WHUFC.com
The club has confirmed that Ludek Miklosko has left the club with immediate effect
17.03.2010
West Ham United can confirm that goalkeeping coach Ludek Miklosko has left the club with immediate effect. Miklosko - known as Ludo to everyone at the club - was in his second spell at the Boleyn Ground, having served the Hammers as a player between 1990 and 1997, making 375 appearances and being named Hammer of the Year in 1991. After retiring as a player in 2001, he returned to West Ham in a coaching capacity. With respect to all parties involved, the club will be making no further comment until the terms of his departure are confirmed. Kevin Hitchcock, who spent time on loan at the club back in March 1993, has been appointed as a goalkeeping coach until the end of the season.
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Davenport departs
WHUFC.com
The club have reached an agreement with Calum Davenport
17.03.2010
West Ham United and Calum Davenport today agreed terms to mutually terminate his contract allowing him the opportunity to concentrate on securing a new club for next season. The club said that, after a traumatic period of time for the player, it was felt that it would be in his best interests to allow him an opportunity to put past events behind him and restart his career afresh. Davenport thanked West Ham for their co-operation and expressed particular thanks to the medical and coaching staff for their assistance and hard work in aiding his recovery and his progress back to full fitness. He looks forward to resuming his career as soon as possible. Both parties have agreed that they do not wish to comment further on this matter.
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Gabbs targets strong finish
WHUFC.com
Danny Gabbidon is fit and ready to end the Barclays Premier League season on a high
17.03.2010
Danny Gabbidon is plotting a successful, injury-free end to the 2009/10 Barclays Premier League season. West Ham United's Wales centre-back has endured a difficult past two-and-a-half years, missing more than 18 months of action between December 2007 and August 2009 with a complex abdominal problem. The 30-year-old returned last summer, scoring in the Barclays Asia Trophy victory over Beijing Guoan in China and making ten first-team appearances before injuring his hamstring in the 1-1 home draw with Chelsea on 20 December. After another spell in rehabilitation at Chadwell Heath, Gabbidon pulled on the claret and blue shirt in Saturday's 4-1 defeat by the Blues at Stamford Bridge. While the result might not have been what the defender wanted, he was pleased to be back on the pitch and contributing after another frustrating spell on the sidelines. "My hamstring went just before I was coming back training and then I had a little problem with my calf so that put me back a week or so. "I don't know whether it is all arising from my original injury, it's possible, but I don't know. It has been a little bit frustrating because my back has felt fine, but obviously it is the other little niggles that have been holding me back. But hopefully now with ten games to go, I'm over all that and hopefully I will be available for the rest of the season. "The hamstring is fine, touch wood. I was pleased to get through the game. It was a tough game for myself. But if I can take one thing from the game it is that I have come through it and I'm feeling OK."
While Saturday's defeat was a blow to West Ham's hopes of climbing the table, Gabbidon believes the club's remaining home fixtures with Wolverhampton Wanderers, Stoke City, Sunderland, Wigan Athletic and Manchester City will decide their fate. "We have to try and win the home games. Obviously our away record is not that great this season, so that's why the home games are so important. If we can win a couple of them and improve our away games a little bit, then I think we will be fine."
While home points are vital, Gabbidon insisted the squad would travel to Arsenal on Saturday eager to pick up a positive result at the Emirates Stadium. "It was disappointing to lose at home to Bolton so we will be looking to pick up points somewhere else to get those points back. "We've got Arsenal next, which doesn't get any easier. They are a very good team as well [as Chelsea were]. We have to show those [fighting] qualities if we are going to stay in the league and I'm sure we are going to do just that. "I think we will be OK, but we have to keep battling, give 110 per cent. We have got a few games coming up where we should pick up some points. We are not playing too badly at the moment, so we have to keep doing what we are doing and I think we will be fine."
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Mitchell confirms Boleyn bout
WHUFC.com
West Ham United fan Kevin Mitchell is set to fight Michael Katsidis for the interim WBO lightweight title
17.03.2010
West Ham United fan Kevin Mitchell is set to fight Australian Michael Katsidis for the interim WBO lightweight title at the Boleyn Ground, subject to licence. The 'Dagenham Destroyer' will battle to become world champion on Saturday 15 May, it was confirmed to a packed press conference at the stadium on Wednesday. The strong undercard includes a British heavyweight bout involving Danny Williams and Sam Sexton, and Olympic gold medallist James DeGale, with further fights to be announced.
Mitchell, a regular visitor to Upton Park to cheer on his heroes in claret and blue since his childhood days watching his favourite player Julian Dicks, boxed for the famous West Ham ABC in Plaistow as a youngster. He began his professional career with a first-round knockout of Stevie Quinn at the nearby Goresbrook Leisure Centre in Dagenham in July 2003. Since then, the 25-year-old has amassed a 31-0 record, with 23 of those victories coming by way of knockout.
With recent successes over Colombian pair Breidis Prescott and Ignacio Mendoza adding to his impressive resume, Mitchell is taking aim at Katsidis, who has a 26-2 record and has held the WBO interim lightweight title since beating American Vicente Escobedo last September. The local boy is expecting nothing other though than to "take him out" when it comes to the May bout.
Mitchell added: "To fight here would be something special, unbelievable for me. I come over to Upton Park as often as I can but with the training it is hard sometimes. When I am out of training, I am always here. "All my family are West Ham fans and I first went to Upton Park as a kid, I was probably about eight. It was long before I started boxing."
West Ham joint-chairman David Sullivan said the club, who are working closely with local authorities to finalise arrangements, was looking forward to the prospect of staging such an important fight. "I am delighted that we have been able to bring Kevin Mitchell's dream world title fight here to the Boleyn Ground, subject to licence" he said. "I have been a boxing supporter for many years, sponsoring a number of fights including some of Lennox Lewis's early bouts. "Boxing has had a big part to play in the history of east London and its sporting heritage. I know it will be a special night here and that Kevin - as a passionate West Ham fan - will get a lot of support from our fans. It will be a fight to remember."
The Mitchell-Katsidis bout is set to mark the first world title fight held at a London football stadium since Frank Bruno defeated Oliver McCall for the WBC heavyweight title at the old Wembley Stadium in 1995. Wembley also played host to Bruno-Tim Witherspoon in July 1986, while the Essex-based fighter knocked out Joe Bugner at Tottenham Hotspur's White Hart Lane home in October 1987. Prior to those fights, Irish featherweight Barry McGuigan beat Eusebio Pedroza at Queens Park Rangers' Loftus Road in June 1985, while Henry Cooper battled Muhammad Ali at both Wembley in 1963 and Highbury in 1966. East London has always been a hotbed of boxing talent, with world heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis being born in Stratford and world flyweight champion Charlie Magri making his home in Bethnal Green. York Hall in Bethnal Green is also known as one of England's most famous and historic boxing venues, regularly playing host to bouts of national and international importance.
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Green pays the penalty
WHUFC.com
A special shoot-out at the Boleyn involving Robert Green saw the Bobby Moore Fund benefit
16.03.2010
Robert Green has taken time out to help raise money for the Bobby Moore Fund for Cancer Research UK in tandem with talkSPORT radio presenter Ian 'Moose' Abrahams. The England No1 agreed to face five penalties from the Moose at the Boleyn Ground, with the out-of-shape reporter having to donate money to the club charity for any missed. After claiming his converted warm-up attempt as the first, he then skied the second before scoring the next two with fierce efforts to Green's right. The fifth was comfortably saved - leaving it just about honours even on a sunny afternoon in east London. The real winner was the Bobby Moore Fund with more sponsorship to come their way and the keeper also donating several signed items for auction. "He did OK," said Green, with a wry smile when quizzed about the shoot-out on talkSPORT. "He tricked me into considering the first one was a practice and then he claimed that one. He booted the next one over and the next two he scored. "He was quite hard to read. His arms and legs were all over the place and there was no real shape to his body to go on. His arms were going one way, the legs the other and his gut the other. There is a saying in goalkeeping that you can't save a shank and I proved that. "
The charity event came after Green had put in the hours at Chadwell Heath with his team-mates as they began to focus on the weekend trip to Arsenal. Reflecting on last Saturday's 4-1 loss at Chelsea, when Green did not deserve to concede four goals after some tremendous stops, he acknowledged it was always going to be a tough afternoon.
"It was a massively difficult game against a Chelsea team that put out all their firepower. They managed to find space and there were a lot of balls coming into the box. The lads coped admirably with that in the first half but once the second one went in, it was difficult to come back from again. "Scotty [Parker] scored a wonderful goal and played tremendously well. It was half a job done at half-time but unfortunately that is how it stayed. Chelsea's quality and resources came through and after about an hour that became fairly clear."
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Bondz banking on loan success
WHUFC.com
After heading to Plymouth Argyle, Bondz N'Gala is hoping he can take the next step in his career
17.03.2010
West Ham United youngster Bondz N'Gala enjoyed a winning start to his loan spell at Plymouth Argyle and is hoping to stake his claim in the weeks to come. The 20-year-old was an unused substitute on Tuesday night, just hours after his move from the Boleyn Ground was confirmed. N'Gala watched on from the bench as former Hammers midfielder Carl Fletcher struck a late winner in a 3-2 home victory against Bristol City. The win moved Plymouth to four points from safety at the bottom of the Championship and raised hopes they can beat the drop this season. N'Gala is set to play a major role in the club's survival fight as he looks to a future away from east London after coming through the ranks. "I am definitely excited at the prospect of playing football," he said in an exclusive interview with WHUTV. "Competitive games are what I need and hopefully I can go out and show what I am about. It is about getting a good run of games and testing myself. " I need to see where I am at. It is a big opportunity to prove myself. It is a learning curve in my development and hopefully all will go well. It is a great challenge. "I went down there for a week initially to train and I know what they are about. They are a good side and they don't deserve to be where they are in the league. There is still loads of time to get out of trouble. Hopefully I can help them do so."
N'Gala was quick to praise reserve-team manager Alex Dyer for helping him develop in the last few years and said he was an ideal figure for the young players coming through. Dyer made the Forest Gate-born player his reserve-team captain last season and brought out his leadership qualities. "Alex has been great. He has a lot of time for the lads. He is good for the morale of the boys. He is always willing to help and give advice. He is a great person to have at the club."
Meanwhile, Freddie Sears got six minutes off the bench for Coventry City on Tuesday night, as they saw their push for the Championship play-offs stutter with a 2-1 home defeat by Cardiff City. Sears is on loan at the Ricoh Arena until the end of the season and has played four times to date.
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West Ham terminate contract of defender Calum Davenport
BBC.co.uk
Defender Calum Davenport has left West Ham after his contract was ended by mutual consent. Davenport, 27, joined West Ham from Tottenham in January 2007 but never gained a regular first-team spot. Last August, he suffered serious leg injuries after an incident at the family home, after which he was charged with assaulting his sister Cara.
A club statement said it was felt to be in his best interests to allow him to make a fresh start. Davenport, a former England U21 international, began as a trainee at Coventry before moving to Tottenham in 2004, from where he was regularly sent out on loan, including a spell at West Ham before a permanent move. But he failed to have much impact at Upton Park either, making just 13 appearances in three years, with the last one being in a 4-1 win over Portsmouth on Boxing Day 2008. Davenport suffered serious knife wounds to both legs in the incident at the family home and spent six days in intensive care. He is provisionally due in court on 2 August to answer the assault charge. Both West Ham and Davenport have agreed they will not comment further on his departure from the club.
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Dial K for Kevin
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 17th March 2010
By: Staff Writer
Kevin Hitchcock has been confirmed as West Ham United's new temporary goalkeeping coach. The former Chelsea goalkeeper, who played alongside current Irons boss Gianfranco Zola at Stamford Bridge has been appointed in the wake of the news that Ludo Miklosko has left the club, as revealed exclusively here on KUMB.com last week.
Hitchcock - who was part of the Hammers entourage that visited Chelsea last weekend for the 4-1 defeat to the title-chasers - is a long-term Hammers fan, having been born in Canning Town. Despite his affiliation with United, this is the first time he has worked for the club. His playing career, which began at Barking FC, included spells with Mansfield Town, Chelsea and Northampton. Hitchcock will stay with the Hammers until the end of the current campaign.
* West Ham United this afternoon confirmed Miklosko's exit; a brief statement added that "with respect to all parties involved, the club will be making no further comment until the terms of his departure are confirmed."
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Let's get ready to rumble
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 17th March 2010
By: Staff Writer
Irons fan Kevin Mitchell will stage his WBO title fight at West Ham United's Boleyn Ground. The Dagenham-born fighter has confirmed that he will face Australian Michael Katsidis at the home of the Hammers on Saturday, 15 May. Promoter Frank Warren said: "Kevin's got a big following in that part of the world and no one's ever promoted a world title fight in West Ham. Dagenham will be empty and hopefully the rest of the East End will as well."
The two fighters will compete for the interim WBO lightweight title on the weekend following the end of the 2009/10 Premier League campaign, which closes with West Ham's home fixture against Manchester City six days prior to the fight, which is subject to a licence. West Ham joint-chairman David Sullivan, who had arranged the fight with Warren, told whufc.com: "I am delighted that we have been able to bring Kevin Mitchell's dream world title fight here to the Boleyn Ground. Boxing has had a big part to play in the history of east London and its sporting heritage. "I know it will be a special night here and that Kevin - as a passionate West Ham fan - will get a lot of support from our fans. It will be a fight to remember."
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Davenport departs Hammers
West Ham defender terminates contract
Last updated: 17th March 2010
SSN
West Ham United have confirmed that Calum Davenport has left the club. Reports suggested earlier this week that the club had agreed to pay-off the remainder of Davenport's current contract, which is due to expire in the close-season. The 27-year-old is understood to be keen to prove his fitness at another club before the summer in order to secure a move. West Ham have come to an agreement with Davenport over the remainder of his deal and have now confirmed his release. "West Ham United and Calum Davenport today agreed terms to mutually terminate his contract allowing him the opportunity to concentrate on securing a new club for next season," read a Hammers statement. "Both parties have agreed that they do not wish to comment further on this matter."
Davenport has endured a problematic last nine months, after he suffered stab wounds last May during an incident involving his sister's boyfriend. As part of the same incident Davenport is accused of assaulting his sister Cara, and will stand trial in August. Davenport has thanks West Ham for their support over the past year and is now focusing his efforts in regaining full fitness. "I would like to thank everyone at West Ham for their incredible support over the last six months, especially the manager and the excellent medical staff who have helped me through my recovery," explained Davenport. "I would like to also thank the fans for all their messages of support. I understand that there is no longer a place for me in the team and wish the team every success for the future. "I am fully focused on returning to fitness and aim to be back playing football for a new club by the start of next season."
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Calum's exit is confirmed
The Sun
Published: 17 Mar 2010
WEST HAM have confirmed the termination of defender Calum Davenport's contract. The 27-year-old has not played since sustaining substantial leg injuries in a stabbing last October, although he had recently returned to training. A West Ham spokesman said: "After what has been a traumatic period of time for Calum, we feel that it would be in his best interests to allow him an opportunity to put what has been a difficult few months behind him and restart his career afresh." Davenport's contract was due to expire this summer and was cancelled by mutual consent. It is understood he agreed a pay-off of around £250,000. The defender said: "I would like to thank everyone at West Ham for their incredible support over the last six months. I would like to also thank the fans. "I understand that there is no longer a place for me in the team and wish the team every success. "I aim to be back playing football for a new club by the start of next season."
Davenport was left with a 15-inch scar on one leg after being attacked by his sister's boyfriend and needed surgery. In January, Davenport pleaded not guilty to assaulting his pregnant sister, Cara, in the same incident. He is due to stand trial at Luton Crown Court on August 2 and is out on bail. West Ham are three points off the relegation zone and have been looking to cut costs since the arrival of new owners David Sullivan and David Gold in January.
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Calum Davenport leaves West Ham United Scott Rutherford
The Times
Calum Davenport has played his last game for West Ham United after the defender's contract was terminated last night by mutual consent. The 27-year-old has not played since suffering substantial leg injuries in a stabbing incident last August, although he had recently returned to training. "After what has been a traumatic period of time for Calum, we feel that it would be in his best interests to allow him an opportunity to put what has been a difficult few months behind him and restart his career afresh," the club said in a statement. Davenport's contract was due to expire in the summer, but agreement has been reached on the terms of its early cancellation. The former Tottenham Hotspur player required surgery to both legs after being attacked by his pregnant sister's boyfriend.
In January, Davenport pleaded not guilty to assaulting his sister, Cara, in the same incident. He is due to stand trial at Luton Crown Court on August 2 and is out on bail. "I would like to thank everyone at West Ham for their incredible support over the last six months, especially the manager and the excellent medical staff who have helped me through my recovery," Davenport said. "I would like to also thank the fans for all their messages of support. "I understand that there is no longer a place for me in the team and wish the team every success for the future. I am fully focused on returning to fitness and aim to be back playing football for a new club by the start of next season."
West Ham are three points off the relegation zone and have been attempting to cut costs since the arrival of David Sullivan and David Gold, the new owners, in January.
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Brady to meet athletics chiefs
Published 16:21 17/03/10 By Pa Sports
The Mirror
West Ham vice-chairman Karren Brady was on Wednesday meeting UK Athletics chiefs to discuss the future of the 2012 Olympic Stadium. UKA confirmed that Brady was holding talks with their chairman Ed Warner over the club's hopes of transforming the venue into a Barclays Premier League stadium after the Games. The meeting comes ahead of the publication of an Olympic Park Legacy Company document inviting expressions of interest in the stadium's future use. West Ham had hoped to gain sole use of the venue, but there is growing support for the retention of the athletics track with UKA hoping to land the 2015 World Athletics Championships.
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Whatever happened to Paulo Wanchope?
Date: 17th March 2010 at 3:39 pm
Author: Tom Jinks |
FootballFancast
Costa Rica is not usually a country associated with footballing greatness. But one player helped put Costa Rican football on the map at the 2002 and 2006 World Cups. That player was Paulo Wanchope, a flamboyant striker that played in the Premiership with Derby, West Ham and Man City, before leaving England in 2004. Whatever happened to Paulo Wanchope?
Wanchope signed with Derby in 1996, after playing for Herediano in his native country. The striker hit the headlines when he scored a wondrous goal on his debut for Derby against Manchester United, beating four players before slotting the ball past Peter Schmeichel. The Costa Rican became a fan favourite at Pride Park, with a talent for both the sublime and the ridiculous, and scored 28 goals in his two years at Derby.
A £3.5 million move to West Ham followed for Wanchope, but the striker never really settled in his one season at Upton Park. He did manage to score 15 goals in 47 games, but was sold to Man City in 2000. At Maine Road, Wanchope had mixed fortunes. Injuries ruled him out for long periods of time, but he was still capable of scoring goals, finding the back of the net 27 times in 64 appearances for City.
Unable to stay fit, City sold the Costa Rican to Malaga for £500,000 in 2004, where Wanchope scored 6 goals in 26 games for the club. After that, the striker drifted from club to club for a few years, spending time in Qatar, Costa Rica, Argentina and in America with Chicago Fire, before retiring in 2007, aged 30. Injuries had taken their toll on Wanchope, and even though he was successful in these short stints at each club, he was unable to get into good enough shape to play regularly.
On the international stage, Wanchope is the only Costa Rican to score at two World Cups and the second all-time leading scorer for his country, with 45 goals in 73 appearances. Since retiring, Wanchope has took up coaching, spending last season in charge of his first club, Herediano in Costa Rica. He led the side to third in the league, but resigned due to the way the club was ran.
Wanchope will be forever remembered as a player who was capable of the spectacular and he was an extravagant talent. But his reputation for inconsistency on the pitch often infuriated fans and managers, and overshadowed his talent. But it is at Derby in particular, where Wanchope's heroics will be remembered, as his goal against United was voted the best in their history by Derby fans.
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West Ham suspend image-rights payments to players over tax fear
Hammers withhold payments due to seven players
Revenue and Customs investigating tax status of image rights
Stuart James guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 17 March 2010 22.30 GMT
West Ham United have risked upsetting a number of their key players after taking the unprecedented step of freezing image‑rights payments. The club have decided to withhold money due to seven of their first-team squad until Her Majesty's Revenue & Customs completes an ongoing investigation into tax due on image-rights contracts, a move that other clubs will view with interest.
The payments, which are typically free of PAYE and National Insurance, and often channelled through an offshore company, have come under increased scrutiny across the Premier League as HMRC seeks to recover up to £60m in unpaid taxes. It is unclear just how much individual clubs would be liable to pay back if the Revenue is able to prove that image rights contracts are a form of remuneration but West Ham are not prepared to wait and find out.
Kieron Dyer, Matthew Upson, Robert Green and Scott Parker are believed to be among those who have received letters informing them that the payments will stop. The decision could be seen as further evidence of West Ham's financial plight but David Sullivan, their chairman, maintains the move is a "logical, common-sense solution to a potential problem".
He said: "Because the Inland Revenue are saying that tax has to be deducted at source, until the people receiving the image rights have clarified things with the Inland Revenue, we are freezing payments on the basis that there has been a backlog of deductions that have not been made. Every penny they are entitled to will be paid in due course, but until it is agreed with the Inland Revenue we can't release the money.
"Until we build up the deficit for the previous payments, the payments will be held in escrow pending a settlement with the Inland Revenue. If anyone wants to sort out their particular case with the Inland Revenue, we'll abide by whatever they say. But what we can't have is a situation where a guy goes back to France and then in two years' time they [HMRC] say to us: 'You've given him £1m in image rights, we want 40% of that.'"
It is understood that the legal and financial representatives of the players have contacted West Ham to contest the decision, which they claim breaches contractual obligations. Sullivan, however, has urged them to deal directly with HMRC. "They can bring it to a head with the Revenue themselves. Their lawyers and their accountants should write to the Inland Revenue and resolve it," said Sullivan, who claimed "people are not particularly disgruntled" despite suggestions to the contrary.
Licensing payments are commonplace in the Premier League and often equate to at least 10% of a player's salary, but Sullivan believes his predecessors were too quick to approve image-rights contracts. "The previous board have been irresponsible in the way they have paid it and we are immediately reversing things in a fair and reasonable way," he said. "We are not doing anything tricky. We are just trying to limit our exposure for any punitive back-tax."
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West Ham confirm Hitchcock replacing Miklosko as keeper coach
18.03.10 | tribalfootball.com
West Ham United have confirmed goalkeeper coach Ludo Miklosko has left the club. In a statement the Hammers said: "Miklosko - known as Ludo to everyone at the club - was in his second spell at the Boleyn Ground, having served the Hammers as a player between 1990 and 1997, making 375 appearances and being named Hammer of the Year in 1991. After retiring as a player in 2001, he returned to West Ham in a coaching capacity. "With respect to all parties involved, the club will be making no further comment until the terms of his departure are confirmed. Kevin Hitchcock, who spent time on loan at the club back in March 1993, has been appointed as a goalkeeping coach until the end of the season."
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