Daily WHUFC News - 21st February 2018

Arnautovic: I feel at home at West Ham United
WHUFC.com

Marko Arnautovic has thanked the West Ham United supporters who have made him 'feel at home' in a Claret and Blue shirt. The Austrian has overcome a challenging start to life in east London, including a three-game ban for being sent-off at Southampton, missing another match through illness and failing to score or set up a single goal in his first eleven Premier League appearances. Some fans questioned the summer signing from Stoke City, while manager David Moyes publicly demanded more from his talented No7, and Arnautovic has responded in spectacular style, scoring seven goals, assisting three more and producing ten outstanding top-flight performances in a row to help lift his team up the table. The 28-year-old's contribution has been loudly recognised by the West Ham faithful, and the player himself is grateful for the mutually respectful bond the two have formed over the last three months. "It hurt me in the beginning when I heard people whistling me in the stadium because they expected me to do better," he told whufc.com, "but now I am playing for my team and playing for the fans because the fans are a big part of this Club. They pay a lot of money the whole year to come and watch us and, of course, they want us to perform. "I always had a good relationship with the fans, wherever I have played. Of course, not all the fans can love you, because everyone has their own favourite. "Personally, I have always loved my fans and had a good relationship with them, because they give you the good feeling on the pitch and, without them, you are nobody in football."

Each of Arnautovic's seven goals has been followed by a passionate celebration, more often than not involving the Club's famous 'Crossed Hammers' symbol. After netting in the home win over Watford last time out, 'Arnie' added a second gesture, pointing to the ground with both index fingers, but what exactly was the message he was trying to get across to those in the stands? "The celebration was like 'I'm back' because I had been out for three weeks, and also gives a sign that I am here and I want to help the team and to enjoy the fans. I do the 'Crossed Hammers' sign because it is part of this Club and they love to see this. "I feel at home now. We are all one big family and it doesn't matter if it is hard or it is a good time. It's easy to stick together in the good times, but it has to be that we all want to also stick together in the bad times, as this shows what a big family we are. That's what I always want in this Club."

Arnautovic's return to somewhere approaching his best form – he feels there is still room for improvement in his game – has not come about by chance. With criticism ringing in his ears, the forward sat himself down, took advice from those closest to him, and made a commitment to give everything. The results have been there for all to see. "When I came to Stoke, it took me six months to settle in, and the same happened here. I didn't want this to happen, as I wanted to make an impact immediately at West Ham, but everything was going around and I was obviously in the spotlight because I came for a lot of money and didn't perform how I wanted to or how the fans were expecting of me. "Now, I feel fit and had a lot of talks with my family and got into myself and said 'Let's go Marko, you need to change things, try your best and work even harder' and I'm happy things are going well and I can help the team. "I want to keep this level and I am sure I am going to keep it if I continue to work like this."

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West Ham United Statement
WHUFC.com

West Ham United have been notified of a Football Association charge in relation to The FA's Rules on Anti-Doping, specifically Regulation 14(d). It is alleged the Club failed to ensure its 'Club Whereabouts' information was accurate on three occasions within 12 months. West Ham have until 27 February 2018 to respond to the charge. A West Ham United spokesman said: "The breach relates to administrative oversights on The FA's whereabouts system, for example a player's address had been registered and the house number digits transposed, and the Club will be responding to The FA in due course. We would like to make it clear that the breach is a Club administrative matter and does not concern any of our players."

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Optimistic Ogbonna eyes Italy recall
WHUFC.com

If all goes to plan, Angelo Ogbonna and Manuel Lanzini could be lining up on opposite sides at the City of Manchester Stadium next month. But, before you start worrying that one of West Ham United's most-important players could be on their way, the match in question is an international friendly between Ogbonna's Italy and Lanzini's Argentina, which will be played at Manchester City's home ground on Friday 23 March. With the centre-half in strong form and the attacking midfielder nearing a return from injury, each could earn recalls to their respective national teams. "Of course, I wish to come back to the national team," said Ogbonna, who has 13 caps to his name, the last of which came in a FIFA World Cup qualifying win in Israel in September 2016. "I would love to play for Italy again, but for now West Ham is more important than anything else because we need a lot of points to get safe. "The best thing is to do things step by step. If I do good things for West Ham, then hopefully I will get the chance to do good things with Italy again."

Could Manuel Lanzini and Angelo Ogbonna be on opposing sides in Manchester in March? Now fully fit after undergoing surgery to rectify a longstanding knee problem a year ago, Ogbonna's form has been the result of a combination of different factors – confidence both in himself and from his manager, consistency in selection and comfort in his favoured position on the left of a three-man defence. While some centre-backs struggle to adapt to a back-three, Ogbonna is well-versed in the system, having played in exactly the same position on numerous occasions during two title-winning seasons with Italian club Juventus. There, he lined up alongside the likes of Giorgio Chiellini, Leonardo Bonucci and Andrea Barzagli to form a defence which conceded just 47 league goals across two seasons and reached the 2015 UEFA Champions League final. "I played already in this position many times, even when I was in Juventus, so I feel comfortable."

Ogbonna is unlikely to feel comfortable on Saturday, however, when he and his West Ham teammates will try to stifle Liverpool's potent attack at Anfield. The Hammers were beaten 4-1 by the Reds in the reverse fixture at London Stadium back in early November, with Lanzini scoring the hosts' goal, but the east Londoners are a tougher nut to crack these days. With a win and a draw from each of their last two Premier League visits, a clean sheet in a win over Watford last time out and just two defeats from their last 12 top-flight matches, the 29-year-old says the Hammers can travel to Merseyside with confidence. "It's always a big test, but this is the Premier League. It's a really important game for us because we're going to Anfield and, since I was here, we did really good, positive things there. "It's going to be a really hard game and I wish all our players are going to be fit and all our players are going to be well. "It's really important to read the situation and prepare for the game as well as we can."

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West Ham: Premier League club charged over anti-doping breach
BBC.co.uk

West Ham have been charged by the Football Association in relation to anti-doping regulations. "It is alleged the club failed to ensure 'club whereabouts' information was accurate on three occasions within 12 months," the FA said. The Premier League club have until 27 February to respond to the charge.

A West Ham spokesman said: "We would like to make it clear that the breach is a club administrative matter and does not concern any of our players." "The breach relates to administrative oversights on the FA's whereabouts system, for example a player's address had been registered and the house number digits transposed, and the club will be responding to the FA in due course."

West Ham have been charged in relation to regulation 14 (d) of the FA's anti-doping rules, which state that for it to be a breach, "information contained in such reports is either initially inaccurate or has not been updated by the club".

The exact details of the misconduct have not yet been made clear.

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THE CLARET & BLUE SEA OF CHANGE
AUTHOR: EXWHUEMPLOYEE. PUBLISHED: 20 FEBRUARY 2018 AT 8:45PM
TheWestHamWay.co.uk
Written by Michael Hughes

"To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often." – Winston Churchill

The only way to grow is through change. Winston Churchill was near perfect. In the past thousand years or so, no one has been the target of so much hero worship as good old Winston. It's no wonder he is held in such high regard. He continually accepted the opportunity to change, thereby making himself better.

Now, I'm not for one minute comparing Winston Churchill to West Ham United! Accepting change can be difficult and changing your routine is even harder, particularly when you have been doing something for the majority of your life. Most people like routine in their life and if that means a pre match ritual of a crowded District line, cod & chips and five pints in the Boleyn, then who am I to question your choice?



There are the anti London Stadium brigade amongst us who will tell you moving stadiums hasn't been great, but let's not underestimate there are supporters who were and are understanding for the need to change if as a club we are to develop and move forward. Moving away from such an iconic stadium as Upton Park was always going to be fraught with difficulties. Top flight football has evolved so quickly and whilst Upton Park has been a massive part of the lives of so many families, as much as it was a wrench to leave the right decision you feel was made.

The experience of the London Stadium is very different to Upton Park but, and this is very relevant, there are fans, younger ones with families, who find the facilities at the London Stadium are so much better. Do I accept that change is for the long term gain of West Ham United FC? Yes I do. Do I hope that in ten years time when my two boys, who will have no doubt by then discarded their old man to go to games with their own mates, experience cup finals like I was fortunate enough to have done and enjoy those wonderful European nights? Yes I do.

They are the new generation of West Ham supporters. Granted, like most boys their ages they were given no choice when it came to nailing their colours to the mask supporting a team, just as I wasn't when I was growing up by my own father. They will remember with fondness Upton Park however for them and for all of us now, the London Stadium is the future. 99 years to be precise! Gradually, even for the oldies and sceptics amongst us it is starting to feel like home. Even performances on the pitch have improved. With six games remaining this season we have lost four times in thirteen games and whilst challenges such as the two Manchester clubs are on the horizon an unbeaten run to the end of the season and we could safely say on the pitch at least things are looking up.

Like it or not, West Ham United is in the process of change. In an ideal word the majority of supporters would have wanted the club to stay at Upton Park. I am one of them. But I am a relist as well. Change is important. Change helps companies keep up with advances in technology and changes in the marketplace, so they'll remain relevant. Any business in today's fast-moving environment, – football clubs are no different- that is looking for the pace of change to slow is likely to be sorely disappointed. In fact, businesses should embrace change. Change is important for any organization because, without change, businesses would likely lose their competitive edge and fail to meet the needs of what most hope to be a growing base of loyal customers.

As I write this article it is thirty eight years since we last won a trophy. Twelve years and counting, since we were in the final of a major cup competition. There have been subsequent relegations to contend with, owners who polarize opinion and push us to the edge with their failed promises, however that process of change, as embryonic and as raw as it still is, has taken place.

David Gold and David Sullivan took ownership of the club in 2010 and supporters were told inherited £100 million of debt. They made a promise to stabilise the club, which even the most anti board supporters would have to reluctantly admit, have delivered on their promise. It is impossible to argue Sullivan Gold and Brady did not negotiate a great deal.



Given the economic circumstances that the club found itself in some may say the decision to partner with Newham Council to jointly own the stadium on the basis that the Olympic stadium and West Ham United are in Newham, was also a very clever and astute decision by the board. Others would disagree and say we should have stayed where we were. There was sincerity from both parties and the hope that legacies for the stadium in employment, young people and community would be delivered and was at the forefront of their partnership.

Eighteen months on and supporters are still debating whether the move was right and for many they are still to be convinced or shown the wisdom of West Ham's momentous relocation. The bond though, remains for every West Ham supporter and that is the love of the club. That passion is engrained into the very fabric of our lives and for many it wouldn't matter if we played our home games at Hackney Marshes or Timbuktu, we would still support the club.

As supporters we have that choice to accept changes are occurring – strategic changes, tactical changes, leadership changes. These changes have had and are going to continue having an impact and effects on us. It could be argued to have helped minimize those impacts and effects, from having unintended negative outcomes, it was necessary to have "change management" methodologies in place with skilled resources delivering and executing on those methodologies, principles and processes. This would have helped to minimize possible negative outcomes and increase positive results. Change itself is a process – managing it, leading it, achieving it is also a process and one that should not be viewed and managed with a one size fits all approach. Something I think the club have been guilty of at times. It can be argued that certain approaches and actions should have been customized to fit the supporter's needs. Skilfully executing various principles of change are a necessity to success.

We all want West Ham to be successful, don't we? Isn't that why the club took on the London Stadium project? To be innovative, to reinvigorate, to become even better – to increase performances on the pitch.

The bottom line is we got a stadium costing more than £600 million for what £15 million, and a small amount in annual rent? Modern transport links and better stadium facilities are obvious areas of improvement, and whilst not everything will be perfect, I still maintain the move was right for the club, yet the underlying view remains a negative one from many supporters. Many are still getting used to their new surroundings but it seems a lot of the goodwill from before the club moved in has gone as fans feel it has not lived up to the expectations or promises that were made.

It can be argued football clubs don't change their DNA. That comes from the terraces, the fans and the long-serving staff. Lots of supporters are caught up in the past and constantly refer to what things used to be like. Like it or not, and it's your choice remember, we have got a fantastic stadium and the need now is to create history in the new surroundings.

There is an awful lot to criticise about Sullivan and Gold's tenure but in their defence they have put the wheels in process for West Ham to be challenging the so called bigger clubs. Whether they can see through this process is open to debate and for many supporters the need for change of ownership is still prevalent.

Since the English Premier League was formed in 1992, football finances have boomed. However, it is still the case that buying a football club is unlikely to yield much of a return. Despite the significant TV and other commercial revenues, football clubs in England's top flight still struggle to break even. Ironic, given the goal of setting up the Premier League was to stabilise club finances! Overall, operating profits for the 20 Premier League teams were just 4% of revenues, and when the net costs of player trading are added, there are large overall net losses. These figures belie the fact that most of England's largest football clubs are run by successful businessmen who make plenty of money in other walks of life.

English clubs are supposedly in high demand from foreign investors, with the majority of Premier League teams currently owned by foreigners.

But let's not kid ourselves Sullivan & Gold are here for the long term. If you believe their explanation that owning West Ham has nothing to do with money and like other owners, all be it they are few and far between now days, they are simply fans of the club they own and have strong ties to the local community, you have to in many ways begrudgingly applaud that stance. While in the business world, the head can rule the heart, it can be the opposite when it comes to football.

Imagine if the owners were to sell the club to a foreign owner without a sentimental attachment to the club, could they do a better job? Unless you can find a Roman Abramovich, who has written off more than £1bn he ploughed into Chelsea since acquiring it in 2003 or a Sheikh Mansour, who has invested close to £1bn in Manchester City since 2008 you potentially run the risk of not only losing your identity as a club, but with catastrophic consequences once they have had enough and they up and leave. I cite Sunderland and Aston Villa as prime examples.

Most of the serious money flowing into football recently has come from the Middle East. The Qatar Investment Authority, the country's sovereign wealth fund, bought the French Ligue 1 side Paris St Germain in 2011 and has gone about transforming them in the same way Sheikh Mansour has Manchester City. Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Qatar and Bahrain are all small but rich Gulf States with global ambitions. Football is seen as an important way of expanding their brands, but of course they are also in competition with each other. Is West Ham United an attractive option to a potential Middle Eastern Investor? Recent accounts about to be released by the club, we are led to believe will make for a change, good reading, and on the face of it, there is little reason why football clubs cannot be profitable. In England, Premier League clubs are proverbial cash cows with three strong sources of revenue – TV money, commercial activities and gate receipts. Therefore, growing revenues could increase the value of a club just like any other business. If Sullivan & Gold did want to sell you could argue now is the time to do so with the value of the club increasing significantly with the increased revenue streams it has since moving to the London Stadium.

I'm not saying Sullivan & Gold are perfect, far from it. The ideal football club owner clearly needs very deep pockets, has to be almost mercurial like, and certainly not faint-hearted and until someone like an Abramovich or a Sheikh Mansour do come along Sullivan & Gold are the 'safe' option.

It wasn't that long ago that the club were being hailed for a productive transfer summer which landed Hernandez, Arnautovic, Zabaletta and Joe Hart. Eight months on, a change of manager and the spectre of relegation still lingering, the root cause of the endlessly poisonous mood surrounding the owners it seems is at the core of the anger and resentment seething once again among many supporters. No matter how hard the fans have tried to adapt to the new surroundings, setbacks and disappointments on the field have meant David Moyes having to play catch up and the anger of broken promises magnifies amongst supporters who were offered in exchange for the wrench of leaving Upton Park.

The abandonment of tradition explains why the mood has turned so fiercely and suddenly against the owners. For many it is exacerbated by the high-speed turnover of opinion and belief promoted by Sullivan where the optimism at the start of the season is ancient history as yet another disappointing transfer window comes and goes. The ill-feeling towards the board transpires because many fans believe they have too much to say in public and much of it, they feel, undermines the managers and players. What it has done is make supporters wary and suspicious of the board's motives.

You can't deny there is an increasingly acrimonious mood among many West Ham supporters. At the Brighton game a few weeks ago it was there for everyone to see, supporters holding up banners saying; "Formed by the working class. Ruined by the rich. Sold a dream built on lies. Brady, Sullivan, Gold and Co, Enough is Enough. Time To go."

Those sentiments could be echoed at many clubs where the fans feel marooned by the changing nature of modern football, but we don't care about other clubs as supporters. In many ways West Ham supporters are not defined by their team, nor player loyalty but by the fact we reserved our greatest football loyalty for the hallowed grounds, our stadium that we graced for so long.

Cast your mind back to May 10th 2016. Upton Park, one of the grandest stages in all of English football, and one which had been home for a century and more closed those famous iron gates for a final time. It was befitting in many ways Manchester United were the visitors to play the final ever competitive home match at Upton Park. For those fortunate enough to be there and I'm sure for many thousands watching at home it was one of the most emotionally charged occasions London's East End has ever witnessed. And so began the process of moving to the London Stadium, which to this day polarizes opinion amongst us all.

Everyone loves Mark Noble, local boy, West Ham born and bred. Noble signed a new five-year contract in early 2015 and he was emphatic in his praise for the move to the London Stadium. "I've seen it at every stage of it going up and it looks fantastic. Every time I go there it looks more and more like a football stadium. It's going to be a fantastic place to play at."

Change is inevitable. All throughout our lives we are bound to change. ​If we didn't where would that leave us?

If you think this article was in any way supporting and defending the board, let me stop you now. This article has no hidden meaning or hidden agenda. This is simply my own take on why we have to get used to the concept of change. At West Ham United It's happening and it's about time we not only get used to it but that we start accepting it for what it is at face value.

When things are good and great we wish we could freeze time. May 10th 2016 to be precise. We desire more than anything to pause in that moment. It is so great and almost perfect that we don't want to miss out on it. We don't welcome change. We push it out and try to ignore the whole idea it. We don't have the mindset that there could quite possibly be something better around the corner.

Change doesn't always directly correlate with negativity or destruction. Change just means that things will be different; they will not stay the same. As a club we have to change. Without change we wouldn't be anywhere near where we are today.

When things go wrong on the pitch and we suffer another defeat, we of course want them to be different. Life prepares us for change.

There are so many incredible opportunities and chances for the club to grow at the London Stadium if we accept change. It wouldn't hurt to step out of our comfort zone every once in a while, open up our eyes just a tad more and the world might show us something we never thought possible with West Ham United challenging for the Premier League and competing in the Champions League every season!

As Winston would say" The only way to grow is through change." As supporters we have that choice to accept the opportunity to change.

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West Ham charged by FA
KUMb.com
Filed: Tuesday, 20th February 2018
By: Staff Writer

West Ham United have been charged with breaking 'anti-doping' rules by the Football Association. The club have been given until 27 February to respond to an FA Charge in relation to regulation 14(d) of the 2017/18 anti-doping regulations regarding misconduct. The clause in question states that member clubs shall be in breach of the league's rules "if the information contained in reports is either initially inaccurate or has not been updated by the Club as necessary to ensure it remains accurate, three times within any 12-month period".

And according to the FA, West Ham have been charged with "failing to ensure its 'club whereabouts' information was accurate on three occasions within 12 months".

The club have since responded via a statement on their website confirming that the charge relates to an internal oversight, and not any of the playing squad.
"The breach relates to administrative oversights on The FA's 'whereabouts' system," said West Ham. "For example, a player's address had been registered and the house number digits transposed, and the club will be responding to The FA in due course. "We would like to make it clear that the breach is a club administrative matter and does not concern any of our players."

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Meeting with the West Ham Utd Board
KUMb.com
Filed: Tuesday, 20th February 2018
By: The Pink Palermo

On Monday, 19 February, myself and KUMB Editor Graeme Howlett attended a meeting that had been called between the club and the Real West Ham Fans Action Group at the London Stadium, to which ourselves and other WHU supporters' social media outlets such as Hammers chat, West Ham fans TV, and WHUISA had been invited.

My first point is that everyone in attendance was on the same page, all were supportive of the RWHFAG. The meeting was attended by club representatives Karren Brady (Vice Chair and full Board member) , Tara Warren (Executive Marketing Director and full Board member) and Ben Illingworth , Match Day Operations Director.

Apologies for non-attendance came from co-chairman David Sullivan due to illness. Karren stated towards the end of the meeting that David Gold was unaware the meeting was going ahead but when challenged, immediately contradicted herself and said she had spoken to him about it the previous morning.

You may draw your own conclusions as to why someone with 35 per cent of the club's shares would not attend. As for Mr Sullivan, I'll give the benefit of the doubt to him, but understand fully why others may not be so generous in spirit.

The meeting covered a number of points, and I'd rather stick to the issues than "who on the supporters side said what"...


1. Who's running the show?

Given the illness to Mr Sullivan and Mr Gold's age, a question was asked as to who would run the club in their absence due to a sustained period of illness? The point was made that our manager is out of contract in four months' time and we have recently parted company with our head of recruitment. Karren had already admitted she has no involvement with transfers.

Karren's reply that she felt sure the owners had made their wishes known to the appropriate people as to where their shares would go obviously did not answer the question. We had to explain it again and in truth never received a satisfactory answer.


2. Request for financial results

A request was made for a copy of the club's financial results for the period ending May 2017 (eight months ago). The request was refused by KB and when pushed on the matter, with it being pointed out they would be a matter of public record in 10 days time anyway, KB admitted it was more a case of won't share the information rather than can't - we made the point that was hardly about building trust.

At the heart of the request for the financial data was to explore the club's increases in revenue since the move in three specific areas - match day income, sponsorship and commercial revenue and profit on player sales.

These three areas are vital when understanding how much leeway the club has when paying wages under the PL short term cost control measures ( financial fair play rules). The club is restricted to staying within a player's salary cap of a £7m season-on-season increase plus whatever additional money it makes from its own revenue streams ( the three listed above) .

We pushed for the finances because the whole point of the move was to allow us to make more money and sign the better players we were led to believe would be joining us - the absence of which is a major bone of contention for supporters.

The only concession KB would make in this area is that all revenue streams had grown, but the specific numbers would not be shared. We'll have them on March 1st regardless.

The point was made to Karren that given the general lack of investment in the club by the two major shareholders which she confirmed at £48m in equity - a number not dissimilar to what the Icelandics put in - that they should set a realistic price for their shares and sell the club .

This point was made a few times throughout the course of the meeting. KB repeatedly stated they have no desire to sell. KB made the point our owners were UK taxpayers. Good for them.


3. The badge

A long discussion took place concerning the badge and in particular the word 'London' which has caused significant upset to some of our supporters, who maintain that the club have abandoned our east London roots and heritage.

TW spoke at length about all sorts of surveys and exhibitions of different designs that they had gone through as part of the consultation process and that 56 per cent had voted for the new badge.

Nobody in attendance had any recollection of ever being asked / shown a different design, but TW was happy to share the data etc. Either way the club agreed to look at it again. Progress made.

4. Our history

Numerous complaints were made about the cavalier way in which the club's history appeared to have been abandoned, in particular the museum and memorabilia.

KB stated a considerable amount was in storage and that a temporary display was being set up in the lower part of the club shop to honour Bobby Moore. The point that we have nowhere to appropriately display the club's history was not answered adequately.

A discussion took place concerning the commissioning of a new statue/s rather than move the current one on the Barking Road but KB informed us they were incredibly expensive. Seemingly the junction of Barking Road and Boundary Road is getting redesigned and the WCW statue will have to move (somewhere) anyhow.

The discussion continued with how the ground can be more WHU in terms of large graphics featuring the likes of Ron Greenwood and John Lyall, as well as former great players. The practicalities of getting even large banners donated by supporters laid out was also discussed, with the clear issue being the agreement with the LLDC making it a sea of red tape to get anything done.

Given the revelations made by the LLDC that they had spent £3.5m defending litigation against WHU, the club were asked how much the club had spent and KB confirmed a figure of £0.5m. Happy families.

Numerous comments were made by the supporters groups as to the unsuitable nature of the deal and the fact it should never have been signed. The specific question as to why we moved was asked and the answer given by KB was "the opportunity" , without explaining who or what for.


5. Stewarding

There was a lot of discussion about the stewards. The comments generally regarded their lack of experience and lack of empathy with our supporters, whilst it was reported that one of them seemingly wears a Charlton shirt under his jacket. I prayed for his soul last night.

KB stated the club had tried to get the Boleyn stewards back offering to pay for their NVQ training etc but one of the issues was there are 1,200 stewards at the new place compared with the 285 or so we had at our ground.

The on-going issue of fans from other clubs wearing colours in our parts of the ground was discussed and a firm commitment was made by Ben Illingworth to ensure that will not be allowed to happen again. There was one report of a 65-year-old man wearing a Chelsea baseball cap recently.


6. Boxing Day fixtures

KB denied emphatically that we would be unable to ever host a boxing day fixture ever again, but it all depended upon how the fixtures fell and on what the Met Police had to say about it.Given the fact there were WHUISA representatives in the room and they have good links with the FSF that will be an easily verifiable comment.


7. The memorial garden at the Boleyn

Representatives complained bitterly and vociferously with regards to the state the memorial garden had been allowed to get into.

Whilst it has since been tidied up, the point was made that was as a result of supporters' complaints and action and that it was a dereliction of duty by the club to have allowed the gardens to become unkempt once the bulldozers moved in to demolish our home of over 100 years.


8. 'Amnestys' for those ejected but not charged

Attempts were made by representatives to get supporters who have been arrested, ejected but not charged to have away travel points reinstated and any bans etc to be lifted. This in the main related to supporters in 114. Ben Illingworth insisted that only supporters had been ejected from block 114 all season, and KB gave a commitment that each case would be judged on its individual merits .


9. Ticket prices

KB stated that ticket prices for next year would be frozen.


10. Social media

The representatives asked that greater care be taken in the discussion of club affairs by the Sullivan family, to which KB replied that Mr Sullivan's children had significantly scaled back their involvement.

Karren made the statement she would do anything to make WHU fans happy, to which we asked her to give up her column in the Sun which she refused point blank to even consider.

Representatives were able to illustrate that her comments with regards the Leicester City Chairman prevented us from signing one of their players in the recent transfer window. Despite this, KB refused to stop writing her tabloid column, which she has had for 14 years. She stated it was her decision to make which begs the question as to the terms of her employment contract at WHU.


11. Stadium surroundings

The point about how the soulless walk past pretty much nothing to get to the stadium was a major problem was made, and again the discussion ended up concerning what the club could and could not control. KB gave a tentative indication they may be able to discuss it again but frankly, look at the new buildings opposite the Cow pub - are they likely to want a hot dog stand there 23 days a year?


12.David Sullivan and Jim White

Strenuous complaints were made by several representatives as to the recent comments the Chairman made to Jim White concerning the alleged jostling at Wigan. There was considerable annoyance that our own club Chairman was painting our supporters in a bad light. It was also pointed out how strange it was that he was well enough to talk to White, attend the Liverpool match this coming Saturday (which he is expected to do), but not well enough to meet with supporters.

KB again repeated how seriously ill DS was, which takes us back to point 1... although given the statement from Karren that prior to buying the club they undertook no due diligence, maybe that shouldn't worry us particularly.

Overall, some progress was made and it's for the RWHFAG to decide whether there has been enough of it, but at the time of writing the march on 10/3 proceeds as planned.

A big thanks to Andy Swallow, Micky Morgan and the rest of the RWHFAG, Mark and Paul from WHUISA and to all the other reps there yesterday - apologies for not mentioning you all by name but everyone did the supporters proud.

If I've missed anything , or anyone else who was there feels I have got something wrong, feel free to PM me (via the KUMB Forum) and I'll amend this post, but it was a long meeting and I can't remember everything!

We are United.

Please note that the opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of, nor should be attributed to, KUMB.com.

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West Ham now hoping Andy Carroll could be back from 'season ending' injury for potentially-vital final fixtures
The striker initially ruled out for the rest of the relegation candidates' campaign could face Leicester and Everton
The Mirror
ByDarren Lewis
22:30, 19 FEB 2018

West Ham are clinging to a slim hope Andy Carroll will be back before the end of the season. The 29-year-old striker was ruled out for the remainder of the campaign last month, after suffering a hairline fracture of his ankle. The setback for luckless Carroll wrecked a potential move to Chelsea, with the defending Premier League champions instead switching their attentions to Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud. Carroll hasn't played since the Hammers ' Premier League draw at Spurs on January 4, but there is a belief the targetman - who has since had an operation - could be back for the final two games of the season. West Ham conclude their campaign with a trip to Leicester on May 5 followed by a home game against Everton eight days later. In Carroll's absence, record-buy Marko Arnautovic has come good after an initially poor first four months which saw fans vilify his work rate and commitment. After failing to score for his new club until December, the £25m signing from Stoke has since netted seven times across 11 injury-interrupted appearances. Meanwhile, defender Angelo Ogbonna has credited the discipline introduced by new boss David Moyes for lifting them out of the bottom three. Moyes took over after Slaven Bilic's sacking in November and has steered the east London club from 18th place to mid-table. Although they are not yet out of danger [just five points separate top-half Bournemouth and third-bottom Stoke], there is an acceptance they are now far more focused and hard-working under the Scot than his predecessor. Ogbonna said: "It's good [our progress] but it's not enough because we're looking to get as many points as we can. "Now I think we are in a positive mood. When the team was doing really bad, we changed the manager and he has brought a lot of energy and a lot of positive things. "But the most important thing he brought was discipline because with discipline, you can build whatever you want. "Every manager has his type of method, but the important thing was the discipline, because with this you can train harder or train less, but you know what you have to do."

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West Ham boss David Moyes gives hint he may stay at London Stadium beyond this season
DAVID MOYES has given further clues that he will be staying on as West Ham manager at the end of this season by looking at potential recruits.
By TONY BANKS
PUBLISHED: 22:30, Tue, Feb 20, 2018
Express.co.uk

Moyes has said he will decide on his future at the London Stadium at the end of this season, when his short term contract, handed to him when he took over in November, runs out. The Hammers' board though have been impressed with his work since taking over, and provided Moyes can keep the club in the Premier League, they are ready to offer the former Everton, Manchester United and Sunderland manager a two-year deal this summer. West Ham go to Liverpool on Saturday lying four points above the relegation zone but under Moyes have lost only one of their last eight games in the Premier League. Moyes is planning for next season, scouting players including Hibernian's 23-year-old midfielder John McGinn, who he watched on Saturday in a 2-0 win over Aberdeen. Luxembourg midfielder Vincent Thill, 18, who plays at Metz, and Dutch goalkeeper Joel Drommel, 21, from FC Twente are also on Moyes' list of promising young talent on the continent that could be bid for in the summer. West Ham could also move to make midfielder Jaoa Mario's loan deal from Inter Milan permanent in the summer, though no final decision has yet been made.

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