WHUFC.com
The End of Season Gala Dinner will be hosted by lifelong Hammers fan Ben
Shephard
11.05.2011
TV star Ben Shephard is relishing the prospect of hosting the 2010/11 End of
Season Gala Dinner in aid of the Academy next Monday. The Sky Sports
presenter will take a break from his usual television duties to compere the
prestigious evening which is being sponsored by Alpari (UK) at the Grosvenor
House hotel on London's Park Lane. The 36-year-old is also a fanatical
Hammer, having attended his first home match during the unforgettable 'Boys
of '86' season 25 years ago. The Gala Dinner will give Shephard the
opportunity to mix with his heroes, including members of that famous 1985/86
squad. He will follow on from Phill Jupitus and James Corden, who hosted the
previous two sell-out Gala Dinners.
Shephard is also looking forward to seeing the Hammer of the Year crowned,
and there are no surprises for guessing who he would pick for the
illustrious award.
"Two words - Scott Parker," Shephard said. "Quiet rightly he was named
Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year. What a season, and to
get another England cap and be the best player on the pitch just shows that
he should have been involved in South Africa. "Rob Green has been awesome,
too, especially after the World Cup, while Freddie Sears has brought a ton
of energy and eagerness which is great to see."
Tables of ten and a limited number of individual places are available now
through the club's corporate hospitality department. Although all premium
tables have now sold out, the club are offering a special secondary rate on
tables of ten for £1,500 plus VAT.
The entire first-team squad - as well as some famous names - will be in
attendance for this glittering event which will be highlighted by the
crowning of the 2010/11 Hammer of the Year. Scott Parker will be hoping to
make it three consecutive wins, a feat that only five-times winner Sir
Trevor Brooking has achieved since its inception for the 1957/58 season.
Several other seasonal awards will also be crowned on the night including
the Best Goal, Best Team Performance, Best Save, Players' Player and Top
Scorer
The popular Gala Dinner has been a complete sell-out in each of the past two
years, giving fans the opportunity to rub shoulders with heroes past and
present, as well as the club's Board and coaching staff. It will be a simply
unmissable evening that allows you to get up close and personal with the men
that matter.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Danny's American dream
WHUFC.com
Danny Potts has spoken positively after receiving an unexpected call-up to
the United States U20 squad
11.05.2011
Danny Potts has expressed his excitement after being called up by the United
States for the first time. The first-year scholar has established himself in
West Ham United's youth team this season before making his reserve-team
debut at Wolverhampton Wanderers in April. Now, the 17-year-old has
completed a memorable 2010/11 campaign by being included in the US Under-20
squad for two friendly internationals against France next week. Left-back
Potts, whose father, West Ham great Steve, was born in Hartford,
Connecticut, is looking forward to meeting up with his new international
team-mates for the first time. "It was a pleasant surprise to be called-up,"
he told whufc.com "I only found out last week when Tony Carr came up to me
and told me America wanted me to go away and play a couple of friendlies for
them. "I wasn't even aware they had been watching me. I knew I was eligible
for America but I'd never had any contact from them before. I was none the
wise that they'd been in touch until Tony said so. "It's only just sinking
in and it's only a few days away. It'll be a great experience, especially as
it's Under-20s and against France, as well, so it'll be a good standard."
Potts is one of two West Ham players to be included in a 20-man squad, with
midfielder Sebastian Lletget also called-up by Ramos. The Californian has
filled his new team-mate in on what to expect when he links up with his
adopted international squad. "Seb has told me they are a great bunch of lads
and that I will enjoy it. He said the coaches are good and are very
supportive, so it'll be good."
Potts has only visited the United States twice before and is looking forward
to finding out more about American soccer and culture. "I've only been there
a couple of times on family holidays! I've been to Florida twice with my
sisters and my brother. I know I've got family over there but I've never
been to visit them!" Potts is eligible to play for the US in the 2013
CONCACAF U20 Championship and FIFA U20 World Cup, but he is not looking too
far ahead. Playing in friendly matches means he can switch allegiance to
England in the future, should he wish to, but for now the youngster is happy
to keep his options open. "It's a case of going away and seeing how things
go. They are friendlies so they'll have no effect on other internationals -
they have already clarified that because that was one thing I wanted to make
sure of. "I just want to get some experience with America and, if they are a
good bunch and I enjoy it out there, I can make my decision later on.
Obviously I'm keeping my feet on the ground and looking forward to it. "I
have to think about being away for two or three weeks at a time and, looking
at my future at West Ham, I need to make sure I am doing my best for the
club. At the same time, international football is a great place to show what
I can do. "Tony says I have nothing to lose by going and I completely agree
with him."
Should things go well, the junior Potts could even outshine his famous
father, who made more than 500 first-team appearances for the Hammers. "My
Dad played for England at youth level and the rules back then meant he
couldn't play for America when they wanted to call him up when he was older,
so maybe I can go one better and get a full international cap one day!"
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Stanislas returns for reserves
WHUFC.com
Junior Stanislas was back as West Ham United reserves were edged out at
Tottenham Hotspur
11.05.2011
Junior Stanislas made his comeback after four months out injured in a 3-2
reserve-team friendly defeat at Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday. The No25,
who underwent hernia surgery in January, was handed a 30-minute run out as
the Hammers relinquished an early two-goal advantage to lose out to the odd
goal in five at Spurs Lodge. Jordan Spence, Olly Lee and Frank Nouble all
started following their return from loan spells at Bristol City, Dagenham &
Redbridge and Charlton Athletic respectively, while Zavon Hines and Ruud
Boffin gained welcome match action. For Tottenham, Ledley King completed a
full 90 minutes on his first appearance for the club since October 2010,
while Cameroon defender Sebastian Bassong was also in the hosts' starting
XI. Cristian Montano - making his own comeback after six weeks on the
sidelines with a hamstring problem - opened the scoring early on before
Hines doubled West Ham's advantage within the opening 15 minutes. Harry Kane
halved Spurs' deficit on 20 minutes before Bassong's header was cleared off
the line and both Kane and Jon Obika struck the woodwork. Kane doubled his
tally to pull Tottenham level on 55 minutes, converting after a swift
counter-attack involving Dean Parrett and Obika. Olly Lee, Callum McNaughton
and Stanislas all forced saves from home goalkeeper Oscar Jansson, while
Nouble put a good chance wide as West Ham pressed to regain the lead.
Tottenham also continued to create chances, with Obika and substitute
Paul-Jose M'Poku both being denied by Boffin. However, the Belgian could do
nothing to prevent fellow countryman M'Poku from netting a late winner by
volleying in a right-wing cross.
West Ham United reserves: Boffin, Spence (Brown 60), Driver, Eyjolfsson,
McNaughton, Abdulla (Wearen 60), Moncur, O.Lee, Hines (Hall 75), Montano
(Vose 46), Nouble (Stanislas 60)
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Thousands heading to Wigan
WHUFC.com
Hammers fans will be going to the DW Stadium in great number this coming
Sunday afternoon
11.05.2011
West Ham United will have at least 34 free coaches heading up to Wigan
Athletic this Sunday with only limited availability left on match tickets.
The Board have paid for free coach travel to the DW Stadium for any
supporter wanting it when they purchase their match tickets, and a fantastic
4,500 Hammers fans are expected to make the journey for the crucial Barclays
Premier League encounter. Joint-Chairman David Sullivan said: "It has been a
difficult season but our away fans have been magnificent at every single
game we have played up and down the country, whatever the result on the
pitch.
"Free coach travel for our last away game at Wigan is a way of saying 'thank
you' and also ensuring that the team will get the best possible support."
With the club needing to win for any chance of possible survival, Avram
Grant's men will be roared on by strong support when they kick off at 4pm.
Although the club's fortunes also depend on results elsewhere, the match has
echoes of the memorable trip to Wigan on 28 April 2007.
On that day, the club also offered free coach travel and was rewarded with a
3-0 victory that played a major part in the club's 'Great Escape' with seven
wins from the last nine games. The deadline for fans wanting to travel on
the free coaches will be 5pm on Thursday 12 May, although any match tickets
left unsold at that point will still be available. Coaches will depart from
the Boleyn Ground at 8.30am on Sunday 15 May, with fans able to buy food and
drink from kiosks in the West Stand before they depart. For all the latest
ticket information, click here. Those travelling by road to Wigan are
advised that there are roadworks on the A59 after junction 25 of the M6. All
coach companies should exit at junction 27 and follow the postcode WN5 0UN
on 'satnav' systems which will lead them direct to Car Park 1 on Stadium Way
at the DW Stadium.
Greater Manchester Police and Wigan Athletic will have a ticket barrier
check point in place on the North Stand forecourt. All visiting supporters
are advised to arrive in plenty of time to allow for their entry to the DW
Stadium in time for kick-off. No tickets will be on sale on the day to
either home or away supporters.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Wales call for Hammers duo
WHUFC.com
Jack Collison and Danny Gabbidon are in the Wales squad for their two
remaining Nations Cup fixtures
11.05.2011
Jack Collison and Danny Gabbidon have been named in the Wales squad for
their Carling Nations Cup fixtures against Scotland and Northern Ireland
later this month.
Gary Speed has called-up the West Ham United pair for the fixtures, which
will both be played at the recently-opened Aviva Stadium in Dublin on
Wednesday 25 and Friday 27 May respectively.
Wales will be eager to bounce back to winning ways, having lost their
opening match in the four-nation tournament 3-0 to hosts Republic of
Ireland. Gabbidon has earned 43 senior caps for his country since making his
debut against Czech Republic during the 2001/02 season. The defender
recently returned to international duty at the behest of manager Speed
following a short-lived retirement. Collison, meanwhile, will return to the
Wales fold for the first time since starting the 1-0 home friendly defeat by
Sweden in Cardiff in March 2010 - the last match the midfielder started
before being ruled out for more than a year with a knee injury. The
22-year-old has earned seven senior caps in total.
Republic of Ireland and Scotland currently top the Nations Cup table with
three points each from their opening matches, while Wales and Northern
Ireland have yet to get off the mark. Republic of Ireland face Northern
Ireland on Tuesday 24 May before rounding out their campaign - and the
tournament as a whole - against Scotland on Sunday 29 May.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Wearen gets Ireland call
WHUFC.com
Academy midfielder Eoin Wearen has been included in the Republic of Ireland
U19 squad
11.05.2011
Eoin Wearen has been named in Republic of Ireland's squad for their upcoming
UEFA European Under-19 Championship Elite Round qualifying matches. The
Irish will take on mini-group hosts Poland, Ukraine and Italy between
Tuesday 24 May and Sunday 29 May, with the winners going forward to this
summer's final tournament in Romania. Having successfully come through a
Qualifying Round group that also included Serbia, Bulgaria and Luxembourg,
Wearen and his international team-mates have warmed-up for the Elite Round
by playing friendly matches in Croatia and Cyprus.
"It's a group that contains Italy, Poland and Ukraine, so it's anybody's
group, but we're confident that we've got the squad to cause an upset,"
Wearen confirmed.
Ireland kick-off their Elite Round by facing Poland in Koszalin on Tuesday
24 May before taking on Ukraine in the same venue on Thursday 26 May and
Italy in Kolobrzeg on Sunday 29 May.
The Academy midfielder has recently returned to the international fold after
enjoying a productive season with West Ham United. The 18-year-old has made
five reserve-team appearances and turned out 15 times for the club's youth
team in league and cup. As a proud Irishman, Wearen has also enjoyed sharing
the same Chadwell Heath training ground as national-team captain Robbie
Keane. The youngster was fulsome in his praise of his fellow Dubliner,
explaining that the 30-year-old has national hero status in his homeland.
"It's always nice to have one of your country's legends at the club and we
all look up to him. As soon as we heard he was coming to the club, we knew
it would be good for myself and every other Irish person involved with the
club. "To be honest I can't tell you just how highly thought of he is in
Ireland. When we go to watch Ireland play, he is the one player we know will
always go onto the pitch and give us a chance of winning games, so he is a
big player for us."
While Wearen has his own international duty to fulfil, Keane is expected to
be named in the senior Ireland squad for their Nations Cup meetings with
Northern Ireland and Scotland in Dublin on 24 May and 29 May respectively.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham buoyed by Scott Parker's return from injury
BBC.co.uk
Page last updated at 15:35 GMT, Wednesday, 11 May 2011 16:35 UK
West Ham's influential midfielder Scott Parker is set to return to action
for their crucial Premier League game at Wigan on Sunday. Parker, 30, has
missed the club's last four games, during which the rock-bottom Hammers have
picked up one point as they try to stay in the division. He trained on
Wednesday for the first time after an Achilles tendon problem. In April,
England midfielder Parker was named Footballer of the Year by the Football
Writers' Association. West Ham are four points adrift of safety with only
two games remaining, meaning Avram Grant's side probably have to win both to
stand any chance of staying up. They will move above Wigan with a win at the
DW Stadium on Sunday, before playing host to Sunderland on the last day of
the season on Sunday 22 May.
Midfielder Jack Collison, who has just returned after more than a year out
with a serious knee injury, says the players are doing everything they keep
to try and keep West Ham up. "The boys are working hard, the staff have put
the hours in, but it is a matter of going out there now and doing it," said
Collison. "We have talked all season about how we are good enough to get out
of it, but the league table does not lie and we have a cup final next week
and the following week. "We need two wins and hopefully that is enough."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Collison back in Wales squad
Speed names squad for games against Scotland and Northern Ireland
Last Updated: May 11, 2011 4:13pm
SSN
Fit-again midfielder Jack Collison has earned a recall to the Wales squad
for the upcoming Carling Nations Cup games in Dublin. The 22-year-old has
only just made his comeback after a long lay-off with a knee injury and
featured as a substitute in West Ham's 1-1 draw with Blackburn at the
weekend. Prior to that Collison had been sidelined since March of last year,
having been injured in Wales' friendly defeat to Sweden at the Liberty
Stadium. Ahead of the games against Scotland and Northern Ireland later this
month, coach Gary Speed is without the injured Gareth Bale, who has been
ruled for the rest of Tottenham's season with ankle ligament damage.
However, Celtic's Joe Ledley has been included despite missing the remainder
of the domestic season after aggravating a hamstring injury in the Old Firm
clash against Rangers last month. Swansea midfielder David Cotterill also
returns to the squad having not featured since scoring in the 5-1 friendly
victory over Luxembourg back in August. Wales face Scotland on 25th May and
Northern Ireland on 27th May at the Aviva Stadium as Speed looks to record
his first win as national team boss, having lost his only two matches in
charge.
Wales squad: Hennessey (Wolves), Myhill (West Brom), Price (Crystal Palace),
Blake (Cardiff), D Collins (Stoke), J Collins (Aston Villa), Eardley
(Blackpool), Gabbidon (West Ham), Gunter (Nottingham Forest), Nyatanga
(Bristol City), Taylor (Swansea), Williams (Swansea), Allen (Swansea),
Collison (West Ham), Cotterill (Swansea), Edwards (Wolves), King
(Leicester), Ledley (Celtic), Ramsey (Arsenal, captain), Vaughan
(Blackpool), Bellamy (Cardiff), Church (Reading), Earnshaw (Nottingham
Forest), Evans (Sheffield United), Eastwood (Coventry), Morison (Millwall),
Robson-Kanu (Reading), Vokes (Wolves).
Standbys: Brown (Blackburn), Morgan (Preston), Ribeiro (Bristol City),
Dorman (Palace), Stock (Doncaster), Easter (Crystal Palace).
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Villa look to be going Green
By MARK IRWIN
Published: Today
The Sun
ROBERT GREEN will lead the West Ham exodus with a summer move to Aston Villa
- even if the Hammers somehow escape relegation. The England keeper, 31, has
only 12 months of his £25,000-a-week contract to run and the club have made
no attempts to negotiate a new deal. West Ham, who have one of the
highest-paid squads in the Premier League, will launch a major cost-cutting
exercise if they end up being relegated. Co-owner David Gold has admitted
the club will struggle to keep any of their England stars in the
Championship and Villa have earmarked Green as a replacement for Brad
Friedel, who is 40 next week. Green is keen to make a fresh start after
spending five years at Upton Park and feels Villa will give him the platform
to rebuild his international career following his disaster at the World Cup.
Out-of-contract Matthew Upson, Kieron Dyer, Lars Jacobsen, Jonathan Spector,
Danny Gabbidon and Zavon Hines are all also set to leave the Hammers, while
loanees Robbie Keane, Wayne Bridge and Victor Obinna will return to their
parent clubs.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Parker rush to save Hammers
Published: Today
The Sun
WEST HAM'S desperate bid for Premier League survival has been lifted by
Scott Parker's return to training. Rock-bottom Hammers have taken just one
point from four games while their captain, 30, has been out with an Achilles
problem. But boss Avram Grant could rush him back for Sunday's must-win
clash at Wigan. Fellow midfielder Mark Noble is also battling to be fit
after a hernia op three weeks ago.
WEST HAM are putting on 34 coaches for fans to roar them on at the DW
Stadium. Chairmen David Sullivan and David Gold will foot the bill.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham chiefs are a bunch of Apprentices - Cottee
Published 23:00 11/05/11 By Martin Lipton
The Mirror
They have scored more own goals than any club can afford, a season of
boardroom misadventures that would shame a sitcom scriptwriter. Just like
the real thing, football's version of Eighties comedy Up The Elephant And
Round The Castle has been no joke at all for the long-suffering West Ham
fans, who face 90 minutes of pure hell at Wigan on Saturday which could
confirm what has seemed inevitable for months: relegation. But after
undermining the manager in a cack-handed manner, alienating morale at all
levels of the club and even telling the best players they are free to walk
away in the summer, the Upton Park brains-trust might even be in danger of
jeopardising their only success of the season. Nine months of internal
wranglings, including the chaos surrounding the planned eviction of Avram
Grant in favour of Martin O'Neill in January, seem set to reap the
inevitable reward at the DW Stadium. Amid the travails of the campaign,
there was one great success, one positive to hold on to - the decision by
the Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC), sanctioned by the Government, to
confirm West Ham will be able to take possession of the Olympic Stadium
after next summer's Games. But suddenly, the viability of a move into the
£537m 60,000-capacity stadium appears to have been thrown into the air by
co-owner David Sullivan's admissions that West Ham are "in a worse financial
position than any other club in the country."
That was followed by a "clarification" from Karren Brady, but former Hammers
striker Tony Cottee is one who has little sympathy for anybody at the club
as it wrestles with the prospect of relegation. Asked who is responsible for
the imminent reality of a drop into the Championship, Cottee said: "I would
say you can blame all three - the manager, the players and the board. "Of
course, the manager is the first person to blame. He is the one that makes
the team tick, decides on tactics and players. But who appointed him? The
owners and the board."
David Sullivan, co-owner David Gold and boardroom ally Karren Brady insist
they were the saviours of West Ham when they inherited a club in a total
off-field mess last year. While Cottee accepts that element of their
posturing, he still pointed the finger. "Yes, they saved the club when it
would've gone into administration when there were debts of £100million," he
said. "But Grant wanted Steve Sidwell in January and the plug was pulled on
that. The manager has got to be able to choose the players he wants. "If
that's not going to happen, then let the owners and Brady pick the players.
There's no point in having a manager at all if you're going to undermine
him. "That's what they've done consistently. "They did it to Gianfranco Zola
last year and now they've done it again. It was the board who paid £8million
for Benni McCarthy, who was an absolute disaster. "They should have football
people involved in these decisions - and they have nobody with any football
knowledge at the club. "They are just business people and there is a big
difference between business people and football people."
Sullivan mentioned the "A-word" - administration - which would result in a
10-point penalty at the start of next season. He pointed out that the debts
still exceed the value of the club, moaned he would have to loan money from
his own bank account and added that, unlike "foreign-based oligarchs", he
has to pay UK tax. The success in winning the rights to move into the
Olympic Stadium came in the teeth of fierce opposition from Tottenham - and
Leyton Orient - with the White Hart Lane club furious over the way the
process was handled. Spurs have now applied for two High Court Judicial
Reviews of the verdict, the first regarding Newham Council's £40m loan to
West Ham and their part in the decision-making process, the second over OPLC
and the two government departments involved. Ears have shot up at the Lane
following the latest admission by Sullivan.
It looked as if he was preparing the ground to go cap in hand to the
Government, to make the case that West Ham were the only acceptable option
for the stadium after the Olympics but that, due to their dire financial
straits, it would surely make sense for them to only have to pay a
peppercorn rent for their new home. The rapid rebuttal from Brady hinted at
growing concerns about the impact should the Government start to question
whether West Ham are, truly, viable partners. According to Brady, that was
not what Sullivan meant at all, and in fact he and co-owner David Gold "have
guaranteed that the club will meet all its financial commitments".
The sting, though, came in the tail. Brady added: "West Ham United is a
well-run business that has planned for every contingency and, within 12
months, the club will have been streamlined to be in a far stronger
financial state that it is now."
That means more cuts at a club that initially sacked the £200-a-week
training ground gofer (before the players offered to pay his wages
themselves), chopped the hours of the training ground secretary and
dispensed with the service of the England team chef. A mess, from start to
finish. And now, perhaps, the prospect that it could become even worse.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
US call up West Ham starlet who's only ever been there on holiday
Published 23:01 11/05/11 By MirrorFootball
The Mirror
West Ham defender Danny Potts has been called up by the USA – even though
he's only been to the States twice in his life. The 17-year-old is the son
of Hammers legend Steve Potts, who was born in Hartford, Connecticut. Potts
Junior admitted: "I've only been there a couple of times on holiday. I've
got family over there, but I've never been to visit them." The left-back has
been named in the USA Under-20 squad for two friendlies with France.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Scott Parker back in training for relegation-threatened West Ham
Parker could be fit for weekend trip to Wigan Athletic
Midfielder had been out of action since early April
Dominic Fifield
guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 11 May 2011 18.30 BST
Scott Parker has returned to training at West Ham United after a troublesome
achilles injury, with the Premier League's bottom club optimistic he will be
feature in Sunday's crucial fixture at Wigan Athletic.
The England midfielder has been absent since last month's 3-0 defeat by
Bolton Wanderers, since when West Ham have gleaned a solitary point from
four league matches. The club's management believe they must win their final
two fixtures – at the DW Stadium and at home to Sunderland – to stand any
chance of escaping relegation. Avram Grant's team are four points adrift of
safety and could be relegated if they fail to win at second-from-bottom
Wigan.
Parker underwent a course of injections last week in an attempt to have him
available for last Saturday's visit of Blackburn Rovers to Upton Park, only
for the 30-year-old to suffer further discomfort before the fixture. He had
previously been training on his own, with Wednesday representing his first
involvement with the senior squad in their sessions. The midfielder will be
monitored over the rest of the week with a view to being involved against
Wigan.
Matthew Upson, absent through illness and then a dead leg in recent weeks,
should also return to the starting line-up in the north-west, though Mark
Noble – who underwent surgery on a hernia earlier this month – will miss
out. West Ham are already without Gary O'Neil after the £2m signing from
Middlesbrough was ruled out for up to a year with an injured ankle. Junior
Stanislas played 30 minutes in the reserves' 3-2 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur
on Wednesday, but will not be available on Sunday.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Ward hopes for a shot at West Ham
Advertiser24.co.uk
David Cuffley
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
8:30 AM
Norwich City's job of work is done after securing their ticket to the
Premier League but defender Elliott Ward is still keeping his eye on one
piece of unfinished business. Ward had a brief taste of top-flight football
with his first club, West Ham United, and is keeping his fingers crossed
that he will get the chance to take them on next season. But the Hammers,
bottom of the table and four points adrift of 17th-placed Wolves, are
favourites for the drop and will almost certainly have to beat Wigan and
Sunderland in their final two matches to stand a chance of surviving. Ward
spent five years at Upton Park from trainee to professional before moving to
Coventry in 2006. "I want them to stay up, of course I do. It's such a
massive club so for them to go down would be a great shame for the Premier
League, not just West Ham," he said. "I am hoping they stay up so I can go
back to the Boleyn Ground and, I hope, beat them."
Ward was making only his 15th first-team appearance when he helped the
Hammers beat Preston 1-0 in the 2005 play-off final at the Millennium
Stadium. City have avoided the potentially agonising scenario of three
additional games, giving the Harrow-born centre-back his second taste of
promotion. "Once the first few months of the season kicked in there was a
great belief and great spirit in the squad and it just got better and
better," said Ward. "If you look at some teams that lost one game, they
maybe lost four or five on the bounce, which is not promotion form. But
we've not lost two in a row all season. "The team has shown that since the
manager's been here and if we could do that next season it would be
unbelievable, but you never know. "Most of the lads hadn't even sampled the
Championship until this season and they've done brilliantly so it's just
another occasion for us to step up as a group, work hard together and see
where it takes us."
Ward played all but seven of City's Championship games, playing more than
any of his central defensive colleagues, but his partner at the back kept
changing through injuries at different times to Michael Nelson, Zak
Whitbread and Leon Barnett. "For me it's not a problem who's there next to
me and with all the changes we've adapted well," he said. "It's been
brilliant for that to happen so quickly and it settled the team as well.
"The game to actually get us promoted was a clean sheet and that was exactly
what we needed."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Sullivan's record means West Ham likely relegation not all bad news
Ladbrokes.co.uk
David Sullivan has always gained automatic promotion in the season after
being relegated. If West Ham are relegated from the Premier League this
season then there are some strong reasons for fans to believe that they will
make a quick return to the top flight. It is 1/12 in the Premier League odds
that West Ham drop into the Championship and they must win both of their
final games and rely on other results to go in their favour if they are to
have any hope of staying up. Co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold have
not given up hope of survival, but understand the slim likelihood of this
happening. It is likely to cost the duo £40m of their own money to keep West
Ham afloat should they not avoid the drop, but they understand what it takes
to bounce back to the Premier League from their time together previously at
Birmingham.
Sullivan told the London Evening Standard: "We are not down yet, but I admit
it is not looking good. I have been relegated three times before, on every
occasion gaining automatic promotion the following season, but this one will
hurt me the most if it happens. "Should the worst happen, we will have to
inject loans of £20-£40million, depending on circumstances, which will
probably never be repaid."
West Ham visit Wigan next and a defeat would guarantee their relegation to
the Championship, while a draw would as good as send them down. The Hammers
are 7/4 to beat Wigan, although they have lost their last three away games
and have won just once on the road in 2011, which was at the other team
currently in the relegation places, Blackpool. The home team has prevailed
in five of the last six meetings between the pair and it is 6/5 that Wigan
beat West Ham, while 9/4 is available on the game ending all-square.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Tottenham loanee Keane's miss sums up his time at West Ham
Hackney Gazette
Matt Diner, West Ham Correspondent
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
9:14 AM
One moment does not make or break a season, but Robbie Keane's late miss
against Blackburn Rovers on Saturday summed up West Ham's, and that of the
Irishman's time at the club. With two minutes remaining and the goal gaping,
Keane somehow screwed his shot wide as the Hammers picked up just one point
against Blackburn instead of a desperately needed three. It was a miss which
shocked the 33,789 in attendance and Rovers boss Steve Kean. "When it gets
flashed across the six-yard box and you can see Robbie Keane running on to
it you think it's just going to open up and hit the far post and go in," he
said. It was the third consecutive week the striker had missed a gilt-edged
chance at a key moment and for a striker brought in to find the goals to
keep West Ham up, it was crushing. "He is not happy. He came here to score
and in the last three games he had three big chances, but I cannot blame
him," boss Avram Grant said after the match. "He made a good move against
Chelsea, a good move against (Manchester) City and a great move today. "I
feel sorry about him, even though I don't want to feel sorry about any
player. He did everything good, but it doesn't count. He said I wish I knew
why I missed. "At the end of the day, what is counting is the ball in the
net. "He didn't put the ball in the net and there is no one more frustrated
than me because all the season, most of the games are like this."
That missed opportunity and Wolves' 3-1 win over West Brom now means West
Ham are almost certain to be relegated. West Ham are four points off safety
with two matches remaining, but Grant, whose Hammers side have been out of
the bottom three for only three weeks this season, remains confident of
Premier League survival. "I think yes, I think we have a chance to stay up,
but first we need to win in Wigan. If we beat Wigan we will be above them by
maybe one or two goals," he said. "I don't know, but that is the most
important game. "We need to win, and I know that they also want to win and
they are playing at home, but we have to do it.
"Of course I want the results to be better, I'm not a guy who will find
excuses, or say there is no luck, but we needed a little bit of this to help
us a little bit. "But I think we need to wait and see. We have two games and
we have got to carry on playing good football, my position is not
important."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Brady: West Ham stadium plans secure
May 11, 2011
By ESPN
West Ham vice-chairman Karren Brady insists that relegation will not scupper
plans to take over the Olympic Stadium despite the negative impact demotion
is likely to have on the club's already fragile finances. The Hammers beat
Tottenham in the bid to take ownership of the stadium in Stratford following
the London 2012 games.
But the club are currently rooted to the bottom of the Premier League, four
points from safety with two matches remaining, and are bracing themselves
for life in the Championship next season. Co-owner David Sullivan recently
admitted the club were in a "worse financial position than any other in the
country" and claimed that relegation would personally cost him and David
Gold £40 million, but Brady insists the club remain fully committed to the
new stadium. "It is important to reiterate our commitment, financial or
otherwise, to the stadium move," Brady said. "We are totally committed to
the move to the Olympic Stadium. "We have always said the move is not solely
dependent on our league status. Whatever division we are in, David Sullivan
and David Gold have guaranteed the club will meet all its financial
commitments."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Posts
