhing in agony during Sunday's clash with Manchester City.

The diminutive Spanish international was left rolling around on the floor in agony after he collided with Kouyate during Sunday's match, which the hosts won 2-0.

The Senegal international was accused by Sky Sports pundits Glenn Hoddle and Niall Quinn of all people) of deliberately attempting to injure Silva - claims that have been dismissed by representatives of both clubs since.

However Kouyate still felt it necessary to apologise to Silva for the challenge, which saw him stretchered off the pitch on Sunday.


cheikhou kouyate 8 ✔ @PapiCheikhou
I would like to say to @21LVA that I am very sorry that you were injured during the match on Sunday, but it was not my intention 1/3

cheikhou kouyate 8 ✔ @PapiCheikhou
I went for the ball and my eyes were on the ball. I always play the ball and never the player 2/3

cheikhou kouyate 8 ✔ @PapiCheikhou
You are a great guy and a great player @21LVA and I hope you are back on the field very soon 3/3

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Jurgen reports a load of Klopp, says Brady
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 21st April 2015
By: Staff Writer

West Ham United have dismissed reports linking the club with a move for Borussia Dortmund boss Jurgen Klopp. The highly-rated 47-year-old is expected to leave the Bundesliga at the end of the season and move to England, with Liverpool and Manchester City cited as Klopp's most likely destinations. However he was linked with the West Ham job earlier this week by the Mirror, who claimed West Ham had been in contact with Klopp's representatives with view to succeeding Sam Allardyce this summer. That speculation caused a wave of excitement amongst Hammers fans posting on the KUMB Forum and social media this week, with some convinced the club were set to pull off a major coup by persuading the German to move to London. But those hopes were dashed this afternoon by Ken Dyer, writing for the Standard, who was told by a source within the club that the rumours were "not true". Dyer's story was supported later in the day by West Ham's vice-chairman Karren Brady, who told Sky Sports News that the speculation was "just nonsense". Klopp, who had been at Dortmund since 2008 has guided his club to two Bundesliga titles, two German Supercup wins and a Champions League runner-up spot during his tenure. He has also won two German Manager of the Year awards (2011, 2012) and been named runner-up in the 2013 FIFA World Coach of the Year award.

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West Ham issue defence of Olympic Stadium move amid claims of 'state aid'
By Lia Hervey, Sky Sports News HQ
Last Updated: 21/04/15 5:17pm
SSN

Karren Brady has told Sky Sports News HQ it is "categorically wrong" that West Ham's move to the Olympic Stadium has been subsidised by the UK taxpayer. The West Ham Vice Chair spoke to Sky Sports News HQ after it was suggested that West Ham's plan to move into the Olympic Stadium could still be in contravention of European state aid laws. "The suggestion that we're subsidised is categorically wrong - we pay our way in that stadium," said Baroness Brady. "There was an anonymous complaint made to the body you're talking about (the LLDC) and they decided there wasn't a case to answer. "So it's not really a matter for us, it's a matter for the LLDC but they did a robust bidding procedure, there were four bids and ours was the best offer in financial terms and in terms of legacy. "We are making a huge contribution to the conversion and a huge contribution to the revenue. Without us there's no lynchpin in the stadium to create the jobs and to create the legacy. We're confident we haven't done anything wrong."

Andrew Boff, a representative from the London Assembly, has questioned the move and said there could be 'chaos' if the European Commission rule against it. The football club, who were awarded a 99-year license to rent the Olympic Stadium last year, will pay £15m towards those costs and believe their presence in the arena will be of financial benefit to the taxpayer. But the deal is not without its critics, who are concerned at the way a taxpayer-funded stadium has been handed over to a football club and the ongoing costs it will incur to local authorities. "West Ham move in next season and I would rather see this raised now than see the chaos if they were asked to leave, if it is found their move goes against the rules for state aid," Boff told Sky Sports News HQ. "They've been given the lease on a peppercorn rent. The stadium cost us as much as £650m of taxpayers money. There's a £40m loan coming from the residents of Tower Hamlets, and there are various other things that could be seen as taxpayers money going in to supporting a private firm. "It would only be sensible, therefore, that they should have checked with the European Commission whether this move wasn't illegal. I'm not entirely sure it isn't illegal. "A reference needs to be made now and it needs to be rubber stamped by the EU Commission. I can't picture the chaos there would be from the EC ruling against these arrangements and West Ham having to leave the Olympic Stadium and be homeless. That's not a good future for the club."

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Jurgen Klopp not a West Ham target, says Karren Brady
Last Updated: 21/04/15 5:22pm
SSN

West Ham vice-chairman Karren Brady says reports that the club have approached Jurgen Klopp to take over as manager are "nonsense". Klopp has been linked with a number of Premier League clubs since it was confirmed that he was leaving Borussia Dortmund at the end of the season. Reports in the press on Tuesday morning hinted that the Hammers were among those to have spoken to him, but that is talk Brady has rejected out of hand. Speculation has also been swirling about Allardyce's future at Upton Park, but Brady revealed no decisions have been made and they will not be broached until the end of the season. "It is just nonsense," she told Sky Sports. "Sam is the manager, we have talked to him about sitting down at the end of the season, which we will do. "We have to see what he wants to do going forwards. That's how these things work. "What sort of money does he want to invest in players? What positions does he want? Those are the conversation you always have, typically, at the end of the season and we make an arrangement going forwards. That's still our intention. "I think we have, as a board, always made it clear that we sit down with Sam at the end of every season. We've done that since he has joined us and we've done that when his contract has run out before. "So nothing has changed in that respect. I think our performances - there has been one or two recent ones that haven't been great - overall have definitely improved. "The team have done very well, we haven't been able to get the results we wanted but the performances have been good. "Sam has had a good season, we've had a few recent disappointing results - he would be more disappointed than anyone. But, overall, the relationship with Sam is good. He has done what we have asked of him."

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HOW WAS THIS FIASCO ALLOWED TO HAPPEN?
By Brian Williams 21 Apr 2015 at 08:00
West Ham Till I Die

It's a strange feeling being on a train from Brighton, headed to Upton Park in the certain knowledge that West Ham aren't going to give away a heartbreaking last-minute goal, nor be the innocent victim of diabolical refereeing decisions.

I should have been a happy Hammer knowing that nothing could go wrong on the pitch for once. But I was far from pleased as I was transported from the south coast to this nation's glorious capital city. In fact, I had the right hump.

The reason? I wasn't going to London E13 to watch West Ham play. This was on Saturday and, as you will all be aware, we had no game that day. I was making the trip because of the shambles that surrounded the club's botched attempts to finalise the season ticket allocation for 2015/16.

I wanted to swap seats because I sit next to an aisle, which is choc-a-bloc with late arrivals trying to find their designated places for 10 minutes after kick-off, and equally packed with eager beavers looking to get a flyer 10 minutes before the final whistle (is it just me, or these generally the same people?). Five minutes either side of half-time isn't funny either.

Not being blessed with X-ray vision, any action to my right-hand side remains a mystery to me unless I stand up – which only adds to the problem for the people around me. And as I sit in line with the edge of the penalty box in the south-east corner of the ground, a good deal of the action takes place to my right.

Why the club doesn't marshal supporters properly has baffled me ever since we were all made to sit down by Lord Justice Taylor. Go to a cricket match and try taking your seat whenever you feel like it – you'll be bang out of luck. There was a time when the convention was simply that spectators didn't move behind the bowler's arm; now, at well-attending matches, there are stewards preventing you disturbing those around you during play in all parts of the stadium. Quite right too. Yet at Upton Park people are regularly allowed to loiter in the gangways no matter what is happening on the pitch. And don't tell me football doesn't have the same breaks in play that you get at cricket. As someone who has watched an array of damaged claret and blue manhood being helped from the pitch after sustaining major injuries each requiring several minutes' treatment this season, I would beg to differ.

Like everyone else who wanted to relocate or buy a ticket on behalf of another loyal supporter keen to play their part in our final fling at the Boleyn Ground, I wasn't able to do so when I renewed my season ticket – we all had to wait for Friday's renewal deadline to pass and then take part in a giant bunfight held over the weekend. And you could only participate in person or over the phone. No online or postal applications were possible at this stage.

The phone lines opened at 9am on Saturday morning. At 9.01, having listened to the preliminaries and selected Option Three as instructed, I was informed I was number 144 in the queue. That didn't surprise me. What did was the added titbit of information that the estimated waiting time was one minute. An hour later I was comfortably down to double figures in the queue, but the repeated assertion that the waiting time would be a minute, or possibly two, which punctuated the strangled version of Bubbles that you get when you ring the ticket office would have been laughable if it hadn't been so annoying.

Then things got exciting. Suddenly I was up to No 8. Then I went back to 50-something. Then I was in the teens. Then I went to No 37. And there I stayed as the waiting time went up to three minutes, four minutes … seven minutes … ten minutes. As it turned out, my overall waiting time was 93 minutes – each minute costing me 10p and an increasing imbalance in the systolic and diastolic readings that make up my blood pressure.

But, finally, I was head of the queue. The recorded messages were over and I was on the verge of talking to a real person and sorting out my relocation. Apple Mac users describe the spinning coloured icon that appears when their computer has crashed as the Beachball of Death. What I got next was the telephonic equivalent: the continuous Bassnote of Despair that means you've been cut off.

It's not the first time it's happened to me, although that didn't make me any less gutted. I tried to call the ticket office again, and learned that if I wanted to hang on I would be No 133 in the queue (with a waiting time of one minute). This time I ended the call, and emailed the ticket office explaining what had happened – only to receive an automated reply explaining that everyone was busy dealing with season ticket requests and no one would have time to look at emails until Monday morning. The cat knows the look on my face that resulted from me reading that message does not bode well for him, and he wisely scarpered.

It was now 10.50. The next train to London from Brighton was the 11.08. And I was on it. I got to the ground shortly after 1pm, and walked straight up to a vacant window in the West Stand ticket office where the extremely helpful Leah found me three highly desirable seats in the East Stand Upper in a matter of moments.

Equally helpful were the stewards who were prepared to take me round to inspect my new seats, thus giving me the unmissable chance to effectively have the stadium to myself. I even had my picture taken sitting in Sam Allardyce's seat (could we, for today at least, park the debate about who should be sat there next season?).

Move over Big Sam
The people at the ground on Saturday were a credit to the club (there wasn't a managerial suit in sight, of course). But as an exercise it was chaos. The 10p-a-minute ticket phone line is a money-grubbing swindle at the best of times, and this was the worst of times. The whole thing was badly planned and badly executed – almost certainly by highly paid executives who failed to anticipate a demand that should have been foreseen. As it turned out, a process that was supposed to be completed over the weekend had to be extended into a third day. How did they get it so badly wrong?

A steward told me I was one of several people he'd spoken to that day who had experienced the problems I had encountered. This was confirmed when I later checked WHTID and read of the difficulties some of you had endured. Other sites told a similar story – one unfortunate supporter reported hanging on the phone for more than three hours before being cut off. Others were put through to an outside agency which was unable to sell them the tickets they required.

I was lucky in that I was able to jump on a train and sort out my problems. For one thing, I have an annual rail season ticket so the journey didn't cost me anything other than precious time. I also have an understanding wife, who recognises the importance of these things, and grown-up children who no longer expect a Saturday morning kickabout in the park or a lift to their weekend karate class. Many other people will not be in this happy position and now face an uncertain future in what is set to be one of the most memorable seasons in West Ham's history.

I think the club owes them an unreserved apology – and a refund for all those wasted 10p-a-minutes.

PS: If, like Sam's weary warriors at Manchester Citeh on Sunday, you have chosen to go on holiday early this year why not take a copy of my book with you? It's called Nearly Reach The Sky – A Farewell To Upton Park, and can be ordered from publishers Biteback here
You can also find it on Amazon, complete with some very generous reader reviews – for which I am eternally grateful.

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West Ham loan star Alex Song wanted by Inter Milan boss Roberto Mancini
20:53, 21 April 2015 By Neil McLeman
Song's form has faded during the second half of the season at West Ham but Mancini is still keen to bring him to Italy
The Mirror

Roberto Mancini wants to take on-loan West Ham midfielder Alex Song to Inter Milan next season. The former Arsenal star, who is still owned by Barcelona, enjoyed a strong start to his loan deal at Upton Park but his performances have dipped with the team. Song's early season form led to suggestions the Hammers might move to sign him permanently but that now seems unlikely. Mancini is ready to sell Croatia midfielder Mateo Kovacic to finance a rebuilding of his squad with Lukas Podolski set to return to Arsenal. Podolski has failed to score in any of his 12 appearances for the Serie A side.

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West Ham set to REDUCE season ticket prices after bumper TV deal in Premier League first
23:07, 21 April 2015 By Ben Burrows
The Hammers have become the first top flight club to make such a move which will come into force from the beginning of the 2016-17 season
The Mirror

West Ham have announced they will reduce season ticket prices - the first Premier League team to do so following the bumper new TV deal.
Sky and BT Sport won the rights to broadcast the English top flight exclusively from 2016/17 in a record breaking £5bn deal. Until now no club has taken any action to reduce prices for matchday fans as a result with protests against a lack of action taking place at Crystal Palace and Liverpool. But the Hammers have broken the mould confirming plans to bring the price of the cheapest adult ticket to £289 from that season. "We have always said that the move to our magnificent new stadium would be a game changer for West Ham," vice-chairman Karren Brady told the BBC. PAWest Ham United v Crystal PalaceHome from home: West Ham will move out of Upton Park to the Olympic Stadium in 2016
"It was a chance to increase revenue, invest in the team and improve our performance on the pitch, but without putting an extra financial burden on the supporters who already come to watch every home match. "This announcement proves we have kept our promise." Should the club remain in the Premier League when they begin their tenure at the 54,000-seater Olympic Stadium they say their cheapest ticket will be the equivalent of £15 per game. Under-16 tickets will be cut to just £99 - only £5 per match.

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OS season ticket prices revealed
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 21, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh

West Ham this afternoon announced their Olympic Stadium season ticket prices to the media but slapped a midnight embargo on the details!
However, we can tell you that there is a surprise in store which may come as a result of co chairman David Gold admitting some time back that he wants to make football affordable at the new stadium. We understand that the news may be released a little earlier by a couple of media outlets who have come to an agreement with the club. But we will none the less honour the embargo and carry the news on ClaretandHugh at the agreed time.

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LEROY: This is the man I want as manager
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 21, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh

I explained yesterday why I believe the two Daves should shake hands, thank him but allow Sam Allardyce to walk away NOW! For everybody's sake I believe that is the way forward but the big question is: "Who should replace him." For me it should be a straight choice between Jurgen Klopp and Rafa Benitez. this club is going up in the world and we have to have an upgrade on Sam. Klopp would be magnificent – Rafa would be superb but I guess if they both said "yes" I would have to plump for the German. He's a fun loving bloke who would have a rapport with the fans immediately. Actually they deserve each other because the fans are the best anywhere and so is Jurgen. It's a marriage made in heaven and I hope the owners can make it happen. Rafa – should he become available – is also a fabulous manager who would take us to the next level and beyond. He's a winner and ideal for us. The owners can sell this club by telling both of them that the Olympic Stadium vision is for regular European football either of them could deliver. Give one of the other of them a four year contract and watch sparks fly.

COYI

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Hammers: "Klopp hasn't said no to us"
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 21, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh

West Have have this afternoon firmly denied that Jurgen Klopp has turned down their advance to make him the club's new manager. The Daily Mirror reported this morning that the German had turned us down after we made our first move last week. But a top insider told us a few minutes ago: "ClaretandHugh's intital report that he has been approached and has promised us an answer after studying his options is correct. "Jurgen has told us that he expects to make his decision by mid-May and is currently weighing varying options. West Ham's chiefs love him. "He is a top class manager with the type of personality which would fit our fans to perfection – he's a great guy.
"Yes it's a longshot and if there was a book running on it he'd be priced at around 33/1 but he's an unpredictable charaacter so who knows – we could find ourselves with one of the world's best managers. "What is entirely wrong is that he has told us he won't sign. He's still in the frame with various others."

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Jenks looks for Enner spark
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 21, 2015 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh

Carl Jenkinson believes Enner Valencia holds the key to a Hammers form resurgence. With one win in their last 12 games teh Irons are sliding down the league like an out of control lift but Jenkinson believes Valencia can spark a recovery. Speaking to the official site he said: "Enner looks very confident at the moment and I'm happy for him because he's been out for a few weeks. "He's been very sharp in training and he's showed it today with his run in the second half. "I'm happy for him and we're going to need him because it looks like we're going to be without Diafra Sakho for a while. "It's good for Enner because it looks like he'll play a big part for us for the rest of the season." Jenkinson – looking to the weekend game against QPR – said: "Queens Park Rangers need every point they can get but so do we," he added. "We want to finish as high up the league table as possible, after they start we had we're not just going to accept a mid-table finish. "QPR need the points but we need to play our part 100 per cent."

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"YOU HAVE ALL LET YOURSELVES DOWN"
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on April 21, 2015 in News Agenda, Whispers
Claret & Hugh

West Ham's players have been told its time to start playing for pride and money. The club's bigwigs are entirely unhappy with the current level of performance and are determined that the players understand their position over the final five games of the season.
Whilst remaining entirely tight lipped on the managerial situation it has emerged that both players and Sam Allardyce are on huge bonuses.
The players are thought to be on around £400,000 per league position whilst the manager has financial extras built into his deal. And ClaretandHugh has learned that the the powerbrokers in the club have made it clear they expect a big change between now and the end of the season. A souerce explained: "The performance against City was shambolic – we were so bad it was embarrassing and it's just not good enough. "They let the club down, the fans down but chiefly themselves. We keep hearing they have gone on holiday but there are huge bonuses involved not to mention PRIDE. "What else is there but pride, performance and cash – they have to show a major improvement this weekend and until the end of the season."

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EXCLUSIVE: West Ham season tickets to cost as little as £289 when Hammers move to Olympic Stadium for 2016-17 season
West Ham will move to the Olympic Stadium for the 2016-17 season
Seasons tickets will cost Hammers supporters as little as £289
The club will have the cheapest pricing strategy in the Premier League
The price of a season ticket for under 16s will be cut to just £99
By NEIL ASHTON FOR THE DAILY MAIL
PUBLISHED: 22:30, 21 April 2015 | UPDATED: 23:12, 21 April 2015

West Ham's season tickets will cost as little as £289 when they move to the Olympic Stadium in Stratford. The Hammers will have the cheapest pricing strategy in the Barclays Premier League in a bid to fill the 54,000 capacity stadium when they make the switch for the 2016-17 season. Co-chairmen David Gold and David Sullivan are using the boost of the enhanced television revenue, which coincides with their move away from Upton Park, to pass on savings to fans. The new TV deal starts in 2016 after Sky and BT agreed to pay more than £5billion for domestic rights and there will be another auction over the summer with overseas broadcasters. According to a document that will be issued to West Ham fans on Wednesday, every season-ticket band will be reduced when the club move. The lowest priced basic adult season ticket will cost £289, the price for under 16s will be cut to just £99, and a family of four will be able to watch all 19 home games in the top flight for £776. Disabled season-ticket holders will also see a huge reduction, with prices dropping by up to £205. The news comes just one day after Sportsmail revealed massive price hikes at Manchester City. Supporters in City's East Stand have been been told they will have to fork out £1,750 to watch their team, almost double the £885 they currently pay. The Hammers will be under pressure to fill their new stadium after taking the huge decision to leave Upton Park, where they have played since 1904. Gold and Sullivan have taken a 99-year lease on the Olympic Stadium. The club also have a decision to make over manager Sam Allardyce's future — but insist they will not make a final call until after the end of the season.
Allardyce won promotion with West Ham two seasons ago and took them to a mid-table finish in their first year back in the Premier League. His contract expires at the end of the season and they have yet to open talks over a new deal. Real Sociedad boss David Moyes, Besiktas manager Slaven Bilic, a former West Ham player, and Borussia Dortmund's Jurgen Klopp have been linked with the job. But on Tuesday vice-chairman Karren Brady hit out at suggestions that Klopp — who will leave Dortmund this summer — is set to replace Allardyce. 'It is just nonsense,' Brady told Sky Sports News. 'Sam is the manager, we have talked to him about sitting down at the end of the season, which we will do. We have to see what he wants to do. That's how these things work. We've done that since he joined and we've done that when his contract has run out before.'

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