'It is going to be my biggest game'
WHUFC.com
Impressive defender James Tomkins is relishing his first-ever trip to
Wembley
16.05.2012
James Tomkins is rested, relaxed and cannot wait for the biggest game of his
career.
West Ham United's No5 has enjoyed a fantastic season at the heart of the
back four, being voted into both the npower Championship Team of the Year
and as Hammer of the Year runner-up to close pal Mark Noble.
The centre-back has forged a rock-solid partnership with Winston Reid and
has also weighed-in with four important goals. Now he is hoping to complete
the best season of his life by helping the Hammers to gain promotion in
Saturday's npower Championship Play-Off final with Blackpool at Wembley.
Tomkins sat down with Newham Recorder reporter Dave Evans to talk about his
season, his fantastic form and his first trip to Wembley.
James, you have had nearly two weeks to prepare for the Play-Off final. Has
that been a help or a hindrance?
JT - I think it has been nice. We have had some time off and let it sink it
that we have made the final and prepare for the fact that we have got
Blackpool. We have enjoyed the time off. It is a long season we have had a
lot of games so to have a few days to ourselves is important for our
recovery to prepare for the weekend.
You have been at West Ham for about 15 years now, so did you go to the 2004
or 2005 Championship Play-Off finals?
JT - I went to the Ipswich Town semi-final game in 2005 and then I went to
the final, so I know what it is like and the atmosphere was amazing. I have
never played at Wembley and I have never even been to the new stadium. I
went to the old Wembley when I was a kid, but I haven't been to the new one
and it is just going to be unbelievable to play at my country's home
stadium. The atmosphere is going to be unbelievable and I am really looking
forward to it.
This season you have played consistently well. What has been the secret?
JT - I think this year I have come on a lot. I have grown in confidence and
become a man this season. I think with my performances since I have come
into the team, I have deserved to keep my place and I feel I am getting
better and better. I don't want the season to end, really, but hopefully we
can end it on a high and get where we feel we belong. I think it helps with
the manager believing in you and playing you regularly, which is important
for my confidence. I feel that I am a big part of the team this year and I
have tried taking that in my stride and I feel that I am just getting better
and better.
You have formed a great partnership with Winston Reid in recent weeks. Do
you enjoy playing alongside him?
JT - Yes, I do. I think we are both enthusiastic, young and eager. We
complement each other really well as we have similar attributes. We can
cover each other and we both feel we can play on the floor as well as being
good in the air.
Has it been easier to play in the Championship to your previous seasons in
the Premier League?
JT - I think it is different. In the Premier League you are going to get
punished more often than not, while in this league you can sometimes get
away with it. It is more physically demanding here, though, with so many
games and a quick turnover. You have got to recover well and you feel that
you are not always 100 per cent fit. Sometimes you can play three games in a
week and that is a lot to ask really. That is the key difference, it is not
necessarily easier, it is just that you have to show different attributes in
your game.
You scored at Blackpool earlier this season and have netted four times in
total. Do you feel you are an important part of the team's attacking threat
these days?
JT - We do a lot of set-plays in training and that is something that we have
worked out this year. I have got on the end of quite a few of Matt Taylor's
and Mark Noble's crosses this year. My timing has improved this year and I
am taking the ball well. We do work on them in training, but not as much as
you think, but it is something that is important and we have not conceded as
many this season either. I feel that when I go up, I do have a chance of
scoring and that's important because if you are going up half-hearted then
there is no point in going up at all. It is important that we keep improving
there, keep scoring from set-pieces and not conceding from them.
You must be excited about the prospect of playing in the Play-Off final and
winning promotion back to the Premier League?
JT - Definitely. I think I will have a few sleepless nights this week just
because of the excitement the weekend is going to bring, but hopefully we
can win the game and we are really confident that we can. It is massively
important for us to get to the Premier League. Every player would be lying
if they said they didn't want to play there. It is vital that the club
bounces straight back up and it is something that we are all aiming to do.
It is something that I targeted this year. When I signed a new contract I
had it in mind to get the club back where we belong.
Is this the biggest game of your career so far?
JT - Certainly it is going to be my biggest game up to date, just because of
what is on it - that is Premier League status which is a massive thing. We
know how big this game is. For the neutral it is going to be brilliant, the
atmosphere is going to be unbelievable, so hopefully at the end of the day,
we can win.
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Green in EURO 2012 squad
WHUFC.com
Robert Green has been named in the England squad for the UEFA European
Championship finals
16.05.2012
West Ham United are happy to confirm that Robert Green has been named in
England's 23-man squad for the 2012 UEFA European Championship finals. The
Hammers No1 has been included in Roy Hodgson's selection for the tournament,
which begins in Poland and Ukraine on 8 June. Green, who has eleven senior
caps, made his England debut against Colombia in New York on 31 May 2005.
The 32-year-old made his most-recent appearance against the United States at
the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. The goalkeeper has been rewarded
following a fine season for the Hammers during which he has kept 13 clean
sheets and helped the club to reach the npower Championship Play-Off final.
A consistent figure capable of pulling off exceptional saves, Green has made
240 first-team appearances for West Ham since joining the club from Norwich
City in August 2006. After making his England debut in Giants Stadium as a
half-time substitute for David James, Green made his first start on his
third appearance in a 4-0 FIFA World Cup qualifying win in Kazakhstan on 6
June 2009. He has totalled nine starts for his country, but became the first
England goalkeeper to be sent-off when he was red-carded in a 1-0 FIFA World
Cup qualifying defeat in Ukraine in October 2009. Since then, he has made
successful appearances against Egypt and Mexico in the build-up to the 2010
FIFA World Cup finals.
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Green on his way
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 16th May 2012
By: Staff Writer
West Ham United goalkeeper Robert Green is on his way to the European
Championships after being named in Roy Hodgson's 23-man squad. The
32-year-old Hammer will travel to Eastern Europe next month as one of three
shot-stoppers named in the new England manager's first tournament selection.
Out of contract with West Ham at the end of the season, Green has failed to
make a start for his country since his appearance against the USA in the
2010 World Cup Finals in South Africa. He will be very much second choice
behind Manchester City's Joe Hart - but almost certainly ahead of Norwich
City's John Ruddy in the pecking order.
England Euro 2012 Squad
Goalkeepers: Joe Hart (Man City), Rob Green (West Ham), John Ruddy (Norwich)
Defenders: Glen Johnson (Liverpool), Phil Jones (Man United), John Terry
(Chelsea), Joleon Lescott (Man City), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Ashley Cole
(Chelsea), Leighton Baines (Everton)
Midfielders: Theo Walcott (Arsenal), Stewart Downing (Liverpool), Alex
Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal), Steven Gerrard (Liverpool), Gareth Barry (Man
City), Frank Lampard (Chelsea), Scott Parker (Tottenham), Ashley Young (Man
United), James Milner (Man City)
Forwards: Wayne Rooney (Man United), Danny Welbeck (Man United), Andy
Carroll (Liverpool), Jermain Defoe (Tottenham)
Standby: Jack Butland, Phil Jagielka, Jordan Henderson, Adam Johnson, Daniel
Sturridge.
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Dear stupid
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 16th May 2012
By: Staff Writer
Blackpool FC's attempts to build a siege mentality ahead of this Saturday's
play-off Final reached a hilarious conclusion this morning when defender Ian
Evatt claimed that a mocked-up replica shirt was West Ham's official away
kit for the 2012/13 season.
For the past few days, Blackpool fans and players have been attempting to
paint West Ham United as "cocky" and "overconfident" ahead of this weekend's
play-off Final - despite United choosing to adopt a low-key approach to the
game.
And in what modern parlance would refer to an "epic fail", Evatt claimed
this morning that a mocked-up replica kit initially posted on the KUMB.com
forum by a site member (see above) was West Ham United's's official output -
whilst insisting that it was a viable example of the club's perceived
arrogance.
"A guy has just told me that their new kit's come out with Premier League
badges on," said Evatt, "which I think is jumping the gun a bit. It's
disrespectful towards our group of players.
"If you listen to them, they're already up aren't they?" he raged on. "It's
going to be a 90-minute game and it's going to be difficult for them as it
is for us. If I was them I wouldn't be counting my chickens just yet."
The website that lifted the image from KUMB - a Blackpool forum entitled
'Back Henry Street' - posted the mock-up on their forum yesterday.
A BHS member called 'MR-DD' - who is understood to be a 33-year-old site
administrator - posted the image, in a thread entitled 'West Ham away kit
(next season)' alongside the message, "Why does it have Premier League
badges on?"
That post was followed by a string of replies condeming West Ham as -
amongst other things - "arrogant Cockneys", exhibiting "a major show of
disprespect" and the club's fans as "deluded".
Even though the error was pointed out by several highly-amused visiting West
Ham supporters Back Henry Street continues to host the thread, which now
stretches to nine pages - making it the fifth-largest* thread on the obscure
website.
And the picture was only posted on the forum after another image featuring
Premier League badges and being worn by Thomas Hitzlsperger - West Ham's
official away kit from TWO YEARS ago - had been replaced by the same user,
MR-DD.
Evatt's comments have also been published on websites such as the Sporting
Life, SkySports and the Evening Standard already this morning.
KUMB.com member sutts07 - who has been posting replica kit mock-ups on our
website for several years - is responsible for the artwork; you may see the
design in question plus many more here.
When we informed sutts07 that his work was the subject of Evatt's ire, he
told KUMB: "I guess I have to thank Ian Evatt for the subliminal
acknowledgement of my artwork. I am also available on a reasonable
consultancy rate for any future kit design requirements West Ham have!"
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10,000 tickets remain unsold
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 16th May 2012
By: Staff Writer
Blackpool FC have confirmed that they still have in excess of 10,000 tickets
for this weekend's play-off Final available for sale - despite the match
being just 72 hours away. With little more than three days remaining until
the big game, the Tangerines have confirmed that as of this morning they had
sold a total of 27,624 - leaving in excess of 10,000 up for grabs. Amongst
that number are thought to be several West Ham supporters who were unable to
obtain tickets in the home end after the club's allocation was sold out
within 20 minutes of reaching general sale on Tuesday morning. As such,
there could be in excess of 40,000 West Ham United supporters at Wembley on
Saturday afternoon - possibly the largest single gathering of the club's
fans since the FA Cup Final against Arsenal some 32 years ago.
Unfortunately none of the tickets left unsold are likely to be returned to
the Football League for distribution amongst United supporters, due to the
fact that Blackpool have sold seats in every one of the available blocks.
Despite this, West Ham United co-Chairman David Gold told followers of his
Twitter account this morning that more tickets may yet materialise. "We are
sold out," said Gold, before adding, "it's still possible that Blackpool
might return another 500 in the next day or so."
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Hammers deny hoax photo
West Ham remove themselves from internet kit story
Last Updated: May 16, 2012 3:48pm
SSN
West Ham have denied their part in a photograph appearing of next season's
kit featuring the Barclays Premier League logo. The Hammers take on
Blackpool in the Championship play-off final on Saturday afternoon for the
right to be reinstated into England's top flight. Both clubs are aiming for
an immediate return to the division after suffering relegation last season,
with West Ham the favourites for the contest. But, in a statement, the
London club said: "West Ham United can confirm that reports of replica
shirts being produced with Premier League badges on ahead of Saturday's
play-off final are completely erroneous. "The photograph of a shirt is a
hoax and in no way connected to West Ham United Football Club. "Comments
made as to the conduct of our club in regards to our opponents on Saturday,
Blackpool, are also false and have again, nothing to do with the club."
Meanwhile, the Hammers have tied youth players Callum Driver and Eoin Wearen
to new contracts.
Both players have signed one year deals after spending loan spells at League
Two sides this season. Full-back Driver has played eight games for Burton
this season and said: "I've worked this whole year to get another contract,
so to think the club believe in me and see I have got more development in me
is nice." Meanwhile, centre-back Wearen made four appearances for Dagenham
and said: " A lot of good players have been released this year so I know I
am one of the lucky ones who have been kept on. "I'd like to think I earned
this contract."
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Noble hails new-look Hammers
Midfielder setting his sights on top flight and England call-up
Last Updated: May 16, 2012 8:53am
SSN
Mark Noble believes 'things are turning around at Upton Park', with Sam
Allardyce having helped to steady the West Ham ship. The Hammers are looking
to secure an immediate return to the Premier League this term, with a place
in Saturday's Championship play-off final offering them a shot at the big
time. The capital outfit are getting used to eventful campaigns, with the
last few seasons having seen them avoid the drop, suffer relegation and put
themselves in promotion contention. Noble, a constant throughout that run,
admits things have been 'a bit mental' but the home-grown midfielder feels
times are changing. Since Allardyce inherited the managerial reins last
summer, the former England U21 international says stability and leadership
has returned to Upton Park.
Reacted
"West Ham is a completely differently run club nowadays," Noble told The
Sun. "Sam is in charge of everything and what he says goes. And the boys and
staff have reacted to that. "In the last few years, I've gone through the
Great Escape, relegation, promotions, cup finals - it's all experience in
the bank but it's been a bit mental. Now, you get the feeling things are
turning around at Upton Park."
Future
Noble has been through a lot for a 25-year-old footballer, but he is
determined to take things one step further and become a regular Premier
League performer and contender for a spot in the senior England squad.
Ahead of Saturday's play-off meeting with Blackpool, he added: "I think I
have played 50 games this season but feel fresh and raring to go. The
Championship is not the level I want to play at. I was voted in the Team of
the Year by the other pros and was also named Hammer of the Year, which is
great. "Mentally and physically, I'm a hundred times better than a few years
ago and I want to produce the football I have this season in the Premier
League and for England." On his future, Noble added: "I've not had any
conversations with the club about my contract. "Last season, following
relegation, there were a couple of clubs interested in me but I was told the
new manager was adamant he wanted to keep me."
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Tony Cottee Column: The result is all that matters for West Ham at Wembley
Tony Cottee, West Ham Columnist
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
3:58 PM
London 24
The nerves are starting to build and I am beginning to get really excited
about Saturday's trip to Wembley and the play-off final.
It is going to be a very special occasion and it is so important that the
players are prepared to go out there and perform.
One thing I know that Sam Allardyce is big on is preparation and I am sure
that he will have the players in the best shape both physically and mentally
ahead of Saturday's game.
I know that the fans are starting to get really excited too and it is great
credit to the club that they managed to sell close to 40,000 tickets with no
trouble at all.
In fact, there are so many fans that weren't able to get tickets, I think we
could have sold out the whole stadium if we had to.
I think that it is a good idea for the players and staff to try and treat
the game like it is just another league fixture, but that is easier said
than done.
When those players arrive at Wembley and feel the buzz that the place
generates and see and hear all of the fans, then it will hit them just how
big an occasion it really is.
There will be huge amounts of emotion swirling around the stadium and it
will be interesting to see how the players react to the occasion, but with
the experienced heads of the likes of Kevin Nolan and Matt Taylor in the
dressing room, the younger players will be in good hands.
West Ham have been made heavy favourites for the game and it is clear to see
why due to their earlier results against Blackpool during the season, but it
would be wrong to write Ian Holloway's side off.
They are a good footballing side and they have some dangerous players such
as Thomas Ince and Matt Phillips who can cause damage out wide.
The Seasiders also have plenty of experience with the likes of Barry
Ferguson in midfield and Kevin Phillips, who is a constant danger in the
penalty box.
There is no doubting that we will need to be on our game if we are to beat
Blackpool.
We would all love to see a thrilling and open game of football, but I know
that I will take a boring 1-0 victory if it means that West Ham are back in
the Premier League come 5pm on Saturday.
All that really matters on Saturday is the result, the performance can come
second as so much is at stake.
It looks as though the game will come too soon for Jack Collison, and that
is a real shame as he was just starting to find his best form.
I know that Jack will come back a stronger player though and I wish him all
the best in his recovery from that shoulder injury.
In his absence, I would like to see George McCartney come in a left-back,
with Taylor pushing further forward to midfield.
Having said that, Sam has plenty of options and a welcome selection headache
ahead of Saturday.
I know that Sam has had the players practicing penalties all week but there
is a massive difference between slotting one home at Chadwell Heath and
doing it in front of 90,000 people at Wembley!
I know that I wouldn't fancy taking a penalty in that scenario and it takes
real bottle, but I am sure the players are prepared for any eventuality.
With the way we are playing and scoring freely at the moment, I think the
Hammers will win 3-1 and seal a place back in the top flight next season
sending the fans home happy.
Come on you Irons!
Tony Cottee was talking to Nathaniel John
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Nolan: 'West Ham must be aware of a Blackpool masterclass on Saturday'
Dave Evans, West Ham Correspondent
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
2:45 PM
Lodnon 24
West Ham may have beaten Blackpool in convincing style twice already this
season, but skipper Kevin Nolan is determined to make sure his team do not
treat the Seasiders' challenge lightly at Wembley.
Those thumping wins make West Ham overwhelming favourites come Saturday, but
Nolan is a shrewd customer when it comes to preparation.
"Obviously confidence is high," said the 29-year-old West Ham captain. "We
beat them 4-0 and 4-1, but at the end of the day it is a one-off game and
Blackpool can turn up for one day and produce a masterclass performance.
"We can't rest on our laurels, what we have got to do is put what we learned
from those two games and master that game plan again on Saturday."
Nolan has been here before. Way back in 2001, he helped Bolton dispatch
Preston North End in the play-off final at the Millennium Stadium in
Cardiff.
So what did he learn from that thumping 3-0 victory?
"I think you learn just how to handle the occasion," reflected the
inspirational captain. "You are trying to make sure the nerves don't get the
better of you, stick to your game plan and if we do then we will a fantastic
chance."
Nolan has played European football for Wanderers in Madrid, Munich and
Marseille among others, while he also saw his mate Andy Carroll perform at
Wembley in the FA Cup Final on May 5, but this will be his first chance to
play on the hallowed turf.
"I've never played there," he said. "When we came through the play-offs with
Bolton we won it at Cardiff which was a fantastic occasion with an amazing
atmosphere.
"Playing in Europe with Bolton was fantastic and we got some great results,
so hopefully there will be more of the same come Saturday."
So what have been Nolan's top moments from the season so far? He doesn't
have to think back very far.
"Two of my highlights have been the two Cardiff games," said the midfielder.
"I think Malky Mackay said it was the money we have got and the squad we
have got that puts us where we are, but it is not you know.
"In the two games against them we were totally the better side and
throughout the season we have learned how teams have set up against us, what
they have done to try and counteract us.
"So it was great to see all that come to fruition in those two Cardiff
games.
"I have really enjoyed this year and hopefully I can get better both on and
off the pitch and we can start building something, the first thing being
getting back into the Premier League."
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West Ham deny producing 'Barclays Premier' kit ahead of Championship
play-off final
ANDY SIMS WEDNESDAY 16 MAY 2012
Independent.co.uk
West Ham have denied producing a new away kit for next season featuring the
Barclays Premier League logo after a mock-up picture appeared online and
apparently riled play-off opponents Blackpool. Seasiders defender Ian Evatt
branded West Ham "disrespectful" after hearing of the photo, and also
accused the east London club of being overconfident going into Saturday's
Wembley showdown. "If you listen to them, they're already up aren't they?"
said Evatt. "If I was them I wouldn't be counting my chickens just yet
because what I have learned over the past five or six seasons is these
players never give up. "A guy has just told me that their new kit's come out
with Premier League badges on, which I think is jumping the gun a bit and
it's disrespectful towards our group of players. "I'm not going to sit here
and say Blackpool are going to win, but we're going to give them a better
game than they think we're going to give them."
Yet West Ham's build-up to the final has been deliberately low-key, although
the club have now been compelled to respond to Evatt's remarks. A statement
read: "West Ham United can confirm that reports of replica shirts being
produced with Premier League badges on ahead of Saturday's play-off final
are completely erroneous. "The photograph of a shirt is a hoax and in no way
connected to West Ham United Football Club. "Comments made as to the conduct
of our club in regards to our opponents on Saturday, Blackpool, are also
false and have again, nothing to do with the club."
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
Thursday, May 17
Wednesday, May 16
Daily WHUFC News - 16th May 2012
Final tickets SOLD OUT
WHUFC.com
The 500 remaining Play-Off final tickets were all snapped up on Tuesday
morning
14.05.2012
West Ham United can confirm that the 500 tickets that went on General Sale
at 9am on Tuesday morning have all sold out. That means West Ham have now
sold their entire allocation of tickets for the big Wembley final against
Blackpool on Saturday. All tickets on sale by West Ham United are in the
West Ham section of Wembley after the segregation area was moved to allow
the additional Hammers into the stadium.
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Duo pen new deals
WHUFC.com
Young professionals Callum Driver and Eoin Wearen have signed new one-year
contracts
15.05.2012
West Ham United are pleased to confirm that young professionals Callum
Driver and Eoin Wearen have signed new one-year contracts. Full-back Driver
and centre-back Wearen (pictured) have both continued their education this
season after coming through the Academy of Football and penning their first
professional deals a year ago. Driver and Wearen have both been out on loan
at npower League Two clubs - Burton Albion and Dagenham and Redbridge
respectively - while the pair have also featured regularly in Ian Hendon's
Development Squad. The duo, both 19, are considered to be bright prospects
and will form part of Hendon's squad which flies out to Hong Kong for the
HKFC Citibank International Soccer Sevens this weekend.
Driver, who joined West Ham at the age of 12, made 24 Development Squad
appearances this season. He joined in Burton in January 2012, scoring one
goal in eight league appearances. He said: "Overall it's been a good season.
I've got experience and got out on loan which was the target at the start.
The highlights have been my first league goal and my league debut at Burton,
which is something every footballer looks forward to. "I just keep my head
down and keep working - that's the way it has to be done. You've got to have
desire and commitment if you want to be a footballer. I want to get out on
loan again next season and get to a bigger club and get more experience and
keep building my career. "I've worked this whole year to get another
contract, so to think the Club believes in me and sees that I have got more
development in me is nice. "Our full-backs are great players - George
McCartney has played in the Premier League and Guy Demel has played in
Germany as well, so I'd like to follow in their footsteps. Hopefully I can
emulate them in the next few years."
Republic of Ireland Under-19 international Wearen joined the club at the age
of 16 after moving to London from his native Dublin. This season, he has
made 23 Development Squad appearances, scoring three goals. Wearen also
played four games on loan at Dagenham and Redbridge in January, helping the
Daggers to gain a creditable 0-0 FA Cup with Budweiser third-round draw with
Championship side Millwall. "I've worked hard for this contract this season
so now I can enjoy my summer. It was a gamble to change to a position I had
never played in before (centre-back) halfway through the season, but it has
obviously been a good thing because I have developed and improved as the
season has gone on. "Playing the FA Cup was nice. I made my home and away
debuts against Millwall, which not many players do. A lot of good players
have been released this year, so I know I am one of the lucky ones who have
been kept on. I'd like to think I have earned this contract. "I think it has
been decided that the way forward for me and how I will progress at this
club is as a defender. I'm only 19, so this extra year will give me more
time and I feel I can continue to improve a lot again. If I keep my
performance level up, hopefully I can get into the gaffer's plans."
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Hammers head for Hong Kong
WHUFC.com
Ian Hendon's Development Squad will fly out to the Far East this week
14.05.2012
Ian Hendon and his Development Squad will end a busy season by jetting to
Hong Kong for the HKFC Citibank International Soccer Sevens tournament.
With the first team in the npower Championship Play-Off final on Saturday, a
young West Ham United squad will represent the club in the prestigious
seven-a-side tournament in the Far East.
The likes of Jordan Spence, Dan Potts, Rob Hall, Olly Lee and Eoin Wearen
will form the backbone to Hendon's side as they take on Leicester City, HKFC
Captain's Select and Celtic in Group B on Saturday. With Chelsea, Newcastle
United and Aston Villa among the 16 clubs taking part, competition is set to
be fierce, with the finals taking place on Sunday.
Hendon spoke to West Ham TV about a successful 2011/12 campaign and his
hopes of finishing the season on a high.
Hendo, we have reached the climax of the season after more than 30
Development Squad fixtures. It has been a successful campaign, hasn't it?
IH - It has most definitely been a positive season. I have been looking over
the stats and we have used more than 70 players throughout the season,
ranging from 16 or 17-year-old lads in the system through to trialists to my
own players and senior professionals dropping down. We've had 30-odd games
and it's been a bit of a gruelling season.
We might not have been in a reserve-team league, but all of the Development
Squad matches have been competitive and players have had their individual
points to prove, haven't they?
IH - Most definitely. We played a lot of games against Premier League and
Football League sides who have put their squad players in and it has been a
good test for the young lads this season. You cannot replicate playing
against season professionals so it has prepared the boys for what is ahead,
really.
Who have been the standout performers for the Development Squad this season?
IH - There are standout performances which come to mind straight away, but
there are also players who have played the majority of the games this year -
20-25 games throughout the season - who have dealt with it better than most.
We have had so many changes to the team week-in, week-out that they have
been the ones who have put in consistent performances. The likes of Callum
Driver, Eoin Wearen, Olly Lee, George Moncur and Rob Hall have been in there
when they haven't been out on loan, while Brian Montenegro has been
fantastic all year and his goal-ratio is superb. A lot of the scholars have
stepped up like Blair Turgott and Kenzer Lee - the list is almost endless.
The players who have done well are the ones who have played the majority of
the games.
It also represents a new challenge for yourself, who has been used to
managing a smaller squad as a first-team manager and assistant manager,
doesn't it?
IH - I think the major thing for myself was not being in a league. Whereas
before I've been used to having days to prepare for a match and trying to
actually win something, the difficulty for me has been playing friendlies
and having different lads every week. I've had a day's notice to prepare a
group for a game. In the ideal world you'd like three or four days to
prepare for a match and to do a bit of scouting on the opposition so you
know what is coming. You go in blind a lot of the time. It's been a bit of a
learning curve for myself, if I'm being honest, but it's something I've got
used to and I've thoroughly enjoyed it.
The system appears to have worked, with players coming up from the Academy
and through to either the first-team squad or out on loan to Football League
clubs?
IH - The players have developed, I'd like to think. It's about getting these
players ready for the first team. They played friendlies aganist
professional clubs and if we look at them and they handle it, we look to get
them out on loan to league clubs. Quite a few have gone out and I've been
out and monitored their development and they've done ever so well. A lot of
them have taken a step in the right direction this year.
Finally, you and your Development Squad fly to Hong Kong this week for the
HKFC Citibank International Soccer Sevens. You must all be looking forward
to it?
IH - I've actually played in this competition at the ripe old age of 35! If
they think they are going there for a nice end-of-season trip they are
mistaken because they're going to play on a huge pitch with six outfield
players and a goalkeeper and they'll be getting a workout. It's tough! That
said, it is enjoyable and it's a nice break at the end of the season and a
reward for their hard work. We're going to play some tournament football
against some good teams - Celtic and Leicester are in our group along with
the Hong Kong Football Club . Let's hope the weather is nice because they've
been having thunderstorms this week!
Will you be able to watch the npower Championship Play-Off final on
Saturday?
IH - The game will kick-off at 10pm Hong Kong time. We're very disappointed
that we'll miss the game at Wembley, especially myself as I've been involved
in the first team myself at times this season. We'll get together and watch
it. There is a big screen at Hong Kong Football Club and we'll all be there
watching with interest.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Taylor eyes Wembley cheer
WHUFC.com
Matt Taylor will draw on his great experience during Saturday's Play-Off
final
15.05.2012
Matt Taylor has played more than 450 league matches and is hoping to draw on
that vast experience during Saturday's npower Championship Play-Off final.
The 30-year-old won promotion with both Luton Town and Portsmouth before
enjoying a fine Premier League career with both Pompey and at Bolton
Wanderers. Taylor also played at Wembley for Bolton in last season's FA Cup
sem-finals, only to suffer a 5-0 defeat at the hands of Stoke City. The No14
is hoping to eradicate that memory and complete a personal hat-trick of
promotions on Saturday, but insists he will be keeping his feet on the
ground to ensure he produces the best-possible performance.
"Obviously we all know the importance of it, but I know it probably sounds
like a cliché, but you can't put too much emphasis on the game itself," said
Taylor. "We just have to play the game and not the atmosphere. "It is going
to be a wonderful day for the club in terms of the fact that it is a trip to
Wembley, but we have to make sure that as players we don't get overawed and
caught up in the atmosphere. "It will be one of the biggest games in my
career, but you can make as much out of it as you want. Obviously there will
be a huge build-up in the press and what have you, but from a point of view
in terms of the team we will be keeping low key because you can get too
overawed and the emotions can become raw on the day if you keep hyping
yourself up. "I played at Wembley last season, but it obviously wasn't a
great experience in the FA Cup semi-final, but I have been there so
hopefully I will know what to expect and hopefully it will be a better
experience this time around!"
While Taylor himself will draw on his great experience to keep his own
emotions in check, he said his colleagues were also level-headed enough not
to let the occasion of playing in front of 90,000 supporters for a place in
the Premier League get to them. That said, he admitted that there would
still be some butterflies as the Hammers lineup in the Wembley tunnel ahead
of what is a hugely-important game for the future of the Club. "I don't
think anyone will need calming down," he said. "I think that we all
ultimately know the importance of the game but, in saying that, we want to
make sure that we go about things in the right manner and continue from what
we have done in the past eight to ten weeks in terms of what we have done on
the pitch."
"Everybody is going to be nervous when we step out there, it's arguably the
biggest club game in terms of money - I think someone was talking about £90
million. We all know what is at stake. We all know we want to get back into
the Premier League, but Blackpool are going to be thinking and wanting to do
exactly the same thing."
Taylor also played down media claims that West Ham are big favourites to
succeed at the Home of Football. Blackpool finished above the Hammers in the
Premier League table last season and enjoyed a fine 3-2 aggregate victory
over Birmingham City in the Play-Off semi-finals, and Taylor knows Ian
Holloway's side will be a tough nut to crack. "We are both in the same
position in terms of both teams got relegated last season and obviously both
teams would like to bounce back at the first opportunity. One of us is going
to do so on Saturday and hopefully it will be us. "Blackpool are a good
football team and they are there on merit. They had a really good end to the
season and I watched the second leg of their Play-Off semi-final against
Birmingham and they played good football so it is going to be a very tough
afternoon."
West Ham enjoyed two comprehensive victories over Blackpool during the
regular season - 4-0 at home and 4-1 at Bloomfield Road - but Taylor said
they will be irrelevant at Wembley. However, he does believe the Hammers'
recent run of one defeat in 20 matches means they will travel to the final
feeling confident of completing the job. "It doesn't count for anything. For
me it is 90 minutes now and that is all that is important, the results count
for nothing when the whistle goes at three o'clock on Saturday. "I think
everybody confident because winning football matches breeds confidence, and
that's what we've done. We've scored goals and the forwards are scoring
goals and that always helps so we are in decent form and the boys are in
good spirits."
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Devonshire backing the Hammers
WHUFC.com
F.A Cup winner Alan Devonshire is predicting a Wembley success for the
Hammers on Saturday
14.05.2012
Former West Ham United Alan Devonshire has told West Ham TV that he is
backing West Ham United to have a successful day at Wembley on Saturday.
Devonshire knows all about enjoyable days our at Wembley as he was part of
the West Ham team that beat Arsenal 1-0 in the FA Cup final in 1980,
courtesy of a 13th minute-Trevor Brooking header. The former wide midfielder
says playing at the Home of Football is a great feeling. "It was good times
and it was a good era for the club and it is great that we are back there
again," Devonshire said. "It's a special place and I was lucky enough to
play there a few times. Hopefully it's going to be a fantastic day at
Wembley again for the club."
Devonshire, who made 358 appearances for the Hammers, scoring 29 times, has
faith in the squad to deliver Premier League status for West Ham on
Saturday. The Ex-England International believes they can feed off manager
Sam Allardyce's previous experience of winning the Play-Offs to ensure
success on Saturday. "The club is big enough now and we have players with
loads of experience so I expect us to get a result. Wembley is away from
home and we are decent away from home. I will keep my fingers crossed for
sure. "This club deserves to be in the Premier League and the fans deserve
it too. So hopefully Big Sam and the boys can do the job on Saturday."
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Sam to sue over 'crook' allegations
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 15th May 2012
By: Staff Writer
West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce has begun legal proceedings against
Blackburn manager Steve Kean. A video, thought to have been recorded in Hong
Kong last summer showed Kean, who succeeded Allardyce as manager of
Blackburn Rovers dismissing his predecessor as a 'crook'. The comment was
made after Kean, who was being secretly recorded without his knowledge, was
asked why Allardyce was sacked by Rovers, who were relegated from the
Premier League earlier this month. Kean - who also insisted during the video
that he would lead Blackburn to a top ten finish - replied, "Just because
he's a f***ing crook. That's the only reason."
"I haven't spoken to him because he mullered me. I worked my balls off for
him and then he had a go at me, so f*** him."
- Kean on Allardyce
Despite the video being filmed some ten months ago, it was released into the
public domain for the first time this week - clearly designed to destabilise
Allardyce's preparations for this weekend's play-off Final. According to the
Telegraph, Allardyce had instructed his legal representatives to begin legal
proceedings after talks were held this lunchtime.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Gone
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 15th May 2012
By: Staff Writer
West Ham's allocation for this weekend's play-off Final sold out this
morning as the last available tickets were snapped up. The few remaining
tickets that went on General Sale this morning were all accounted for within
20 minutes of the 9:00am start time. Reports that just 500 tickets in total
were on sale would appear to be wide of the mark however, with a
spokesperson for SeeTickets telling KUMB.com last night that around four
times that number went to General Sale this morning.
Additionally, a number of supporters were able to purchase tickets in the
areas behind the goal in the West Ham end. As expected, SeeTickets' website
was inundated by supporters hoping to take advantage of today's sale.
However with West Ham's allocation set at just under 39,000, many thousands
of supporters have been left disappointed. Meanwhile Blackpool are
understood to have several thousand tickets still available despite their
allocation being on general sale since last Friday. Some West Ham supporters
have reported success in buying tickets in the opposition end - an
inevitable conclusion given that both sides were given the same allocation,
despite the much higher demand from West Ham United fans.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Catch 22
By S J Chandos
West Ham Till I Die
I am sure every Hammers fan views Saturday's play-off Final with a potent
mixture of excitment, nervousness and anticipation. We know that West Ham
are the better team and that we should have too much for our opponents. But
we also kow that the Seasiders are determined and spirited footballers who
have performed well this season to reach the Final. We also know that the
best team does not always win a one-off match and there are many factors
that can derail a team's ambitions such as over-confidence, poor
preparation, player error, bad luck and refereeing decisions. Last but not
least, we have learnt over many seasons not to take anything for granted
where West Ham are concerned. It is always possible that West Ham will not
turn up on the day and Blackpool will take advantage. Anyone who was at the
2004 play-off Final, against Crystal Palace, will know the pain and
disappointment of a massive under-perfomance on the big day.
On the positive side, West Ham have really gelled over the last four or five
matches, ever since the disasterous 2-4 home defeat to Reading FC. The
football played against Cardiff City was outstanding. And, more to the
point, we played the right way and never gave Cardiff City a chance to get
in to the match over the semi-final ties. I stated that I wanted Cardiff
City in the semis because I knew that we could beat them. Others saw them as
dangerous opponents after their valiant efforts against Liverpool in the
Cup. We now know those fears were misplaced. Most fans seemed to want to
avoid Birmingham City in the Final and they got their wish. My view was that
they were probably justified in seeing Brum as the more problematic of the
two potential opponents.
Blackpool come with their own inherant dangers, not least their great spirit
and attacking ability. But they also have mirror weaknesses, not least the
fact that they are vumerable at the back and likely to conceed. Indeed, it
poses the question how Ian Holloway will approach the match? Will his team
throw caution to the wind and go for all out attack, the hope being that
they can out score us on the day? Or will they try to play a defensive
match, with 5 in midfield and attempt to beat us on the counter-attack? The
catch 22 for them is that an open, attacking match will also create lots of
space for our forwards to exploit. Brighton adopted that approach and look
what happened to them! Alternatively, do they have the personnel and
discipline to play a defensive, counter-attacking, game? Results this season
indicate that they do not, unless they confound us with hidden qualities on
the day.
So what is going to be their approach to the match? Holloway will know that
West Ham have the measure of his team, having beaten them convincingly both
home and away in the Championship. So, he needs to do something different to
try and change the odds, to break the mould. One of the factors identified
by Holloway in his newspaper columns is the size and power of the West Ham
team. He has stated that in the two league matches West Ham physically
dominated his side and, consequently, they were unable to impose their play
on the games. What is the answer to that? He cannot make his team physically
larger or more imposing, but he can encourage them to adopt a more
aggressive approach to the game. They can attempt to play an extra man in
midfield in an attempt to seize control of the game or perhaps they will
seek to exploit Wembley's wide, open flanks with the pace of Thomas Ince and
Matt Phillips. Will they endeavour to 'get at' our full-backs and put Reid
and Tomkins under pressure with dangerous low crosses in to the box?
Blackpool could try all of those things, but they are easier said than done.
I would be extremely surprised if they came out on top in midfield; while
Demel and Taylor or McCartney should have the experience and ability to deal
with Ince and Phillips. As for aggression, they can try it but it is a
dangerous approach that carries the danger of yellow and red cards. Also,
all things being equal, I just cannot see West Ham losing a physical contest
with Blackpool. They may get on top for periods, but I do not doubt West
Ham's ability to wrest back control. And a crucial difference between the
teams is that West Ham are looking defensively solid. Can Blackpool say the
same? Look at how Brum pegged them back from 3-0 on aggregate to 3-2. Also
we have variation in our play, we can play it on the ground or launch an
ariel bombardment, pushing lots of bodies in the box. Birmingham City
collapsed in the face of those tactics, would Blackpool hold up any better?
I think not.
We are favourites to win the Final for very good reasons. But under-dogs do
come out on top, ask Man Utd how many times under-dog Hammers teams have
defeated them home and away over the decades. But if we play to our
potential, exploit our advantages and impose ourselves we should emerge
victorious. If we take them too lightly or let the occasion overwhelm us
then, equally, defeat is a possibility. The answer lies in wanting it more
than them, performing on the day and winning with efficiency and total
ruthlessness. We saw a very clinical/ruthlessly effective West Ham in the
semis, now we must replicate that to overcome the final obstacle to a PL
return.
West Ham have better quality players, are ihave good team spirit and
excellent form, fitness levels are the highest they have been for over two
seasons and we hold the psychological advantage over Blackpool. If we cannot
win from that position, and with those advantages, then it has to be
grudgingly admitted that we do not deserve to go up. It's as straightforward
as that.
SJ. Chandos.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Does Demba Ba Want to Leave Newcastle Utd in the Summer?
By S J Chandos
West Ham Till I Die
A report has emerged that Demba Ba may seek a move from Newcastle Utd this
summer. The reason cited, after such a relatively successful season with the
bar codes? Allegedly he is tired of being play out wide, rather than through
the middle as a central striker. Sources at West Ham predicted that Ba's
camp might seek a move sooner rather than later. No doubt a fair number of
clubs, in the PL and abroad, would be interested in securing his services,
especially if the rumour is true about a £6m release clause. The only
problem being the risk associated with his knee condition.
Surely a promoted West Ham would be interested in acquiring a PL goal scorer
of Ba's proven pedigree. Whether that is a 'goer' on either side, however,
is highly debatable. If Ba does want to move on, it is probable that he will
have ambitions to join a club already in or with realistic prospects of
qualifying for Champions League football. While perhaps the West Ham
hierarchy have not really forgiven Ba's decision to walk last summer, after
West Ham took a risk on his knee and gave him his break in the PL?
Furthermore, would we be prepared to meet his likely wage demands even if
was prepared to move back to the Hammers?
Would Hammers fans welcome back Ba? Although he left last summer, exercising
his relegation release clause, there is no indication that Ba;s addition was
anything but positive to team morale duing his hal a season with us. It is
probably a non-starter, but it is interesting to speculate on the
eventuality and gage suporters views.
SJ. Chandos.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Allardyce to sue Kean AND Blackburn over former No 2's foul-mouthed rant
By CHRIS WHEELER
PUBLISHED: 00:18, 16 May 2012 | UPDATED: 00:18, 16 May 2012
Daily Mail
Sam Allardyce is suing his old club Blackburn and their manager Steve Kean
over derogatory comments his successor at Ewood Park is alleged to have made
about him. Kean's future was already under threat when he landed in India
for crisis talks with owners Venky's on Tuesday, but he now faces more
problems after disgruntled fans from The BRFC Action Group claimed
responsibility for posting a video clip of him on the club's pre-season trip
to Hong Kong last summer.
Speaking to supporters in a bar, Kean appears to make unguarded comments
about Allardyce in which he questions the integrity of the man who appointed
him as first-team coach at Blackburn.
ROVERS FANS GRANTED MEETING
The fans' group campaigning for the removal of Blackburn manager Steve Kean
have been granted meetings with Government and the Premier League to air
their concerns. The BRFC Action Group have long called for the removal of
Kean and claim owners Venky's, the Indian poultry firm, are not fit and
proper persons to run the club. Their campaign has been stepped up since the
club were relegated from the Barclays Premier League amid scenes of unrest
and protest at Ewood Park last week. Allardyce instructed his lawyers to sue
Kean for slander, and he is taking legal action against Blackburn as well
because Kean is an employee who was on club business at the time. Asked
about his relationship with Allardyce since he replaced him as manager in
December 2010, Kean is also heard saying: 'I haven't spoken to him. He
mullered me so I said f*** him. 'I worked my b***s off for him and then he
had a go at me so f*** him.' The 44-year-old Scot appears to claim the
credit for Phil Jones's emergence from Blackburn's academy before he was
sold to Manchester United for £16.5million last summer, as well as telling
the fans that his team would finish in the top half of the table and win the
Carling Cup.
In fact, Blackburn were relegated from the Premier League and could be
replaced by Allardyce's West Ham this weekend. The release of the video clip
appears to have been timed to cause maximum embarrassment for Kean as he
arrived in Pune for talks with Venky's. A petition signed by 5,000 fans
calling for him to be sacked has already been sent to the Indian owners. It
also coincided with news that Blackburn MP Jack Straw has helped set up a
meeting between The BRFC Action Group and sports minister Hugh Robertson
next month, while the Premier League have agreed in principle to hold talks
with them.
The former chairman of Blackburn's neighbours Accrington Stanley claimed
yesterday that he is ready to head a consortium of local businessman
interested in buying the club if Venky's are prepared to sell. Ilyas Khan
said: 'If they were to decide that it's time for them to move on to a
different business venture, I think our consortium is the only one that
could turn this into a success for the town.'
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Allardyce starts legal action against Kean
Move comes after footage is leaked of Rovers manager questioning his
predecessor's abilities
MARTIN HARDY WEDNESDAY 16 MAY 2012
Independent.co.uk
Sam Allardyce's legal representatives have sent letters to Steve Kean and
Blackburn Rovers following video footage that shows the club's manager
making disparaging remarks about his former colleague.
Kean was secretly videoed by supporters during Blackburn's trip to Hong Kong
last summer. He tells those fans that Rovers will definitely finish in the
top 10 (for the season that has just finished, when they were relegated),
also win the Carling Cup and places a £100 bet with them. However, it is the
potentially libellous comments about Allardyce, who was in charge when Kean
was a coach at Ewood Park, that have seen legal proceedings begin.
Allardyce, now manager at West Ham United and preparing for Saturday's
Championship play-off final with Blackpool, only became aware of the YouTube
video yesterday morning. He met his legal team just after lunchtime and the
decision was made to begin proceedings. The footage that has sparked the
controversy was filmed months ago but its posting on Twitter has pushed it
into the public domain. It shows Kean questioning the operating methods and
ability of the man who was manager before him at Blackburn.
Kean and Allardyce fell out hugely after the latter was sacked by Venky's,
Blackburn's owners, in December 2010, despite the team being 13th in the
Premier League at the time. To the surprise of many, especially in light of
promises of big-money signings such as Ronaldinho and speculation linking
Diego Maradona with the vacant manager's position, the Indian owners instead
promoted from within.
Kean, however, has faced a huge public backlash in Blackburn since he was
given the job, with repeated demonstrations calling for him to be sacked or
to resign. The local newspaper has twice called for him to go and his
appointment has been blamed for the huge disappointment of the current
campaign, which ended in relegation before the final game of the season.
The 44-year-old Scot was flying to Pune yesterday to meet Venky's owner
Anuradha Desai for further talks about his position. It has been alleged
that the relationship between Desai and Kean's wife Margaret was the reason
he has kept his position at Ewood Park.
Kean insisted last week that he retained the support of the Rao family,
which owns Venky's, despite Blackburn's demotion to the Championship, and
that the controversial family were the right people to lead the club back
into the Premier League.
A legal letter has also been sent to them from Allardyce's representatives
as the employers of Kean. Allardyce is said to be furious with the slur. The
release of the four-minute YouTube rant by Kean was calculated to cause
maximum embarrassment as he fights for his job; the BRFC Action Group, who
have repeatedly called for his dismissal and the removal of Venky's, posted
the video on their website yesterday. They have also been granted meetings
with the Government and the Premier League to air their concerns.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Steve Kean's problems just get worse at Blackburn Rovers following public
rant over Sam Allardyce
Sam Allardyce is suing Blackburn Rovers manager Steve Kean and is also
considering legal action against the Ewood Park club following Kean's
astonishing attack on his predecessor on YouTube.
Telegraph.co.uk
By John Percy10:00PM BST 15 May 20121 Comment
Allardyce, sacked by Rovers in 2010 and now with West Ham, has instructed
his lawyers to initiate proceedings against Kean, his former assistant.
Allardyce is understood to be "seething" about the inflammatory remarks made
by Kean that cast doubt on his integrity, his operating methods and ability
as a manager. The comments were filmed by Rovers fans in a Hong Kong bar
during the club's pre-season tour of the Far East last summer. Allardyce is
also ready to sue his former club in a move that will only increase the
pressure on both Kean and the Indian owners, Venky's. It is believed that,
under the severance package agreed when Allardyce was dismissed, neither he
nor Rovers are permitted to make derogatory remarks about each other.
Allardyce is understood to view Kean's comments as a breach of contract by
Blackburn and is determined to take the matter to court. Talks were held
with his solicitors on Tuesday after he was alerted to the video footage
that had gained more than 170,000 hits on YouTube last night, and letters
have been served.
Kean was unaware he was being filmed but his remarks are still classed as
defamatory. Kean, who could be in further hot water with the game's
authorities over his rant, is set to meet his bosses for talks in Pune on
Wednesday following Blackburn's relegation from the Premier League. He has
maintained that his position is safe with Venky's and he still retains the
support of co-owner Anurudha Desai, but this latest episode will only
increase the pressure on him. Deputy chief executive Paul Hunt was ousted
last week after an email sent to Desai expressing his concerns at both Kean
and the future of the club was leaked. Blackburn fans have mounted a
concerted campaign over the past 18 months to have the Scot removed and made
another appeal yesterday by emailing a petition to Desai with the names of
nearly 4,500 supporters. The email requests that "Venky's, as owners and
custodians of our historic football club, terminate the employment of Mr
Steve Kean at Blackburn Rovers Football Club with immediate effect. "His
record as a manager during his 18-month spell in charge of the club is among
the worst in the 20-year history of the Premier League and he is undoubtedly
the worst and arguably the most unpopular in the entire 137-year history of
our football club."
The BRFC Action Group are now planning to meet with government and the
Premier League to air their concerns. Blackburn MP Jack Straw has
facilitated a meeting of the fans with sports minister Hugh Robertson next
month and the Premier League have agreed in principle to meet them too. A
statement from the group's committee read: "We as a group of supporters,
elected by its members, are disgusted that our club has been allowed to be
pillaged with very little resistance from the regulatory bodies who should
act in the best interest of the sport and supporters."
Venky's said last week they had no intention of relinquishing control at
Rovers. Despite that, there is interest in buying the club from elsewhere.
Former Accrington Stanley chairman Ilyas Khan has said he is prepared to
front a consortium after holding discussions with local investors and
businessmen. Blackburn are also facing an exodus of players following
demotion to the Championship, with Junior Hoilett, Paul Robinson, Martin
Olsson and Steven Nzonzi all expected to depart this summer.
Hoilett is wanted by Chelsea and Spurs while Sweden international defender
Olsson has emerged as a target for Chelsea and Stoke City.
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Collison gives West Ham major fitness boost
By talkSPORT | Tuesday, May 15, 2012
West Ham midfielder Jack Collison has given the club a major boost by
returning to training and is confident of being fit for the Championship
play-off final against Blackpool on Saturday. Collison was a big doubt for
the showdown at Wembley after picking up a shoulder injury during the
semi-final victory over Cardiff last week.
The Wales international was forced to leave the field and had scans to
assess the damage. Those showed no long-term problems and Collison joined
the rest of the first-team squad in training on Tuesday. Manager Sam
Allardyce said: "He has a very, very good chance of making it in time. "When
he first did it, we were thinking about surgery and him being out for a long
time, but he has recovered remarkably well so we are very hopeful."
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
WHUFC.com
The 500 remaining Play-Off final tickets were all snapped up on Tuesday
morning
14.05.2012
West Ham United can confirm that the 500 tickets that went on General Sale
at 9am on Tuesday morning have all sold out. That means West Ham have now
sold their entire allocation of tickets for the big Wembley final against
Blackpool on Saturday. All tickets on sale by West Ham United are in the
West Ham section of Wembley after the segregation area was moved to allow
the additional Hammers into the stadium.
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Duo pen new deals
WHUFC.com
Young professionals Callum Driver and Eoin Wearen have signed new one-year
contracts
15.05.2012
West Ham United are pleased to confirm that young professionals Callum
Driver and Eoin Wearen have signed new one-year contracts. Full-back Driver
and centre-back Wearen (pictured) have both continued their education this
season after coming through the Academy of Football and penning their first
professional deals a year ago. Driver and Wearen have both been out on loan
at npower League Two clubs - Burton Albion and Dagenham and Redbridge
respectively - while the pair have also featured regularly in Ian Hendon's
Development Squad. The duo, both 19, are considered to be bright prospects
and will form part of Hendon's squad which flies out to Hong Kong for the
HKFC Citibank International Soccer Sevens this weekend.
Driver, who joined West Ham at the age of 12, made 24 Development Squad
appearances this season. He joined in Burton in January 2012, scoring one
goal in eight league appearances. He said: "Overall it's been a good season.
I've got experience and got out on loan which was the target at the start.
The highlights have been my first league goal and my league debut at Burton,
which is something every footballer looks forward to. "I just keep my head
down and keep working - that's the way it has to be done. You've got to have
desire and commitment if you want to be a footballer. I want to get out on
loan again next season and get to a bigger club and get more experience and
keep building my career. "I've worked this whole year to get another
contract, so to think the Club believes in me and sees that I have got more
development in me is nice. "Our full-backs are great players - George
McCartney has played in the Premier League and Guy Demel has played in
Germany as well, so I'd like to follow in their footsteps. Hopefully I can
emulate them in the next few years."
Republic of Ireland Under-19 international Wearen joined the club at the age
of 16 after moving to London from his native Dublin. This season, he has
made 23 Development Squad appearances, scoring three goals. Wearen also
played four games on loan at Dagenham and Redbridge in January, helping the
Daggers to gain a creditable 0-0 FA Cup with Budweiser third-round draw with
Championship side Millwall. "I've worked hard for this contract this season
so now I can enjoy my summer. It was a gamble to change to a position I had
never played in before (centre-back) halfway through the season, but it has
obviously been a good thing because I have developed and improved as the
season has gone on. "Playing the FA Cup was nice. I made my home and away
debuts against Millwall, which not many players do. A lot of good players
have been released this year, so I know I am one of the lucky ones who have
been kept on. I'd like to think I have earned this contract. "I think it has
been decided that the way forward for me and how I will progress at this
club is as a defender. I'm only 19, so this extra year will give me more
time and I feel I can continue to improve a lot again. If I keep my
performance level up, hopefully I can get into the gaffer's plans."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hammers head for Hong Kong
WHUFC.com
Ian Hendon's Development Squad will fly out to the Far East this week
14.05.2012
Ian Hendon and his Development Squad will end a busy season by jetting to
Hong Kong for the HKFC Citibank International Soccer Sevens tournament.
With the first team in the npower Championship Play-Off final on Saturday, a
young West Ham United squad will represent the club in the prestigious
seven-a-side tournament in the Far East.
The likes of Jordan Spence, Dan Potts, Rob Hall, Olly Lee and Eoin Wearen
will form the backbone to Hendon's side as they take on Leicester City, HKFC
Captain's Select and Celtic in Group B on Saturday. With Chelsea, Newcastle
United and Aston Villa among the 16 clubs taking part, competition is set to
be fierce, with the finals taking place on Sunday.
Hendon spoke to West Ham TV about a successful 2011/12 campaign and his
hopes of finishing the season on a high.
Hendo, we have reached the climax of the season after more than 30
Development Squad fixtures. It has been a successful campaign, hasn't it?
IH - It has most definitely been a positive season. I have been looking over
the stats and we have used more than 70 players throughout the season,
ranging from 16 or 17-year-old lads in the system through to trialists to my
own players and senior professionals dropping down. We've had 30-odd games
and it's been a bit of a gruelling season.
We might not have been in a reserve-team league, but all of the Development
Squad matches have been competitive and players have had their individual
points to prove, haven't they?
IH - Most definitely. We played a lot of games against Premier League and
Football League sides who have put their squad players in and it has been a
good test for the young lads this season. You cannot replicate playing
against season professionals so it has prepared the boys for what is ahead,
really.
Who have been the standout performers for the Development Squad this season?
IH - There are standout performances which come to mind straight away, but
there are also players who have played the majority of the games this year -
20-25 games throughout the season - who have dealt with it better than most.
We have had so many changes to the team week-in, week-out that they have
been the ones who have put in consistent performances. The likes of Callum
Driver, Eoin Wearen, Olly Lee, George Moncur and Rob Hall have been in there
when they haven't been out on loan, while Brian Montenegro has been
fantastic all year and his goal-ratio is superb. A lot of the scholars have
stepped up like Blair Turgott and Kenzer Lee - the list is almost endless.
The players who have done well are the ones who have played the majority of
the games.
It also represents a new challenge for yourself, who has been used to
managing a smaller squad as a first-team manager and assistant manager,
doesn't it?
IH - I think the major thing for myself was not being in a league. Whereas
before I've been used to having days to prepare for a match and trying to
actually win something, the difficulty for me has been playing friendlies
and having different lads every week. I've had a day's notice to prepare a
group for a game. In the ideal world you'd like three or four days to
prepare for a match and to do a bit of scouting on the opposition so you
know what is coming. You go in blind a lot of the time. It's been a bit of a
learning curve for myself, if I'm being honest, but it's something I've got
used to and I've thoroughly enjoyed it.
The system appears to have worked, with players coming up from the Academy
and through to either the first-team squad or out on loan to Football League
clubs?
IH - The players have developed, I'd like to think. It's about getting these
players ready for the first team. They played friendlies aganist
professional clubs and if we look at them and they handle it, we look to get
them out on loan to league clubs. Quite a few have gone out and I've been
out and monitored their development and they've done ever so well. A lot of
them have taken a step in the right direction this year.
Finally, you and your Development Squad fly to Hong Kong this week for the
HKFC Citibank International Soccer Sevens. You must all be looking forward
to it?
IH - I've actually played in this competition at the ripe old age of 35! If
they think they are going there for a nice end-of-season trip they are
mistaken because they're going to play on a huge pitch with six outfield
players and a goalkeeper and they'll be getting a workout. It's tough! That
said, it is enjoyable and it's a nice break at the end of the season and a
reward for their hard work. We're going to play some tournament football
against some good teams - Celtic and Leicester are in our group along with
the Hong Kong Football Club . Let's hope the weather is nice because they've
been having thunderstorms this week!
Will you be able to watch the npower Championship Play-Off final on
Saturday?
IH - The game will kick-off at 10pm Hong Kong time. We're very disappointed
that we'll miss the game at Wembley, especially myself as I've been involved
in the first team myself at times this season. We'll get together and watch
it. There is a big screen at Hong Kong Football Club and we'll all be there
watching with interest.
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Taylor eyes Wembley cheer
WHUFC.com
Matt Taylor will draw on his great experience during Saturday's Play-Off
final
15.05.2012
Matt Taylor has played more than 450 league matches and is hoping to draw on
that vast experience during Saturday's npower Championship Play-Off final.
The 30-year-old won promotion with both Luton Town and Portsmouth before
enjoying a fine Premier League career with both Pompey and at Bolton
Wanderers. Taylor also played at Wembley for Bolton in last season's FA Cup
sem-finals, only to suffer a 5-0 defeat at the hands of Stoke City. The No14
is hoping to eradicate that memory and complete a personal hat-trick of
promotions on Saturday, but insists he will be keeping his feet on the
ground to ensure he produces the best-possible performance.
"Obviously we all know the importance of it, but I know it probably sounds
like a cliché, but you can't put too much emphasis on the game itself," said
Taylor. "We just have to play the game and not the atmosphere. "It is going
to be a wonderful day for the club in terms of the fact that it is a trip to
Wembley, but we have to make sure that as players we don't get overawed and
caught up in the atmosphere. "It will be one of the biggest games in my
career, but you can make as much out of it as you want. Obviously there will
be a huge build-up in the press and what have you, but from a point of view
in terms of the team we will be keeping low key because you can get too
overawed and the emotions can become raw on the day if you keep hyping
yourself up. "I played at Wembley last season, but it obviously wasn't a
great experience in the FA Cup semi-final, but I have been there so
hopefully I will know what to expect and hopefully it will be a better
experience this time around!"
While Taylor himself will draw on his great experience to keep his own
emotions in check, he said his colleagues were also level-headed enough not
to let the occasion of playing in front of 90,000 supporters for a place in
the Premier League get to them. That said, he admitted that there would
still be some butterflies as the Hammers lineup in the Wembley tunnel ahead
of what is a hugely-important game for the future of the Club. "I don't
think anyone will need calming down," he said. "I think that we all
ultimately know the importance of the game but, in saying that, we want to
make sure that we go about things in the right manner and continue from what
we have done in the past eight to ten weeks in terms of what we have done on
the pitch."
"Everybody is going to be nervous when we step out there, it's arguably the
biggest club game in terms of money - I think someone was talking about £90
million. We all know what is at stake. We all know we want to get back into
the Premier League, but Blackpool are going to be thinking and wanting to do
exactly the same thing."
Taylor also played down media claims that West Ham are big favourites to
succeed at the Home of Football. Blackpool finished above the Hammers in the
Premier League table last season and enjoyed a fine 3-2 aggregate victory
over Birmingham City in the Play-Off semi-finals, and Taylor knows Ian
Holloway's side will be a tough nut to crack. "We are both in the same
position in terms of both teams got relegated last season and obviously both
teams would like to bounce back at the first opportunity. One of us is going
to do so on Saturday and hopefully it will be us. "Blackpool are a good
football team and they are there on merit. They had a really good end to the
season and I watched the second leg of their Play-Off semi-final against
Birmingham and they played good football so it is going to be a very tough
afternoon."
West Ham enjoyed two comprehensive victories over Blackpool during the
regular season - 4-0 at home and 4-1 at Bloomfield Road - but Taylor said
they will be irrelevant at Wembley. However, he does believe the Hammers'
recent run of one defeat in 20 matches means they will travel to the final
feeling confident of completing the job. "It doesn't count for anything. For
me it is 90 minutes now and that is all that is important, the results count
for nothing when the whistle goes at three o'clock on Saturday. "I think
everybody confident because winning football matches breeds confidence, and
that's what we've done. We've scored goals and the forwards are scoring
goals and that always helps so we are in decent form and the boys are in
good spirits."
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Devonshire backing the Hammers
WHUFC.com
F.A Cup winner Alan Devonshire is predicting a Wembley success for the
Hammers on Saturday
14.05.2012
Former West Ham United Alan Devonshire has told West Ham TV that he is
backing West Ham United to have a successful day at Wembley on Saturday.
Devonshire knows all about enjoyable days our at Wembley as he was part of
the West Ham team that beat Arsenal 1-0 in the FA Cup final in 1980,
courtesy of a 13th minute-Trevor Brooking header. The former wide midfielder
says playing at the Home of Football is a great feeling. "It was good times
and it was a good era for the club and it is great that we are back there
again," Devonshire said. "It's a special place and I was lucky enough to
play there a few times. Hopefully it's going to be a fantastic day at
Wembley again for the club."
Devonshire, who made 358 appearances for the Hammers, scoring 29 times, has
faith in the squad to deliver Premier League status for West Ham on
Saturday. The Ex-England International believes they can feed off manager
Sam Allardyce's previous experience of winning the Play-Offs to ensure
success on Saturday. "The club is big enough now and we have players with
loads of experience so I expect us to get a result. Wembley is away from
home and we are decent away from home. I will keep my fingers crossed for
sure. "This club deserves to be in the Premier League and the fans deserve
it too. So hopefully Big Sam and the boys can do the job on Saturday."
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Sam to sue over 'crook' allegations
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 15th May 2012
By: Staff Writer
West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce has begun legal proceedings against
Blackburn manager Steve Kean. A video, thought to have been recorded in Hong
Kong last summer showed Kean, who succeeded Allardyce as manager of
Blackburn Rovers dismissing his predecessor as a 'crook'. The comment was
made after Kean, who was being secretly recorded without his knowledge, was
asked why Allardyce was sacked by Rovers, who were relegated from the
Premier League earlier this month. Kean - who also insisted during the video
that he would lead Blackburn to a top ten finish - replied, "Just because
he's a f***ing crook. That's the only reason."
"I haven't spoken to him because he mullered me. I worked my balls off for
him and then he had a go at me, so f*** him."
- Kean on Allardyce
Despite the video being filmed some ten months ago, it was released into the
public domain for the first time this week - clearly designed to destabilise
Allardyce's preparations for this weekend's play-off Final. According to the
Telegraph, Allardyce had instructed his legal representatives to begin legal
proceedings after talks were held this lunchtime.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Gone
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 15th May 2012
By: Staff Writer
West Ham's allocation for this weekend's play-off Final sold out this
morning as the last available tickets were snapped up. The few remaining
tickets that went on General Sale this morning were all accounted for within
20 minutes of the 9:00am start time. Reports that just 500 tickets in total
were on sale would appear to be wide of the mark however, with a
spokesperson for SeeTickets telling KUMB.com last night that around four
times that number went to General Sale this morning.
Additionally, a number of supporters were able to purchase tickets in the
areas behind the goal in the West Ham end. As expected, SeeTickets' website
was inundated by supporters hoping to take advantage of today's sale.
However with West Ham's allocation set at just under 39,000, many thousands
of supporters have been left disappointed. Meanwhile Blackpool are
understood to have several thousand tickets still available despite their
allocation being on general sale since last Friday. Some West Ham supporters
have reported success in buying tickets in the opposition end - an
inevitable conclusion given that both sides were given the same allocation,
despite the much higher demand from West Ham United fans.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Catch 22
By S J Chandos
West Ham Till I Die
I am sure every Hammers fan views Saturday's play-off Final with a potent
mixture of excitment, nervousness and anticipation. We know that West Ham
are the better team and that we should have too much for our opponents. But
we also kow that the Seasiders are determined and spirited footballers who
have performed well this season to reach the Final. We also know that the
best team does not always win a one-off match and there are many factors
that can derail a team's ambitions such as over-confidence, poor
preparation, player error, bad luck and refereeing decisions. Last but not
least, we have learnt over many seasons not to take anything for granted
where West Ham are concerned. It is always possible that West Ham will not
turn up on the day and Blackpool will take advantage. Anyone who was at the
2004 play-off Final, against Crystal Palace, will know the pain and
disappointment of a massive under-perfomance on the big day.
On the positive side, West Ham have really gelled over the last four or five
matches, ever since the disasterous 2-4 home defeat to Reading FC. The
football played against Cardiff City was outstanding. And, more to the
point, we played the right way and never gave Cardiff City a chance to get
in to the match over the semi-final ties. I stated that I wanted Cardiff
City in the semis because I knew that we could beat them. Others saw them as
dangerous opponents after their valiant efforts against Liverpool in the
Cup. We now know those fears were misplaced. Most fans seemed to want to
avoid Birmingham City in the Final and they got their wish. My view was that
they were probably justified in seeing Brum as the more problematic of the
two potential opponents.
Blackpool come with their own inherant dangers, not least their great spirit
and attacking ability. But they also have mirror weaknesses, not least the
fact that they are vumerable at the back and likely to conceed. Indeed, it
poses the question how Ian Holloway will approach the match? Will his team
throw caution to the wind and go for all out attack, the hope being that
they can out score us on the day? Or will they try to play a defensive
match, with 5 in midfield and attempt to beat us on the counter-attack? The
catch 22 for them is that an open, attacking match will also create lots of
space for our forwards to exploit. Brighton adopted that approach and look
what happened to them! Alternatively, do they have the personnel and
discipline to play a defensive, counter-attacking, game? Results this season
indicate that they do not, unless they confound us with hidden qualities on
the day.
So what is going to be their approach to the match? Holloway will know that
West Ham have the measure of his team, having beaten them convincingly both
home and away in the Championship. So, he needs to do something different to
try and change the odds, to break the mould. One of the factors identified
by Holloway in his newspaper columns is the size and power of the West Ham
team. He has stated that in the two league matches West Ham physically
dominated his side and, consequently, they were unable to impose their play
on the games. What is the answer to that? He cannot make his team physically
larger or more imposing, but he can encourage them to adopt a more
aggressive approach to the game. They can attempt to play an extra man in
midfield in an attempt to seize control of the game or perhaps they will
seek to exploit Wembley's wide, open flanks with the pace of Thomas Ince and
Matt Phillips. Will they endeavour to 'get at' our full-backs and put Reid
and Tomkins under pressure with dangerous low crosses in to the box?
Blackpool could try all of those things, but they are easier said than done.
I would be extremely surprised if they came out on top in midfield; while
Demel and Taylor or McCartney should have the experience and ability to deal
with Ince and Phillips. As for aggression, they can try it but it is a
dangerous approach that carries the danger of yellow and red cards. Also,
all things being equal, I just cannot see West Ham losing a physical contest
with Blackpool. They may get on top for periods, but I do not doubt West
Ham's ability to wrest back control. And a crucial difference between the
teams is that West Ham are looking defensively solid. Can Blackpool say the
same? Look at how Brum pegged them back from 3-0 on aggregate to 3-2. Also
we have variation in our play, we can play it on the ground or launch an
ariel bombardment, pushing lots of bodies in the box. Birmingham City
collapsed in the face of those tactics, would Blackpool hold up any better?
I think not.
We are favourites to win the Final for very good reasons. But under-dogs do
come out on top, ask Man Utd how many times under-dog Hammers teams have
defeated them home and away over the decades. But if we play to our
potential, exploit our advantages and impose ourselves we should emerge
victorious. If we take them too lightly or let the occasion overwhelm us
then, equally, defeat is a possibility. The answer lies in wanting it more
than them, performing on the day and winning with efficiency and total
ruthlessness. We saw a very clinical/ruthlessly effective West Ham in the
semis, now we must replicate that to overcome the final obstacle to a PL
return.
West Ham have better quality players, are ihave good team spirit and
excellent form, fitness levels are the highest they have been for over two
seasons and we hold the psychological advantage over Blackpool. If we cannot
win from that position, and with those advantages, then it has to be
grudgingly admitted that we do not deserve to go up. It's as straightforward
as that.
SJ. Chandos.
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Does Demba Ba Want to Leave Newcastle Utd in the Summer?
By S J Chandos
West Ham Till I Die
A report has emerged that Demba Ba may seek a move from Newcastle Utd this
summer. The reason cited, after such a relatively successful season with the
bar codes? Allegedly he is tired of being play out wide, rather than through
the middle as a central striker. Sources at West Ham predicted that Ba's
camp might seek a move sooner rather than later. No doubt a fair number of
clubs, in the PL and abroad, would be interested in securing his services,
especially if the rumour is true about a £6m release clause. The only
problem being the risk associated with his knee condition.
Surely a promoted West Ham would be interested in acquiring a PL goal scorer
of Ba's proven pedigree. Whether that is a 'goer' on either side, however,
is highly debatable. If Ba does want to move on, it is probable that he will
have ambitions to join a club already in or with realistic prospects of
qualifying for Champions League football. While perhaps the West Ham
hierarchy have not really forgiven Ba's decision to walk last summer, after
West Ham took a risk on his knee and gave him his break in the PL?
Furthermore, would we be prepared to meet his likely wage demands even if
was prepared to move back to the Hammers?
Would Hammers fans welcome back Ba? Although he left last summer, exercising
his relegation release clause, there is no indication that Ba;s addition was
anything but positive to team morale duing his hal a season with us. It is
probably a non-starter, but it is interesting to speculate on the
eventuality and gage suporters views.
SJ. Chandos.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Allardyce to sue Kean AND Blackburn over former No 2's foul-mouthed rant
By CHRIS WHEELER
PUBLISHED: 00:18, 16 May 2012 | UPDATED: 00:18, 16 May 2012
Daily Mail
Sam Allardyce is suing his old club Blackburn and their manager Steve Kean
over derogatory comments his successor at Ewood Park is alleged to have made
about him. Kean's future was already under threat when he landed in India
for crisis talks with owners Venky's on Tuesday, but he now faces more
problems after disgruntled fans from The BRFC Action Group claimed
responsibility for posting a video clip of him on the club's pre-season trip
to Hong Kong last summer.
Speaking to supporters in a bar, Kean appears to make unguarded comments
about Allardyce in which he questions the integrity of the man who appointed
him as first-team coach at Blackburn.
ROVERS FANS GRANTED MEETING
The fans' group campaigning for the removal of Blackburn manager Steve Kean
have been granted meetings with Government and the Premier League to air
their concerns. The BRFC Action Group have long called for the removal of
Kean and claim owners Venky's, the Indian poultry firm, are not fit and
proper persons to run the club. Their campaign has been stepped up since the
club were relegated from the Barclays Premier League amid scenes of unrest
and protest at Ewood Park last week. Allardyce instructed his lawyers to sue
Kean for slander, and he is taking legal action against Blackburn as well
because Kean is an employee who was on club business at the time. Asked
about his relationship with Allardyce since he replaced him as manager in
December 2010, Kean is also heard saying: 'I haven't spoken to him. He
mullered me so I said f*** him. 'I worked my b***s off for him and then he
had a go at me so f*** him.' The 44-year-old Scot appears to claim the
credit for Phil Jones's emergence from Blackburn's academy before he was
sold to Manchester United for £16.5million last summer, as well as telling
the fans that his team would finish in the top half of the table and win the
Carling Cup.
In fact, Blackburn were relegated from the Premier League and could be
replaced by Allardyce's West Ham this weekend. The release of the video clip
appears to have been timed to cause maximum embarrassment for Kean as he
arrived in Pune for talks with Venky's. A petition signed by 5,000 fans
calling for him to be sacked has already been sent to the Indian owners. It
also coincided with news that Blackburn MP Jack Straw has helped set up a
meeting between The BRFC Action Group and sports minister Hugh Robertson
next month, while the Premier League have agreed in principle to hold talks
with them.
The former chairman of Blackburn's neighbours Accrington Stanley claimed
yesterday that he is ready to head a consortium of local businessman
interested in buying the club if Venky's are prepared to sell. Ilyas Khan
said: 'If they were to decide that it's time for them to move on to a
different business venture, I think our consortium is the only one that
could turn this into a success for the town.'
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Allardyce starts legal action against Kean
Move comes after footage is leaked of Rovers manager questioning his
predecessor's abilities
MARTIN HARDY WEDNESDAY 16 MAY 2012
Independent.co.uk
Sam Allardyce's legal representatives have sent letters to Steve Kean and
Blackburn Rovers following video footage that shows the club's manager
making disparaging remarks about his former colleague.
Kean was secretly videoed by supporters during Blackburn's trip to Hong Kong
last summer. He tells those fans that Rovers will definitely finish in the
top 10 (for the season that has just finished, when they were relegated),
also win the Carling Cup and places a £100 bet with them. However, it is the
potentially libellous comments about Allardyce, who was in charge when Kean
was a coach at Ewood Park, that have seen legal proceedings begin.
Allardyce, now manager at West Ham United and preparing for Saturday's
Championship play-off final with Blackpool, only became aware of the YouTube
video yesterday morning. He met his legal team just after lunchtime and the
decision was made to begin proceedings. The footage that has sparked the
controversy was filmed months ago but its posting on Twitter has pushed it
into the public domain. It shows Kean questioning the operating methods and
ability of the man who was manager before him at Blackburn.
Kean and Allardyce fell out hugely after the latter was sacked by Venky's,
Blackburn's owners, in December 2010, despite the team being 13th in the
Premier League at the time. To the surprise of many, especially in light of
promises of big-money signings such as Ronaldinho and speculation linking
Diego Maradona with the vacant manager's position, the Indian owners instead
promoted from within.
Kean, however, has faced a huge public backlash in Blackburn since he was
given the job, with repeated demonstrations calling for him to be sacked or
to resign. The local newspaper has twice called for him to go and his
appointment has been blamed for the huge disappointment of the current
campaign, which ended in relegation before the final game of the season.
The 44-year-old Scot was flying to Pune yesterday to meet Venky's owner
Anuradha Desai for further talks about his position. It has been alleged
that the relationship between Desai and Kean's wife Margaret was the reason
he has kept his position at Ewood Park.
Kean insisted last week that he retained the support of the Rao family,
which owns Venky's, despite Blackburn's demotion to the Championship, and
that the controversial family were the right people to lead the club back
into the Premier League.
A legal letter has also been sent to them from Allardyce's representatives
as the employers of Kean. Allardyce is said to be furious with the slur. The
release of the four-minute YouTube rant by Kean was calculated to cause
maximum embarrassment as he fights for his job; the BRFC Action Group, who
have repeatedly called for his dismissal and the removal of Venky's, posted
the video on their website yesterday. They have also been granted meetings
with the Government and the Premier League to air their concerns.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Steve Kean's problems just get worse at Blackburn Rovers following public
rant over Sam Allardyce
Sam Allardyce is suing Blackburn Rovers manager Steve Kean and is also
considering legal action against the Ewood Park club following Kean's
astonishing attack on his predecessor on YouTube.
Telegraph.co.uk
By John Percy10:00PM BST 15 May 20121 Comment
Allardyce, sacked by Rovers in 2010 and now with West Ham, has instructed
his lawyers to initiate proceedings against Kean, his former assistant.
Allardyce is understood to be "seething" about the inflammatory remarks made
by Kean that cast doubt on his integrity, his operating methods and ability
as a manager. The comments were filmed by Rovers fans in a Hong Kong bar
during the club's pre-season tour of the Far East last summer. Allardyce is
also ready to sue his former club in a move that will only increase the
pressure on both Kean and the Indian owners, Venky's. It is believed that,
under the severance package agreed when Allardyce was dismissed, neither he
nor Rovers are permitted to make derogatory remarks about each other.
Allardyce is understood to view Kean's comments as a breach of contract by
Blackburn and is determined to take the matter to court. Talks were held
with his solicitors on Tuesday after he was alerted to the video footage
that had gained more than 170,000 hits on YouTube last night, and letters
have been served.
Kean was unaware he was being filmed but his remarks are still classed as
defamatory. Kean, who could be in further hot water with the game's
authorities over his rant, is set to meet his bosses for talks in Pune on
Wednesday following Blackburn's relegation from the Premier League. He has
maintained that his position is safe with Venky's and he still retains the
support of co-owner Anurudha Desai, but this latest episode will only
increase the pressure on him. Deputy chief executive Paul Hunt was ousted
last week after an email sent to Desai expressing his concerns at both Kean
and the future of the club was leaked. Blackburn fans have mounted a
concerted campaign over the past 18 months to have the Scot removed and made
another appeal yesterday by emailing a petition to Desai with the names of
nearly 4,500 supporters. The email requests that "Venky's, as owners and
custodians of our historic football club, terminate the employment of Mr
Steve Kean at Blackburn Rovers Football Club with immediate effect. "His
record as a manager during his 18-month spell in charge of the club is among
the worst in the 20-year history of the Premier League and he is undoubtedly
the worst and arguably the most unpopular in the entire 137-year history of
our football club."
The BRFC Action Group are now planning to meet with government and the
Premier League to air their concerns. Blackburn MP Jack Straw has
facilitated a meeting of the fans with sports minister Hugh Robertson next
month and the Premier League have agreed in principle to meet them too. A
statement from the group's committee read: "We as a group of supporters,
elected by its members, are disgusted that our club has been allowed to be
pillaged with very little resistance from the regulatory bodies who should
act in the best interest of the sport and supporters."
Venky's said last week they had no intention of relinquishing control at
Rovers. Despite that, there is interest in buying the club from elsewhere.
Former Accrington Stanley chairman Ilyas Khan has said he is prepared to
front a consortium after holding discussions with local investors and
businessmen. Blackburn are also facing an exodus of players following
demotion to the Championship, with Junior Hoilett, Paul Robinson, Martin
Olsson and Steven Nzonzi all expected to depart this summer.
Hoilett is wanted by Chelsea and Spurs while Sweden international defender
Olsson has emerged as a target for Chelsea and Stoke City.
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Collison gives West Ham major fitness boost
By talkSPORT | Tuesday, May 15, 2012
West Ham midfielder Jack Collison has given the club a major boost by
returning to training and is confident of being fit for the Championship
play-off final against Blackpool on Saturday. Collison was a big doubt for
the showdown at Wembley after picking up a shoulder injury during the
semi-final victory over Cardiff last week.
The Wales international was forced to leave the field and had scans to
assess the damage. Those showed no long-term problems and Collison joined
the rest of the first-team squad in training on Tuesday. Manager Sam
Allardyce said: "He has a very, very good chance of making it in time. "When
he first did it, we were thinking about surgery and him being out for a long
time, but he has recovered remarkably well so we are very hopeful."
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
Tuesday, May 15
Daily WHUFC News - 15th May 2012
General Sale update
WHUFC.com
500 tickets will go on General Sale tomorrow morning after being returned by
Blackpool
14.05.2012
West Ham United can confirm that a total of 500 tickets will go on General
Sale at 9am on Tuesday morning after they were returned by Blackpool. The
General Sale, which will be covered by the strict criteria listed below,
means Season Ticket holders and Academy Members have until that time to
secure their seat for Saturday's Play-Off final. New Season Ticket holders
signing up for 2012/13, along with existing Season Ticket holders, receive
priority to purchase a ticket for the Play-Off final at Wembley. For full
details on this strictly limited offer click here or to buy call 0871 222
2700 via option 3, 9am - 5pm Saturday and Monday. All tickets on sale by
West Ham United are in the West Ham section of Wembley after the segregation
area was moved to allow the additional Hammers into the
stadium. Tickets are not available from West Ham United and are only
available from See Tickets directly through the following options:
Online - www.seetickets.com/westham
Telephone - 0844 995 9664 (call cost 6p per minute plus network extras).
If you are a Season Ticket holder and have yet to purchase your ticket
please to ensure you don't miss out and purchase NOW.
To enable as many West Ham United supporters to have an opportunity to
purchase tickets we have applied the following criteria for General Sale:
1. Tickets will only be available to supporters who have previous general
admission home ticket purchase history, during the 2011/12 season, under
their own unique client reference number.
2. Supporters who qualify will be able to purchase a maximum of one ticket
per person.
3. If general admission home game tickets throughout the season have not
been purchased under your own client reference number and hence we would
have no way of tracking your purchase history - we regret you will not
qualify (purchase history applies to general admission only).
4. There are no exceptions to this criteria so please do not call to buy
tickets if you do not meet it we will not be able to process any bookings to
supporters who do not qualify.
5. Any Season Ticket holder or Academy Member who has already purchased
their ticket by 9am on Tuesday cannot purchase any additional tickets.
However should you not have purchased your own ticket we recommend you do so
now during your allocated priority period as although you will remain
eligible to purchase after 9am Tuesday you will be joining the queue along
with your fellow supporters who meet the general sale criteria.
With the high volume of phone calls the Club and See Tickets are receiving
we request that supporters do not call if you do not meet the above criteria
as tickets are only available from See
Tickets directly via the following options:
Online - www.seetickets.com/westham
Telephone - 0844 995 9664 (call cost 6p per minute plus network extras).
If you wish to book seats together then the person who makes the booking
either online or via telephone MUST have all relevant client reference
numbers and names to hand (we cannot accept just names, postcodes, email
address, we must have the CLIENT REFERENCE NUMBER AND NAME OF EACH
INDIVIDUAL). We are NOT able to take bookings if you do not have this
information, so please ensure you have this BEFORE you make your call or go
online. Group qualifying bookings are again only available through the above
telephone number and website and NOT through the WHUFC site or ticket
office.
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Manager on Monday
WHUFC.com
Sam Allardyce is gearing up for the biggest week of West Ham United's season
14.05.2012
Sam Allardyce and the West Ham United squad will report into Chadwell Heath
on Monday morning ready to plot the course of a week that will hopefully see
the club return to the Premier League at the first time of asking. 90
minutes against Blackpool at Wembley in Saturday's npower Championship
Play-Off final is all that separates Big Sam and his side from achieving
their season-long ambition of Premier League football next season. Every
aspect of the opposition will be covered in meticulous detail in the
build-up to Saturday to ensure the Hammers are as well prepared as they
possibly can be to face Ian Holloway's side. "We've got to make it first and
we are not just going to be able to turn up and think we'll be able to beat
them," Big Sam said. "Irrespective of the fact we won both games quite
comfortably in the leage this year, we still have to earn the right to beat
them. "It's a huge prize, but all of our season and all of what we've tried
to do rides on the 90 minutes. It can't get any bigger and you hope it
doesn't affect the players' ability to play their best."
Blackpool booked their place in the final after a thrilling 2-2 draw with
Birmingham at St Andrews on Thursday night. The Lancashire outfit secured
their place in the Premier League two years ago through a Play-Off win and
Big Sam knows they have good pedigree in the big games. "Over the two legs
against Birmingham you'd have to say Blackpool deserved the victory. They
created more and took command of both games. Birmingham only had the brief
lifeline when they got the second and then had some moments when they put a
lot of pressure on to Blackpool. But now it's another Play-Off final for Ian
Holloway. "Most of their team are experienced as they won the Play-Off two
seasons ago so they've experienced that and so has their manager. They've
been there in that arena before, which is an advantage."
West Ham were also impressive in their semi-final win against Cardiff City
when they scored five goals without response over the two legs. Because of
the nature of that win they have been branded as favourites by some
sections, a tag that Big Sam's players will have to live with. "We carried
the favourites burden well against Cardiff with two outstanding performances
where we scored five goals and conceded none. We never looked at any stage
that we were under threat so we lived with it well. On the bigger stage
let's live with the pressure again and hope we come out as winners. That's
what you need and what you play football for. "It's about managing euphoria
that comes with playing in that big arena. We need to be a calming influence
to bring the players down to make sure they're focused and deliver a
controlled performance that enables them to go out and deliver their
skills."
West Ham's ticket allocation is likely to all be snapped up by the middle of
the week and Big Sam will be a proud man as he leads his team out to what
will surely be a deafening noise at the Home of Football. "We have a
passionate crowd that have been brought up as youngsters to be passionate
about the football club. All the fans of old took their sons and daughters
to games as soon as they were old enough to continue the support of a
fantastic football club, which is why so many people travel so far to come
and watch the team. "It's why I came here. I came for a different experience
of getting a club promotion."
One of the main tasks for the medical team will be to continue to assess and
aid Jack Collison as he continues his battle to be fit for the big game. The
early indicators were encouraging as his injury was not as bad as first
feared and Andy Rolls and his team will be doing everything they can to get
the Wales international ready for the match. whufc.com will have further
updates on Jack's condition during the week.
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New poll rejects OS move
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 14th May 2012
By: Staff Writer
A poll of West Ham United supporters by campaign group WHU's View? has
resulted in overwhelming opposition to the club's plans to move to
Stratford.
The poll, conducted by the group at the April home matches against
Birmingham, Brighton and Hull saw 87 per cent vote aganst the club's plans
to move to the Olympic Stadium, with just 13 per cent voting in favour.
The group, who are campaigning for a poll of supporters prior to the club
committing to a move to Stratford said: "In order that supporters would have
an opportunity to show their views for or against the proposed move to the
Olympic Stadium, WHU's View? carried out our own poll.
"WHU's View? are aware of the concern of many West Ham supporters that the
club's recent comments in the media with regard to the level of support for
the proposed move, have been made without full consultation and as such may
misrepresent the views of the majority fans."
The figures are in stark contrast to figures suggested by David Gold on LBC
recently, when he claimed that the Board's plans were supporters by 70 per
cent of supporters.
The latest KUMB.com poll - conducted in February of this year - resulted in
60 per cent of supporters voting against the move to Stratford, with a
further 17 per cent stating they were 'unsure'.
Just 22 per cent backed the move on that occasion.
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OS decision delayed until July
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 14th May 2012
By: Staff Writer
The London Legacy Development Corporation has confirmed it is extending the
bidding process for the Olympic Stadium by a further eight weeks. The
original decision to confirm the new tenents of the Startford-based stadium
was initially due on 21st May. However that date has now been delayed until
mid-July to "allow all parties who registered to receive the Invitation to
Tender (ITT) additional time to submit a bid." Andrew Altman, Chief
Executive of the LLDC, said: "We are determined to run a process that is
fair to all and delivers the best possible legacy for the Olympic Stadium.
We have been very encouraged by the quality of the bids so far. "However, a
number of issues have arisen during the process and we believe it is
sensible to give everyone more time so they can be addressed. "We want to
make the process as competitive as possible and extending the competition
period will allow all parties that registered an initial interest in the
Stadium another chance to bid. "The fundamentals have not changed and it
remains our intention to sign construction contracts for converting the
Stadium at the end of October, with the intention of re-opening in 2014 as
previously announced. "This is a significant public asset and a 99 year
lease, and it is right that we take the time now to get the best possible
outcome for the Stadium."
The LLDC superseded the Olympic Park Legacy Company, who initially awarded
use of the £500million stadium to West Ham in 2011, on 1st April this year.
It is thought that a number of new applicants may step forward now that the
decision ha s been delayed.
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500 tickets left
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 14th May 2012
By: Staff Writer
It has been confirmed that only 500 tickets will be going on General Sale to
West Ham supporters tomorrow morning for Saturday's play-off Final against
Blackpool.
Supporters unable to purchase tickets until now will be able to purchase
tickets when they reach General Sale in the morning - although none of West
Ham's original 38,000-plus allocation remains.
The few remaining tickets are said to have been returned by Blackpool, with
United's entire allocation being swallowed up by Bond holders, season ticket
holders, club members, staff and the corporate sector. "All tickets on sale
by West Ham United are in the West Ham section of Wembley after the
segregation area was moved to allow the additional Hammers into the
stadium," read a statement on whufc.com this afternoon. Supporters hoping to
be one of the lucky 500 need to have previous booking history with West Ham
and can obtain tickets from 9am tomorrow morning via
www.seetickets.com/westham or by calling (0844) 995 9664.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Stadium decision delayed
LLDC keen to encourage further bids
Last Updated: May 14, 2012 3:58pm
SSN
West Ham United will have to wait another two months to discover if they
will become the new tenants of the Olympic Stadium. West Ham were one of
four confirmed bidders for the £500m venue and the London Legacy Development
Corporation (LLDC) said the decision has been delayed because it wants to
encourage further bids. It said some had been discouraged because of
governing body approvals, naming rights issues and technical issues. "We are
determined to run a process that is fair to all and delivers the best
possible legacy for the Olympic Stadium," chief executive Andrew Altman
said. "We have been very encouraged by the quality of the bids so far.
However, a number of issues have arisen during the process and we believe it
is sensible to give everyone more time so they can be addressed."
Track
Initial plans to sell the stadium to West Ham after the Games fell apart
last October with the government citing "legal paralysis" after a challenge
from Tottenham Hotspur whose initial bid was turned down. Whatever happens,
an athletics track will remain in place as the 2017 world championships will
be staged in the stadium that will now remain in public ownership.
"Extending the competition period will allow all parties that registered an
initial interest in the stadium another chance to bid," Altman added. "The
fundamentals have not changed and it remains our intention to sign
construction contracts for converting the stadium at the end of October,
with the intention of re-opening in 2014 as previously announced."
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Ravel Morrison Already on His Way?
By Iain Dale
West Ham Till I Die
I have no direct evidence for this beyond Twitter rumours, but it appears
Ravel Morrison may be released by West Ham. If true, that is a terrible
shame and a waste of a young talent. But also a great waste of £1 million.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Brady Should Tell Boris to Stick His Olympic Stadium Bid Process Where the
Sun Don't Shine
By Iain Dale
West Ham Till I Die
As readers know, I have always been moderately in favour of a move to the
Olympic Stadium. I am having to let my head rule my heart. That may be about
to change.
Today it was announced that instead of learnng whether our bid has been
successful next Monday, the whole bidding process is being reopened for a
second time, to allow other bidders to come forward. If I were Managing
Director of West Ham I am afraid I would tell the Olympic Authorities and
the Mayor of London to stick their bidding process where the sun don't
shine. And then I'd take them to judicial review and demand compensation for
the several millions it has cost the club so far. West Ham's patience cannot
be elastic. At some point they need to tell the Olympic Authorities: This
far and no further. That time has come. Either give us the Stadium under the
current terms or we withdraw and look elsewhere. Frankly, Boris Johnson has
presided over a shambles of a bidding process and needs to be told that the
game is up.
Rant over.
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Blackburn Rovers' Steve Kean at centre of internet storm
• Video emerges of Blackburn's manager last summer
• Kean appears to make remarks about Sam Allardyce
guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 15 May 2012 01.33 BST
Blackburn's manager, Steve Kean, appears to have made disparaging remarks
towards his predecessor, Sam Allardyce. Photograph: Tony O'Brien/Action
Images
Steve Kean was at the centre of an internet storm after a video emerged
which appeared to show the Blackburn manager making disparaging remarks
about his predecessor Sam Allardyce.
The four-minute clip, which appeared on YouTube and on the website of a
Rovers fan group named BRFC Action Group, was apparently filmed during a
tour of the far east last summer.
As well as the remarks about Allardyce, the video also appears to show Kean
predicting Rovers will finish in the top half of the Premier League table
and win the Carling Cup. Rovers finished second-bottom and were relegated to
the Championship.
Attempts made by Press Association Sport to contact Rovers were
unsuccessful.
Kean and the Blackburn owners, Venky's, were this season the targets of
sustained protests from the Rovers fans unhappy at the running of the club.
Kean was appointed as manager as a replacement for Allardyce, who was sacked
in December 2010. Allardyce has since led West Ham to the final of the
Championship play-offs.
Rovers officials are expected to hold talks with Kean in the coming days,
but have so far shown no signs that their loyalty to their manager is
running out.
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Avram exits Partizan after just five months in charge despite delivering
title
By LAURA WILLIAMSON
PUBLISHED: 23:19, 14 May 2012 | UPDATED: 23:19, 14 May 2012
Daily Mail
Avram Grant has left Partizan Belgrade after less than five months in charge
of the Serbian club. The former Chelsea and West Ham manager led Partizan to
their fifth consecutive league title but lost three times against fierce
rivals Red Star Belgrade. Grant, 57, informed the club on Monday he wanted
to activate the release clause in his 18-month contract.
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London 2012: Olympic Stadium tenant announcement is delayed
Luke Jacobs
Monday, May 14, 2012
2:00 PM
London 24
Parties interested in taking control of the Olympic Stadium after the Games
have been given an extra eight weeks to submit their bids. Legacy bosses
have extended the process after issues arose surrounding naming rights,
stadium improvements and governing body approvals. A decision on a
successful tenant for the venue was expected on May 21. West Ham United,
Essex County Cricket Club and the University of East London were among 16
parties to register their interest in signing the 99-year lease on offer.
They will be able to re-submit their bids. Andrew Altman, chief executive of
the London Legacy Development Corporation, said: "We have been very
encouraged by the quality of the bids so far. "However, a number of issues
have arisen during the process and we believe it is sensible to give
everyone more time so they can be addressed. "We want to make the process as
competitive as possible and extending the competition period will allow all
parties that registered an initial interest in the stadium another chance to
bid. "The fundamentals have not changed and it remains our intention to sign
construction contracts for converting the Stadium at the end of October,
with the intention of re-opening in 2014 as previously announced."
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TRANSFER NEWS: Sam Baldock could join Ipswich Town on loan – if West Ham get
promoted
Eadt.co.uk
By Stuart Watson
Monday, May 14, 2012
10:39 AM
IPSWICH Town's hopes of signing striker Sam Baldock on a season-long loan
hinge on whether West Ham win Saturday's Championship play-off final.
Hammers boss Sam Allardyce rates the 23-year-old highly, but will want him
to continue his development in the Championship if his team are promoted
back to the Premier League with victory over Blackpool at Wembley on
Saturday. And the EADT understands that Allardyce has already told close
friend Paul Jewell that he will have first option. The Blues boss revealed
at last November's supporters' club AGM that he was a big admirer of the
short, but powerful front man. It is understood that he was keen to sign him
from League One club MK Dons last summer, only for West Ham to snap him up
on a four-year deal – the transfer fee believed to be around £2.75million
with add-ons. Having scored 43 goals in 82 starts for the Dons, Baldock made
an instant impact at Championship level, scoring five goals in his first six
games for West Ham. The arrival of front men Ricardo Vaz Te and Nicky
Maynard in the January transfer window saw him slip down the pecking order
though and he finished the campaign with just 11 starts and 12 substitute
appearances to his name.
The Hammers have a plethora of strikers, with the likes of Carlton Cole,
John Carew, Frederic Piquionne and Freddie Sears also on the books. Town,
meanwhile, are short of options in that department. Michael Chopra
top-scored for the Blues with 14 goals last season, while Jason Scotland
looks set to sign a new deal. Tamas Priskin had his contract cancelled back
in January, while Nathan Ellington has been told he can "move on" by Jewell.
The Blues boss admitted recently that he would be interested in bringing
Connor Wickham back to Portman Road on loan, with the teenager having failed
to make an impact at Sunderland following his £8.1m switch. A sizeable loan
fee and wages could prove a stumbling block though, with Baldock a cheaper
option.
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West Ham chairman David Gold on his rise to fame and fortune
David Gold has been a West Ham fan since boyhood. Now he co-owns the club.
Telegraph.co.uk
West Ham chairman and co-owner David Gold Photo: ACTION IMAGES
By Natalie Graham 9:14AM BST 14 May 2012
David Gold, 75, is co-owner of West Ham United Football Club and chairman of
Gold Group International which owns Ann Summers and Knickerbox. His two
daughters work for Ann Summers: Jacqueline is chief executive officer and
Vanessa is its managing director. In 1993 Gold and his business partner
David Sullivan saved Birmingham City FC from near bankruptcy and relegation
to the Second Division. They appointed Karren Brady as managing director. In
2009 they sold Birmingham City and bought a 64pc stake in West Ham United,
bringing in Brady as vice-chairman. David Gold lives with his fiancée,
Lesley Manning, in Caterham, Surrey.
Did your childhood experience influence your attitude to money?
I was born in the East End of London in abject poverty, and I had
tuberculosis and dysentery as a young boy. I went to work at 14, and became
an apprentice bricklayer at 17. My earliest memories are of bitter cold,
hunger and sickness. There was only one coal fire downstairs and I often
went to bed in my clothes.
It was a pretty horrendous start to life. There was my brother and my sister
as well. I remember my mum tipping the contents of her purse on the table
after my father had just been sent to prison for five years. I was about 12.
She had only four shillings and sixpence, and she burst into tears. That had
a huge impact on my life. I would stand at a stall outside the house helping
my mother to sell buttons. She also worked as a skivvy in a café across the
road, which is still there to this day, in Green Street, London E13. From 12
to 17 I was fetching and carrying for other stallholders. I worked at the
greengrocer's and at the end of the day I would take a wooden orange box and
fill it with the rotten fruit and vegetables that they had thrown away. My
mum would make soup out of it.
Are you a spender or saver?
I am actually both. Because I am very, very fortunate, I save and I invest
but I also indulge myself. I like to eat at the best restaurants and stay at
the best hotels. The car I drive is a Jaguar XY. I have got through about 10
over 40 years. I have my Rolls-Royce Phantom and a Bentley Blue Train. I
also own a helicopter. I got my flying licence in 1972 and my instrument
rating in 1980, which is a professional pilot's licence.
What has been the driving force in your career?
It was the fear of returning to the poverty I experienced as a child. Also
the overwhelming desire to succeed, and the joy that repaying my mother gave
me.
When my mother was 30 she looked 60, but at 60 she looked 30. Once I began
to make money I could give her whatever she desired. This amazing woman had
lung cancer at 54 and the doctor thought she would die. Unbelievably, she
survived and lived to the age of 92.
What has been your most financially rewarding moment?
In 1972 I bought two shops in Tottenham Court Road in London that cost me in
the region of £100,000. They were temporary shops, built on a bomb site.
Altogether a dozen were put up. Then in 1980 I sold them for £3m to a
developer. Luck does play a part in our lives.
At first I was offered £2.5m, but I told the negotiator I wanted £3m. He
said there was no way the principal would pay £3m, and he didn't. He paid
£2,999,999. I learnt something from that day: pride plays a big part in
business and in our everyday lives.
To what extent was the takeover of West Ham a financially driven versus an
emotional decision?
It was certainly not financially driven. It was an emotional decision driven
by the fulfilment of a boyhood dream, because everything goes back to those
early years in the East End. Back then, with no money, there was one thing I
could do. I could bunk into West Ham Football Club at half-time for free,
and watch football across the road from my home. I became a fan and then 50
years later I returned as chairman.
Has the recession affected you?
Yes, but we are not complaining. We are still making money but the growth
has not been there. Ann Summers is a three-channel business, because it has
retail stores, an internet business and the party sales. Retail has been
flat, party plan has been down and the internet is in growth. If you put the
three together the business has been flat for the past three years.
What is your most treasured possession?
My home is a special place for me. It's a seven-bedroom Victorian house that
took me two and a half years to refurbish. It's in 55 acres, though when I
bought it there were just four acres. I have built a small private golf
course and I have got my tennis court, indoor swimming pool and my koi fish,
which are one of my hobbies. I paid £400,000 for the property in 1993, but
it really was a wreck.
What has been your best buy?
It was buying Ann Summers in 1972 for £10,000, which comprised two retail
shops, a tiny mail order business turning over £10,000 a year, and of course
the name. Today it is probably worth £200m. It is an unusual, exciting and
revolutionary business, but I never dreamt it would become an iconic brand.
What has been your best business decision?
I sold Gold Air, my small private airline that I had had for 10 years, in
October 2006, just before the recession. It was a good decision because the
industry then collapsed. I was troubled by the increase in residential and
commercial property prices. When the offer came in it was generous, but I
did not predict the recession.
What are THE qualities you look for when you hire a football manager?
I have probably hired seven in total. I look for someone who is a leader of
men, with a strong personality and the will to win. If you make a mistake it
will cost you millions, whereas if you make a successful choice that manager
could be with you for many years.
Do you prefer to bank online or go into a branch?
I do neither. If I want some cash I ask my financial director Ray, in the
next-door office. He will go to the bank and collect the money for me. At a
restaurant I pay the bill by credit card and I tip with cash. I cannot
remember going into a bank in the past 30 years, and I don't use the
internet. I just go to Ray, who has worked with me for 40 years and is also
my confidant.
Do you keep an eye on your finances on a regular basis?
I check the cash-flow situation in my business with Ray every day, and we go
through my personal accounts once a month.
Have you ever invested in shares?
I have an £8m portfolio that has evolved since I started investing 20 years
ago. Ray and I alone decide which shares to buy. We discuss the market every
day. Ray monitors prices on an hourly basis. I have invested predominantly
in FTSE 100 shares. Utilities have done well for me. I put money into wind
farms when they were first mooted and oil prices hit $150 a barrel, and I
did OK.
What is your view on football clubs overspending?
The danger is that ultimately any overspending leads to debt, and
out-of-control debt leads to administration. The losers are the fans and
that cannot be right.
Today you have to control football clubs from themselves. When they go into
administration tens of thousands of fans are heartbroken. It is therefore
incumbent upon the governing bodies to ensure this does not happen. To date
they have failed, and it is time to change. The board of the Football League
is about to announce a piece of governance, the Fair Play Rule, which should
help protect clubs in the future.
If West Ham were to move into the Olympic Stadium, where would you rank this
among your business moves?
I started off by saying that football is not a business, but that aside,
moving to the Olympic Stadium would be a very emotional thing for me. We
must be able to fulfil the legacy on behalf of the Olympic Park Legacy
Company but they have to provide a stadium fit for purpose.
WHY HAS your partnership with David Sullivan and Karren Brady proved so
successful?
I would say what is unique is that we have each brought different qualities
to the business and we respect each other and each other's opinions. No
relationship can survive 20 years without these qualities.
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
WHUFC.com
500 tickets will go on General Sale tomorrow morning after being returned by
Blackpool
14.05.2012
West Ham United can confirm that a total of 500 tickets will go on General
Sale at 9am on Tuesday morning after they were returned by Blackpool. The
General Sale, which will be covered by the strict criteria listed below,
means Season Ticket holders and Academy Members have until that time to
secure their seat for Saturday's Play-Off final. New Season Ticket holders
signing up for 2012/13, along with existing Season Ticket holders, receive
priority to purchase a ticket for the Play-Off final at Wembley. For full
details on this strictly limited offer click here or to buy call 0871 222
2700 via option 3, 9am - 5pm Saturday and Monday. All tickets on sale by
West Ham United are in the West Ham section of Wembley after the segregation
area was moved to allow the additional Hammers into the
stadium. Tickets are not available from West Ham United and are only
available from See Tickets directly through the following options:
Online - www.seetickets.com/westham
Telephone - 0844 995 9664 (call cost 6p per minute plus network extras).
If you are a Season Ticket holder and have yet to purchase your ticket
please to ensure you don't miss out and purchase NOW.
To enable as many West Ham United supporters to have an opportunity to
purchase tickets we have applied the following criteria for General Sale:
1. Tickets will only be available to supporters who have previous general
admission home ticket purchase history, during the 2011/12 season, under
their own unique client reference number.
2. Supporters who qualify will be able to purchase a maximum of one ticket
per person.
3. If general admission home game tickets throughout the season have not
been purchased under your own client reference number and hence we would
have no way of tracking your purchase history - we regret you will not
qualify (purchase history applies to general admission only).
4. There are no exceptions to this criteria so please do not call to buy
tickets if you do not meet it we will not be able to process any bookings to
supporters who do not qualify.
5. Any Season Ticket holder or Academy Member who has already purchased
their ticket by 9am on Tuesday cannot purchase any additional tickets.
However should you not have purchased your own ticket we recommend you do so
now during your allocated priority period as although you will remain
eligible to purchase after 9am Tuesday you will be joining the queue along
with your fellow supporters who meet the general sale criteria.
With the high volume of phone calls the Club and See Tickets are receiving
we request that supporters do not call if you do not meet the above criteria
as tickets are only available from See
Tickets directly via the following options:
Online - www.seetickets.com/westham
Telephone - 0844 995 9664 (call cost 6p per minute plus network extras).
If you wish to book seats together then the person who makes the booking
either online or via telephone MUST have all relevant client reference
numbers and names to hand (we cannot accept just names, postcodes, email
address, we must have the CLIENT REFERENCE NUMBER AND NAME OF EACH
INDIVIDUAL). We are NOT able to take bookings if you do not have this
information, so please ensure you have this BEFORE you make your call or go
online. Group qualifying bookings are again only available through the above
telephone number and website and NOT through the WHUFC site or ticket
office.
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Manager on Monday
WHUFC.com
Sam Allardyce is gearing up for the biggest week of West Ham United's season
14.05.2012
Sam Allardyce and the West Ham United squad will report into Chadwell Heath
on Monday morning ready to plot the course of a week that will hopefully see
the club return to the Premier League at the first time of asking. 90
minutes against Blackpool at Wembley in Saturday's npower Championship
Play-Off final is all that separates Big Sam and his side from achieving
their season-long ambition of Premier League football next season. Every
aspect of the opposition will be covered in meticulous detail in the
build-up to Saturday to ensure the Hammers are as well prepared as they
possibly can be to face Ian Holloway's side. "We've got to make it first and
we are not just going to be able to turn up and think we'll be able to beat
them," Big Sam said. "Irrespective of the fact we won both games quite
comfortably in the leage this year, we still have to earn the right to beat
them. "It's a huge prize, but all of our season and all of what we've tried
to do rides on the 90 minutes. It can't get any bigger and you hope it
doesn't affect the players' ability to play their best."
Blackpool booked their place in the final after a thrilling 2-2 draw with
Birmingham at St Andrews on Thursday night. The Lancashire outfit secured
their place in the Premier League two years ago through a Play-Off win and
Big Sam knows they have good pedigree in the big games. "Over the two legs
against Birmingham you'd have to say Blackpool deserved the victory. They
created more and took command of both games. Birmingham only had the brief
lifeline when they got the second and then had some moments when they put a
lot of pressure on to Blackpool. But now it's another Play-Off final for Ian
Holloway. "Most of their team are experienced as they won the Play-Off two
seasons ago so they've experienced that and so has their manager. They've
been there in that arena before, which is an advantage."
West Ham were also impressive in their semi-final win against Cardiff City
when they scored five goals without response over the two legs. Because of
the nature of that win they have been branded as favourites by some
sections, a tag that Big Sam's players will have to live with. "We carried
the favourites burden well against Cardiff with two outstanding performances
where we scored five goals and conceded none. We never looked at any stage
that we were under threat so we lived with it well. On the bigger stage
let's live with the pressure again and hope we come out as winners. That's
what you need and what you play football for. "It's about managing euphoria
that comes with playing in that big arena. We need to be a calming influence
to bring the players down to make sure they're focused and deliver a
controlled performance that enables them to go out and deliver their
skills."
West Ham's ticket allocation is likely to all be snapped up by the middle of
the week and Big Sam will be a proud man as he leads his team out to what
will surely be a deafening noise at the Home of Football. "We have a
passionate crowd that have been brought up as youngsters to be passionate
about the football club. All the fans of old took their sons and daughters
to games as soon as they were old enough to continue the support of a
fantastic football club, which is why so many people travel so far to come
and watch the team. "It's why I came here. I came for a different experience
of getting a club promotion."
One of the main tasks for the medical team will be to continue to assess and
aid Jack Collison as he continues his battle to be fit for the big game. The
early indicators were encouraging as his injury was not as bad as first
feared and Andy Rolls and his team will be doing everything they can to get
the Wales international ready for the match. whufc.com will have further
updates on Jack's condition during the week.
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New poll rejects OS move
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 14th May 2012
By: Staff Writer
A poll of West Ham United supporters by campaign group WHU's View? has
resulted in overwhelming opposition to the club's plans to move to
Stratford.
The poll, conducted by the group at the April home matches against
Birmingham, Brighton and Hull saw 87 per cent vote aganst the club's plans
to move to the Olympic Stadium, with just 13 per cent voting in favour.
The group, who are campaigning for a poll of supporters prior to the club
committing to a move to Stratford said: "In order that supporters would have
an opportunity to show their views for or against the proposed move to the
Olympic Stadium, WHU's View? carried out our own poll.
"WHU's View? are aware of the concern of many West Ham supporters that the
club's recent comments in the media with regard to the level of support for
the proposed move, have been made without full consultation and as such may
misrepresent the views of the majority fans."
The figures are in stark contrast to figures suggested by David Gold on LBC
recently, when he claimed that the Board's plans were supporters by 70 per
cent of supporters.
The latest KUMB.com poll - conducted in February of this year - resulted in
60 per cent of supporters voting against the move to Stratford, with a
further 17 per cent stating they were 'unsure'.
Just 22 per cent backed the move on that occasion.
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OS decision delayed until July
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 14th May 2012
By: Staff Writer
The London Legacy Development Corporation has confirmed it is extending the
bidding process for the Olympic Stadium by a further eight weeks. The
original decision to confirm the new tenents of the Startford-based stadium
was initially due on 21st May. However that date has now been delayed until
mid-July to "allow all parties who registered to receive the Invitation to
Tender (ITT) additional time to submit a bid." Andrew Altman, Chief
Executive of the LLDC, said: "We are determined to run a process that is
fair to all and delivers the best possible legacy for the Olympic Stadium.
We have been very encouraged by the quality of the bids so far. "However, a
number of issues have arisen during the process and we believe it is
sensible to give everyone more time so they can be addressed. "We want to
make the process as competitive as possible and extending the competition
period will allow all parties that registered an initial interest in the
Stadium another chance to bid. "The fundamentals have not changed and it
remains our intention to sign construction contracts for converting the
Stadium at the end of October, with the intention of re-opening in 2014 as
previously announced. "This is a significant public asset and a 99 year
lease, and it is right that we take the time now to get the best possible
outcome for the Stadium."
The LLDC superseded the Olympic Park Legacy Company, who initially awarded
use of the £500million stadium to West Ham in 2011, on 1st April this year.
It is thought that a number of new applicants may step forward now that the
decision ha s been delayed.
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500 tickets left
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 14th May 2012
By: Staff Writer
It has been confirmed that only 500 tickets will be going on General Sale to
West Ham supporters tomorrow morning for Saturday's play-off Final against
Blackpool.
Supporters unable to purchase tickets until now will be able to purchase
tickets when they reach General Sale in the morning - although none of West
Ham's original 38,000-plus allocation remains.
The few remaining tickets are said to have been returned by Blackpool, with
United's entire allocation being swallowed up by Bond holders, season ticket
holders, club members, staff and the corporate sector. "All tickets on sale
by West Ham United are in the West Ham section of Wembley after the
segregation area was moved to allow the additional Hammers into the
stadium," read a statement on whufc.com this afternoon. Supporters hoping to
be one of the lucky 500 need to have previous booking history with West Ham
and can obtain tickets from 9am tomorrow morning via
www.seetickets.com/westham or by calling (0844) 995 9664.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Stadium decision delayed
LLDC keen to encourage further bids
Last Updated: May 14, 2012 3:58pm
SSN
West Ham United will have to wait another two months to discover if they
will become the new tenants of the Olympic Stadium. West Ham were one of
four confirmed bidders for the £500m venue and the London Legacy Development
Corporation (LLDC) said the decision has been delayed because it wants to
encourage further bids. It said some had been discouraged because of
governing body approvals, naming rights issues and technical issues. "We are
determined to run a process that is fair to all and delivers the best
possible legacy for the Olympic Stadium," chief executive Andrew Altman
said. "We have been very encouraged by the quality of the bids so far.
However, a number of issues have arisen during the process and we believe it
is sensible to give everyone more time so they can be addressed."
Track
Initial plans to sell the stadium to West Ham after the Games fell apart
last October with the government citing "legal paralysis" after a challenge
from Tottenham Hotspur whose initial bid was turned down. Whatever happens,
an athletics track will remain in place as the 2017 world championships will
be staged in the stadium that will now remain in public ownership.
"Extending the competition period will allow all parties that registered an
initial interest in the stadium another chance to bid," Altman added. "The
fundamentals have not changed and it remains our intention to sign
construction contracts for converting the stadium at the end of October,
with the intention of re-opening in 2014 as previously announced."
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Ravel Morrison Already on His Way?
By Iain Dale
West Ham Till I Die
I have no direct evidence for this beyond Twitter rumours, but it appears
Ravel Morrison may be released by West Ham. If true, that is a terrible
shame and a waste of a young talent. But also a great waste of £1 million.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Brady Should Tell Boris to Stick His Olympic Stadium Bid Process Where the
Sun Don't Shine
By Iain Dale
West Ham Till I Die
As readers know, I have always been moderately in favour of a move to the
Olympic Stadium. I am having to let my head rule my heart. That may be about
to change.
Today it was announced that instead of learnng whether our bid has been
successful next Monday, the whole bidding process is being reopened for a
second time, to allow other bidders to come forward. If I were Managing
Director of West Ham I am afraid I would tell the Olympic Authorities and
the Mayor of London to stick their bidding process where the sun don't
shine. And then I'd take them to judicial review and demand compensation for
the several millions it has cost the club so far. West Ham's patience cannot
be elastic. At some point they need to tell the Olympic Authorities: This
far and no further. That time has come. Either give us the Stadium under the
current terms or we withdraw and look elsewhere. Frankly, Boris Johnson has
presided over a shambles of a bidding process and needs to be told that the
game is up.
Rant over.
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Blackburn Rovers' Steve Kean at centre of internet storm
• Video emerges of Blackburn's manager last summer
• Kean appears to make remarks about Sam Allardyce
guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 15 May 2012 01.33 BST
Blackburn's manager, Steve Kean, appears to have made disparaging remarks
towards his predecessor, Sam Allardyce. Photograph: Tony O'Brien/Action
Images
Steve Kean was at the centre of an internet storm after a video emerged
which appeared to show the Blackburn manager making disparaging remarks
about his predecessor Sam Allardyce.
The four-minute clip, which appeared on YouTube and on the website of a
Rovers fan group named BRFC Action Group, was apparently filmed during a
tour of the far east last summer.
As well as the remarks about Allardyce, the video also appears to show Kean
predicting Rovers will finish in the top half of the Premier League table
and win the Carling Cup. Rovers finished second-bottom and were relegated to
the Championship.
Attempts made by Press Association Sport to contact Rovers were
unsuccessful.
Kean and the Blackburn owners, Venky's, were this season the targets of
sustained protests from the Rovers fans unhappy at the running of the club.
Kean was appointed as manager as a replacement for Allardyce, who was sacked
in December 2010. Allardyce has since led West Ham to the final of the
Championship play-offs.
Rovers officials are expected to hold talks with Kean in the coming days,
but have so far shown no signs that their loyalty to their manager is
running out.
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Avram exits Partizan after just five months in charge despite delivering
title
By LAURA WILLIAMSON
PUBLISHED: 23:19, 14 May 2012 | UPDATED: 23:19, 14 May 2012
Daily Mail
Avram Grant has left Partizan Belgrade after less than five months in charge
of the Serbian club. The former Chelsea and West Ham manager led Partizan to
their fifth consecutive league title but lost three times against fierce
rivals Red Star Belgrade. Grant, 57, informed the club on Monday he wanted
to activate the release clause in his 18-month contract.
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London 2012: Olympic Stadium tenant announcement is delayed
Luke Jacobs
Monday, May 14, 2012
2:00 PM
London 24
Parties interested in taking control of the Olympic Stadium after the Games
have been given an extra eight weeks to submit their bids. Legacy bosses
have extended the process after issues arose surrounding naming rights,
stadium improvements and governing body approvals. A decision on a
successful tenant for the venue was expected on May 21. West Ham United,
Essex County Cricket Club and the University of East London were among 16
parties to register their interest in signing the 99-year lease on offer.
They will be able to re-submit their bids. Andrew Altman, chief executive of
the London Legacy Development Corporation, said: "We have been very
encouraged by the quality of the bids so far. "However, a number of issues
have arisen during the process and we believe it is sensible to give
everyone more time so they can be addressed. "We want to make the process as
competitive as possible and extending the competition period will allow all
parties that registered an initial interest in the stadium another chance to
bid. "The fundamentals have not changed and it remains our intention to sign
construction contracts for converting the Stadium at the end of October,
with the intention of re-opening in 2014 as previously announced."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
TRANSFER NEWS: Sam Baldock could join Ipswich Town on loan – if West Ham get
promoted
Eadt.co.uk
By Stuart Watson
Monday, May 14, 2012
10:39 AM
IPSWICH Town's hopes of signing striker Sam Baldock on a season-long loan
hinge on whether West Ham win Saturday's Championship play-off final.
Hammers boss Sam Allardyce rates the 23-year-old highly, but will want him
to continue his development in the Championship if his team are promoted
back to the Premier League with victory over Blackpool at Wembley on
Saturday. And the EADT understands that Allardyce has already told close
friend Paul Jewell that he will have first option. The Blues boss revealed
at last November's supporters' club AGM that he was a big admirer of the
short, but powerful front man. It is understood that he was keen to sign him
from League One club MK Dons last summer, only for West Ham to snap him up
on a four-year deal – the transfer fee believed to be around £2.75million
with add-ons. Having scored 43 goals in 82 starts for the Dons, Baldock made
an instant impact at Championship level, scoring five goals in his first six
games for West Ham. The arrival of front men Ricardo Vaz Te and Nicky
Maynard in the January transfer window saw him slip down the pecking order
though and he finished the campaign with just 11 starts and 12 substitute
appearances to his name.
The Hammers have a plethora of strikers, with the likes of Carlton Cole,
John Carew, Frederic Piquionne and Freddie Sears also on the books. Town,
meanwhile, are short of options in that department. Michael Chopra
top-scored for the Blues with 14 goals last season, while Jason Scotland
looks set to sign a new deal. Tamas Priskin had his contract cancelled back
in January, while Nathan Ellington has been told he can "move on" by Jewell.
The Blues boss admitted recently that he would be interested in bringing
Connor Wickham back to Portman Road on loan, with the teenager having failed
to make an impact at Sunderland following his £8.1m switch. A sizeable loan
fee and wages could prove a stumbling block though, with Baldock a cheaper
option.
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West Ham chairman David Gold on his rise to fame and fortune
David Gold has been a West Ham fan since boyhood. Now he co-owns the club.
Telegraph.co.uk
West Ham chairman and co-owner David Gold Photo: ACTION IMAGES
By Natalie Graham 9:14AM BST 14 May 2012
David Gold, 75, is co-owner of West Ham United Football Club and chairman of
Gold Group International which owns Ann Summers and Knickerbox. His two
daughters work for Ann Summers: Jacqueline is chief executive officer and
Vanessa is its managing director. In 1993 Gold and his business partner
David Sullivan saved Birmingham City FC from near bankruptcy and relegation
to the Second Division. They appointed Karren Brady as managing director. In
2009 they sold Birmingham City and bought a 64pc stake in West Ham United,
bringing in Brady as vice-chairman. David Gold lives with his fiancée,
Lesley Manning, in Caterham, Surrey.
Did your childhood experience influence your attitude to money?
I was born in the East End of London in abject poverty, and I had
tuberculosis and dysentery as a young boy. I went to work at 14, and became
an apprentice bricklayer at 17. My earliest memories are of bitter cold,
hunger and sickness. There was only one coal fire downstairs and I often
went to bed in my clothes.
It was a pretty horrendous start to life. There was my brother and my sister
as well. I remember my mum tipping the contents of her purse on the table
after my father had just been sent to prison for five years. I was about 12.
She had only four shillings and sixpence, and she burst into tears. That had
a huge impact on my life. I would stand at a stall outside the house helping
my mother to sell buttons. She also worked as a skivvy in a café across the
road, which is still there to this day, in Green Street, London E13. From 12
to 17 I was fetching and carrying for other stallholders. I worked at the
greengrocer's and at the end of the day I would take a wooden orange box and
fill it with the rotten fruit and vegetables that they had thrown away. My
mum would make soup out of it.
Are you a spender or saver?
I am actually both. Because I am very, very fortunate, I save and I invest
but I also indulge myself. I like to eat at the best restaurants and stay at
the best hotels. The car I drive is a Jaguar XY. I have got through about 10
over 40 years. I have my Rolls-Royce Phantom and a Bentley Blue Train. I
also own a helicopter. I got my flying licence in 1972 and my instrument
rating in 1980, which is a professional pilot's licence.
What has been the driving force in your career?
It was the fear of returning to the poverty I experienced as a child. Also
the overwhelming desire to succeed, and the joy that repaying my mother gave
me.
When my mother was 30 she looked 60, but at 60 she looked 30. Once I began
to make money I could give her whatever she desired. This amazing woman had
lung cancer at 54 and the doctor thought she would die. Unbelievably, she
survived and lived to the age of 92.
What has been your most financially rewarding moment?
In 1972 I bought two shops in Tottenham Court Road in London that cost me in
the region of £100,000. They were temporary shops, built on a bomb site.
Altogether a dozen were put up. Then in 1980 I sold them for £3m to a
developer. Luck does play a part in our lives.
At first I was offered £2.5m, but I told the negotiator I wanted £3m. He
said there was no way the principal would pay £3m, and he didn't. He paid
£2,999,999. I learnt something from that day: pride plays a big part in
business and in our everyday lives.
To what extent was the takeover of West Ham a financially driven versus an
emotional decision?
It was certainly not financially driven. It was an emotional decision driven
by the fulfilment of a boyhood dream, because everything goes back to those
early years in the East End. Back then, with no money, there was one thing I
could do. I could bunk into West Ham Football Club at half-time for free,
and watch football across the road from my home. I became a fan and then 50
years later I returned as chairman.
Has the recession affected you?
Yes, but we are not complaining. We are still making money but the growth
has not been there. Ann Summers is a three-channel business, because it has
retail stores, an internet business and the party sales. Retail has been
flat, party plan has been down and the internet is in growth. If you put the
three together the business has been flat for the past three years.
What is your most treasured possession?
My home is a special place for me. It's a seven-bedroom Victorian house that
took me two and a half years to refurbish. It's in 55 acres, though when I
bought it there were just four acres. I have built a small private golf
course and I have got my tennis court, indoor swimming pool and my koi fish,
which are one of my hobbies. I paid £400,000 for the property in 1993, but
it really was a wreck.
What has been your best buy?
It was buying Ann Summers in 1972 for £10,000, which comprised two retail
shops, a tiny mail order business turning over £10,000 a year, and of course
the name. Today it is probably worth £200m. It is an unusual, exciting and
revolutionary business, but I never dreamt it would become an iconic brand.
What has been your best business decision?
I sold Gold Air, my small private airline that I had had for 10 years, in
October 2006, just before the recession. It was a good decision because the
industry then collapsed. I was troubled by the increase in residential and
commercial property prices. When the offer came in it was generous, but I
did not predict the recession.
What are THE qualities you look for when you hire a football manager?
I have probably hired seven in total. I look for someone who is a leader of
men, with a strong personality and the will to win. If you make a mistake it
will cost you millions, whereas if you make a successful choice that manager
could be with you for many years.
Do you prefer to bank online or go into a branch?
I do neither. If I want some cash I ask my financial director Ray, in the
next-door office. He will go to the bank and collect the money for me. At a
restaurant I pay the bill by credit card and I tip with cash. I cannot
remember going into a bank in the past 30 years, and I don't use the
internet. I just go to Ray, who has worked with me for 40 years and is also
my confidant.
Do you keep an eye on your finances on a regular basis?
I check the cash-flow situation in my business with Ray every day, and we go
through my personal accounts once a month.
Have you ever invested in shares?
I have an £8m portfolio that has evolved since I started investing 20 years
ago. Ray and I alone decide which shares to buy. We discuss the market every
day. Ray monitors prices on an hourly basis. I have invested predominantly
in FTSE 100 shares. Utilities have done well for me. I put money into wind
farms when they were first mooted and oil prices hit $150 a barrel, and I
did OK.
What is your view on football clubs overspending?
The danger is that ultimately any overspending leads to debt, and
out-of-control debt leads to administration. The losers are the fans and
that cannot be right.
Today you have to control football clubs from themselves. When they go into
administration tens of thousands of fans are heartbroken. It is therefore
incumbent upon the governing bodies to ensure this does not happen. To date
they have failed, and it is time to change. The board of the Football League
is about to announce a piece of governance, the Fair Play Rule, which should
help protect clubs in the future.
If West Ham were to move into the Olympic Stadium, where would you rank this
among your business moves?
I started off by saying that football is not a business, but that aside,
moving to the Olympic Stadium would be a very emotional thing for me. We
must be able to fulfil the legacy on behalf of the Olympic Park Legacy
Company but they have to provide a stadium fit for purpose.
WHY HAS your partnership with David Sullivan and Karren Brady proved so
successful?
I would say what is unique is that we have each brought different qualities
to the business and we respect each other and each other's opinions. No
relationship can survive 20 years without these qualities.
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
Monday, May 14
Daily WHUFC News - 14th May 2012
Dan is the main man
WHUFC.com
Promising defender Dan Potts was delighted to collect his Young Hammer of
the Year award
12.05.2012
Dan Potts was all smiles as he collected the 2011/12 Young Hammer of the
Year award - despite suffering from a painful stomach upset on the night!
The 18-year-old was bent double just moments after he left the stage after
being presented with the trophy by Bet… CEO Paul Yelland and Academy
Director Tony Carr. However, he managed a broad grin as he accepted an award
that marked the culmination of a truly outstanding campaign for club and
country. After making a strong start, Sam Allardyce called Potts up to his
first-team squad in the autumn, handing him a debut in the absence of the
injured George McCartney in the 1-0 home npower Championship win over
Barnsley on 17 December. The left-back performed admirably, totalling four
first-team appearances over the next three weeks. Potts' rapid rise did not
affect his appearances for the Under-18s, though, and his mature approach
and captaincy helped the youngsters reach the FA Youth Cup fifth round and
enjoy a strong season in the FA Premier Academy League. The Young Hammer of
the Year award was a fitting reward for the teenager just two years after
being given the all-clear following a childhood fight against leukaemia.
"It's a great way to end the season," he told West Ham TV. "It's been a
great year for me and this caps it off to be honest. I'm really pleased with
the award, my mum and dad are very proud too. I'm grateful for the support
I've had from the manager and from my family. I hope I can continue and keep
pushing forward."
Potts said there was no secret to his achievements this year, only hard work
and dedication to the cause. "I've just continued to put the work in on the
training field and pushing for that first team debut. Ive been very keen to
show what I can do all season. It's all about being patient, whenever I go
out there I give my all and thankfully Big Sam noticed and gave me my
chance. "This has been the best year of my life without a doubt. To win this
award at the end makes all the effort worthwhile and it's a great
achievement for me."
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Tell me mum me mum, don't make me tea me tea, I'm going to Wemberley...
KUMB.com
Filed: Sunday, 13th May 2012
By: Terry Land
To much excitement my ticket came through the post this morning and for the
first time in 31 years I'm off to Wembley with West Ham. Although we
journeyed together to Cardiff's excellent Millennium Stadium for three
consecutive years between 2004 and 2006, the League Cup final in 1981 was of
a different football age. That match against Liverpool was the Hammers'
third visit to Wembley in two seasons following an FA Cup win against
Arsenal and Charity Shield defeat to the same Anfield outfit.
As an example of the different prevailing attitudes our then manager the
late John Lyall (by every account a decent man) stole the next day's
headlines after he told referee Clive Thomas (a deliberately controversial
referee) he'd felt "cheated" by a decision to allow an Alan Kennedy goal
despite Sammy Lee lying in an offside position and interfering with play.
Not a season ticket holder at the time I'd had the presence of mind to claim
tickets prior to the semi-final against Coventry via the Sunday league club
I played for and unfortunately my dad and I were placed in the Liverpool
end. As we watched Ray Stewart slide an injury-time extra-time equalising
penalty past Ray Clemence I don't think I would have bet on it taking over
three decades for a return. I certainly wouldn't have had any idea of the
changes in the game I love in the interim. For a start it was another six
years until play-offs came into being and not until 1990 were the finals
played at Wembley. Even despite the present slight fluttering in my stomach
which I know will slowly grow until peaking at dysenteric level some time
next Saturday I believe play-offs to be inherently unfair.
Having played 46 games to decide an order of merit it is entirely perverse
sides should then enter into a cup competition for promotion. As an example,
my team benefited in 2005 from beating first Ipswich then Preston to gain
promotion despite finishing sixth. Conversely this year's final pits us
against Blackpool, a team we beat 4-0 and 4-1 in the league. Perhaps there
might be a justification if say, the top six sides played-off. But third to
sixth seems arbitrary at best. The "reward" of finishing second in the table
is less than our day out in Cardiff and doesn't have the possibility of a
trophy. Surely natural justice would legislate against the game of football
rewarding failure in such spectacular fashion? But no, play-offs have been
deemed a success by TV, and the hundreds of millions spent on Wembley need
to be justified, so the FA collectively tug their forelock before counting
the cash.
And let's be absolutely clear about this, the flood of TV money since the
second Taylor Report post-Hillsborough has done little for the game.
Financial rewards are the highest they have ever been yet because of the
huge disparity in reward between placings there has never been more debt –
the Premier League alone loses close to half a billion pounds each season.
Driven by the insatiable desire of supporters, clubs leverage themselves in
order to grab the next rung on the ladder. So prevalent has the borrowing
become any club remiss enough to keep a grip on finance is all but
guaranteed a slide down the leagues – witness the recent demise of
"well-run" clubs Charlton and Crewe. We are constantly told the play-off
final is the "biggest prize in football" as if fans measure success in the
folding stuff. The claim is of course nonsense either way – far from banking
the money, boardrooms will immediately spend it on the wages of players
needed to keep the side at their new level.
The ease with which competent foreign players can be bought in has led to a
vicious circle of poor coaching in this country and a removal of the
admittedly already waning local identity of clubs. As an example, the West
Ham side that drew with Liverpool contained four home-grown players (five if
you count Alan Devonshire) and seven born within the M25. In contrast, the
Hammers XI that beat Cardiff in their play-off semi-final last week
consisted of a notable three products of the youth team but a mere two
native to London. Little surprise Canning Town-born Mark Noble's No16 shirt
is the club shop's best seller.
For the fans who attend games the startling improvement in comfort of
grounds has come at a heavy price. Although Dad and I are unlikely to forget
the rivers of Scouse piss sluicing down Wembley's rotting terraces, the cost
of attending football has, in a total inversion of that which were told
prior to the nascence of the Premiership, rocketed. My FA Cup final ticket
of 1980 cost me £3.50 or assuming a 40-hour week just over an hours' work at
the then national average wage of £6,000. Today, even the cheapest ticket at
£38 for an inferior competition would take around three hours' work at an
average wage of £26,000.
Once it was the Police who decided when games were to be played, now it's
Sky with scarcely a passing concern for supporters. This season's away game
at Brighton – pencilled in at the start of the campaign as a weekend away
with or without the missus – was scheduled for a Saturday kick-off. Yet Sky
moved the game to a Monday night only after tickets had been bought, travel
arranged and hotels booked. So much for their doubtful advertising claim,
"Football – we know how you feel about it – cos we feel the same." Although
a qualitative judgement, I doubt many who have experienced 30-years of
football would say anything other than the atmosphere at games has
plummeted, hence the ever more desperate attempts of clubs and TV to "sell"
the game. Thankfully, the owners of West Ham have come out against
pre-recorded goal celebrations – even if I suspect this to be a reprieve
rather than full pardon.
As a comparison between the games that preceded it and our previous final 23
years earlier the 2004 play-off final against Crystal Palace was
illuminating. It was my last match of a 56-game season – the only time I've
been ever present throughout an entire campaign – and irrationally I felt my
commitment should be rewarded with a win. However, unlike the semi-final
home leg against Ipswich (brilliantly stage-managed by then manager Alan
Pardew to produce an atmosphere) I felt more of a spectator than supporter.
Mr Woo juggling a football prior to kick-off had nothing to do with my
experience of football, nor did the various other "entertainments" on show,
all of which belonged to TV. And despite the 30-odd thousand West Ham
present there wasn't any "heart" to the crowd as you get at Upton Park in
the Bobby Moore Lower Stand or the gloriously named "Chav Corner" between
the Alpari and Sir Trevor Brooking Stands.
Like John Lyall I felt cheated – and not least as Palace won to complete my
worst day as a West Ham supporter. Worse than relegation the previous season
and much worse than the shoot-out FA Cup final defeat to Liverpool two years
later that didn't feel like a loss at all. As joyous as it was to gain
promotion with a play-off victory against Preston the following season, the
post-match emotion was more vindication than victory. And that's the biggest
problem with play-offs – you have so much more to lose than gain.
None of which can stop me being just as excited over going to Wembley as I
was 31 years ago. Maybe all this is my fault?
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Reid targets Hammers glory
New Zealand international praises his defensive partner Tomkins
Last Updated: May 13, 2012 1:44pm
SSN
West Ham defender Winston Reid says missing out on automatic promotion has
only served to redouble their efforts to succeed. The 23-year-old was part
of the Hammers side that finished two points behind second-placed
Southampton, which meant they dropped into the play-offs. Under the
stewardship of Sam Allardyce, the East London club have made their way into
the play-off finals where they will face Blackpool on May 19th. And with the
defensive platform Reid and fellow stopper James Tomkins are providing, he
is confident their more attacking players can fire them to glory.
Focused
"We have a good partnership I think, as does the whole back four. James and
I do well because we understand each other and it's important we have a
solid defensive line," said Reid. "It is important that the back four have a
good understanding as it allows the attacking players to concentrate fully
on scoring goals that will win us matches. "Obviously after missing out, we
are disappointed and had to pick ourselves up but I think it just made us
more determined to get there. "We are still fully focused on achieving our
promotion goal and getting into the Premier League so let's win the final."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
http://vyperz.blogspot.com
WHUFC.com
Promising defender Dan Potts was delighted to collect his Young Hammer of
the Year award
12.05.2012
Dan Potts was all smiles as he collected the 2011/12 Young Hammer of the
Year award - despite suffering from a painful stomach upset on the night!
The 18-year-old was bent double just moments after he left the stage after
being presented with the trophy by Bet… CEO Paul Yelland and Academy
Director Tony Carr. However, he managed a broad grin as he accepted an award
that marked the culmination of a truly outstanding campaign for club and
country. After making a strong start, Sam Allardyce called Potts up to his
first-team squad in the autumn, handing him a debut in the absence of the
injured George McCartney in the 1-0 home npower Championship win over
Barnsley on 17 December. The left-back performed admirably, totalling four
first-team appearances over the next three weeks. Potts' rapid rise did not
affect his appearances for the Under-18s, though, and his mature approach
and captaincy helped the youngsters reach the FA Youth Cup fifth round and
enjoy a strong season in the FA Premier Academy League. The Young Hammer of
the Year award was a fitting reward for the teenager just two years after
being given the all-clear following a childhood fight against leukaemia.
"It's a great way to end the season," he told West Ham TV. "It's been a
great year for me and this caps it off to be honest. I'm really pleased with
the award, my mum and dad are very proud too. I'm grateful for the support
I've had from the manager and from my family. I hope I can continue and keep
pushing forward."
Potts said there was no secret to his achievements this year, only hard work
and dedication to the cause. "I've just continued to put the work in on the
training field and pushing for that first team debut. Ive been very keen to
show what I can do all season. It's all about being patient, whenever I go
out there I give my all and thankfully Big Sam noticed and gave me my
chance. "This has been the best year of my life without a doubt. To win this
award at the end makes all the effort worthwhile and it's a great
achievement for me."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Tell me mum me mum, don't make me tea me tea, I'm going to Wemberley...
KUMB.com
Filed: Sunday, 13th May 2012
By: Terry Land
To much excitement my ticket came through the post this morning and for the
first time in 31 years I'm off to Wembley with West Ham. Although we
journeyed together to Cardiff's excellent Millennium Stadium for three
consecutive years between 2004 and 2006, the League Cup final in 1981 was of
a different football age. That match against Liverpool was the Hammers'
third visit to Wembley in two seasons following an FA Cup win against
Arsenal and Charity Shield defeat to the same Anfield outfit.
As an example of the different prevailing attitudes our then manager the
late John Lyall (by every account a decent man) stole the next day's
headlines after he told referee Clive Thomas (a deliberately controversial
referee) he'd felt "cheated" by a decision to allow an Alan Kennedy goal
despite Sammy Lee lying in an offside position and interfering with play.
Not a season ticket holder at the time I'd had the presence of mind to claim
tickets prior to the semi-final against Coventry via the Sunday league club
I played for and unfortunately my dad and I were placed in the Liverpool
end. As we watched Ray Stewart slide an injury-time extra-time equalising
penalty past Ray Clemence I don't think I would have bet on it taking over
three decades for a return. I certainly wouldn't have had any idea of the
changes in the game I love in the interim. For a start it was another six
years until play-offs came into being and not until 1990 were the finals
played at Wembley. Even despite the present slight fluttering in my stomach
which I know will slowly grow until peaking at dysenteric level some time
next Saturday I believe play-offs to be inherently unfair.
Having played 46 games to decide an order of merit it is entirely perverse
sides should then enter into a cup competition for promotion. As an example,
my team benefited in 2005 from beating first Ipswich then Preston to gain
promotion despite finishing sixth. Conversely this year's final pits us
against Blackpool, a team we beat 4-0 and 4-1 in the league. Perhaps there
might be a justification if say, the top six sides played-off. But third to
sixth seems arbitrary at best. The "reward" of finishing second in the table
is less than our day out in Cardiff and doesn't have the possibility of a
trophy. Surely natural justice would legislate against the game of football
rewarding failure in such spectacular fashion? But no, play-offs have been
deemed a success by TV, and the hundreds of millions spent on Wembley need
to be justified, so the FA collectively tug their forelock before counting
the cash.
And let's be absolutely clear about this, the flood of TV money since the
second Taylor Report post-Hillsborough has done little for the game.
Financial rewards are the highest they have ever been yet because of the
huge disparity in reward between placings there has never been more debt –
the Premier League alone loses close to half a billion pounds each season.
Driven by the insatiable desire of supporters, clubs leverage themselves in
order to grab the next rung on the ladder. So prevalent has the borrowing
become any club remiss enough to keep a grip on finance is all but
guaranteed a slide down the leagues – witness the recent demise of
"well-run" clubs Charlton and Crewe. We are constantly told the play-off
final is the "biggest prize in football" as if fans measure success in the
folding stuff. The claim is of course nonsense either way – far from banking
the money, boardrooms will immediately spend it on the wages of players
needed to keep the side at their new level.
The ease with which competent foreign players can be bought in has led to a
vicious circle of poor coaching in this country and a removal of the
admittedly already waning local identity of clubs. As an example, the West
Ham side that drew with Liverpool contained four home-grown players (five if
you count Alan Devonshire) and seven born within the M25. In contrast, the
Hammers XI that beat Cardiff in their play-off semi-final last week
consisted of a notable three products of the youth team but a mere two
native to London. Little surprise Canning Town-born Mark Noble's No16 shirt
is the club shop's best seller.
For the fans who attend games the startling improvement in comfort of
grounds has come at a heavy price. Although Dad and I are unlikely to forget
the rivers of Scouse piss sluicing down Wembley's rotting terraces, the cost
of attending football has, in a total inversion of that which were told
prior to the nascence of the Premiership, rocketed. My FA Cup final ticket
of 1980 cost me £3.50 or assuming a 40-hour week just over an hours' work at
the then national average wage of £6,000. Today, even the cheapest ticket at
£38 for an inferior competition would take around three hours' work at an
average wage of £26,000.
Once it was the Police who decided when games were to be played, now it's
Sky with scarcely a passing concern for supporters. This season's away game
at Brighton – pencilled in at the start of the campaign as a weekend away
with or without the missus – was scheduled for a Saturday kick-off. Yet Sky
moved the game to a Monday night only after tickets had been bought, travel
arranged and hotels booked. So much for their doubtful advertising claim,
"Football – we know how you feel about it – cos we feel the same." Although
a qualitative judgement, I doubt many who have experienced 30-years of
football would say anything other than the atmosphere at games has
plummeted, hence the ever more desperate attempts of clubs and TV to "sell"
the game. Thankfully, the owners of West Ham have come out against
pre-recorded goal celebrations – even if I suspect this to be a reprieve
rather than full pardon.
As a comparison between the games that preceded it and our previous final 23
years earlier the 2004 play-off final against Crystal Palace was
illuminating. It was my last match of a 56-game season – the only time I've
been ever present throughout an entire campaign – and irrationally I felt my
commitment should be rewarded with a win. However, unlike the semi-final
home leg against Ipswich (brilliantly stage-managed by then manager Alan
Pardew to produce an atmosphere) I felt more of a spectator than supporter.
Mr Woo juggling a football prior to kick-off had nothing to do with my
experience of football, nor did the various other "entertainments" on show,
all of which belonged to TV. And despite the 30-odd thousand West Ham
present there wasn't any "heart" to the crowd as you get at Upton Park in
the Bobby Moore Lower Stand or the gloriously named "Chav Corner" between
the Alpari and Sir Trevor Brooking Stands.
Like John Lyall I felt cheated – and not least as Palace won to complete my
worst day as a West Ham supporter. Worse than relegation the previous season
and much worse than the shoot-out FA Cup final defeat to Liverpool two years
later that didn't feel like a loss at all. As joyous as it was to gain
promotion with a play-off victory against Preston the following season, the
post-match emotion was more vindication than victory. And that's the biggest
problem with play-offs – you have so much more to lose than gain.
None of which can stop me being just as excited over going to Wembley as I
was 31 years ago. Maybe all this is my fault?
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Reid targets Hammers glory
New Zealand international praises his defensive partner Tomkins
Last Updated: May 13, 2012 1:44pm
SSN
West Ham defender Winston Reid says missing out on automatic promotion has
only served to redouble their efforts to succeed. The 23-year-old was part
of the Hammers side that finished two points behind second-placed
Southampton, which meant they dropped into the play-offs. Under the
stewardship of Sam Allardyce, the East London club have made their way into
the play-off finals where they will face Blackpool on May 19th. And with the
defensive platform Reid and fellow stopper James Tomkins are providing, he
is confident their more attacking players can fire them to glory.
Focused
"We have a good partnership I think, as does the whole back four. James and
I do well because we understand each other and it's important we have a
solid defensive line," said Reid. "It is important that the back four have a
good understanding as it allows the attacking players to concentrate fully
on scoring goals that will win us matches. "Obviously after missing out, we
are disappointed and had to pick ourselves up but I think it just made us
more determined to get there. "We are still fully focused on achieving our
promotion goal and getting into the Premier League so let's win the final."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
http://vyperz.blogspot.com
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