|
By Frank Keogh
|
Former Portsmouth and Chelsea manager Avram Grant is set to take the vacant West Ham job within the next 48 hours.
Grant, who quit Pompey on 21 May, is returning from holiday on Wednesday and Hammers officials have indicated he is on the verge of signing a contract.
The 55-year-old Israeli is thought to have met the criteria laid down by co-chairmen David Sullivan and David Gold.
"After an hour, we knew we could work with this manager. We are very optimistic," Gold told BBC Sport.
"I think it's time for the football club to get some stability with people that have been there, done that and got the T-shirt.
"The bottom line is the relationship between the manager and the chairman is critical. In our case it's two chairmen so it's even more difficult as you need to have a relationship between three people."
Grant, who took Chelsea to a Champions League final and Portsmouth to the FA Cup final, will fill the position left vacant following the sacking of Gianfranco Zola.
West Ham's owners want Grant to improve a squad which finished in 17th position in the Premier League, one place above the relegation zone, with 35 points from 38 matches.
 |
606: DEBATE
|
"We can't put our fans through that again. We want to put together a team that was better than last year," said Gold.
"We were very fortunate. Normally 35 points gets you relegated.
"What we need is a manager who has achieved, has experience. We are not in a positon where we can take on young, inexperienced managers."
Gold said he hoped the appointment would herald a new era for West Ham, which includes a potential move to the new Olympic Stadium in east London after the 2012 Games.
"The vibes from the politicians are this is the perfect fit," he said of the potential for the Hammers to relocate from the Boleyn Ground to Stratford.
"What changed all this was spending a day at the stadium at the beginning of May.
"Let me tell you not many people have seen what we have seen. This stadium is going to be as iconic, in my view, as Wembley Stadium."
Grant is likely to bring in his own support team, and Zola's assistant Steve Clarke - who worked with the Israeli at Chelsea - is not expected to have a role at Upton Park.
West Ham had finished ninth under Zola in the 2008-09 campaign but struggled last season with off-pitch turmoil and a prolonged takeover battle.
"We did ask Franco to keep us up and he did that, but I think we need to move on from that. New owners like to choose their own people," said Gold.
Gold and Sullivan said the club had £110m debts when they took over in January.
The pair - together with Karren Brady - had previously been in charge for 16 years at Birmingham City where Barry Fry, Trevor Francis, Steve Bruce and Alex McLeish were their managerial appointments.
"We are over the worst at West Ham, we've found most of the skeletons in the cupboard and are looking forward to a bright, exciting future," said former Hammers youth player Gold.
|
AVRAM GRANT FACTFILE
1986-2002: Managed Hapoel Petah Tikva, Maccabi Tel Aviv, Hapoel Haifa and Maccabi Haifa in Israel
2002-06 Israel national manager
2006 Director of football, Portsmouth
2007-08 Director of football, then manager, Chelsea
2009-10 Director of football, then manager, Portsmouth
|
"There are still many problems and most of all is the debt at the football club.
"We believe it is a great club and we can turn this round."
He added: "I've been 17 years in football and I know the critical thing in any football club are the principles and the manager.
"We got it right with Steve Bruce. We got it right with Alex McLeish.
"Like all managers, our new manager will bring his own people in, and we are comfortable with that."
Grant may well turn to his former club Portsmouth for recruits after their relegation to the Championship following a season which saw the club docked nine points for going into administration.
The current West Ham squad boasts goalkeeper Robert Green, centre-half Matthew Upson, midfielder Scott Parker and striker Carlton Cole as players who have been capped by England.
Several younger players, such as defender James Tomkins, midfielders Mark Noble and Jack Collison and strikers Junior Stanislas and Zavon Hines, have progressed from the club's famed academy.
Given the club's debts, Grant is seen as a perfect candidate for operating in the transfer market with a limited budget.
Keeper Green on England World Cup hopes and Zola's departure
He is unlikely to be handed a huge transfer kitty, but will be eyeing transfers both in and out of Upton Park.
West Ham have narrowly escaped relegation twice in the last four seasons, and the new owners are hoping for a more stable period.
"I've been a fan for as long as I can remember and still am, and we fans are very demanding," said Gold.
Gold and Sullivan announced last month they were increasing their holding in the club from 50% to 60% with an injection of £4m each.
"We've added another £8m which shows our integrity and intent. We've got to rebuild the club and its infrastructure," said Gold.
"What fans have to do is trust their principles and trust their chairmen. These chairmen put their money where their mouths are."
Grant arrived as Portsmouth's director of football in October 2009 but replaced Paul Hart as manager the following month, with the club bottom of the league with just seven points from 13 games.
Crippled by financial problems, the club went into administration in February and were subsequently deducted nine points by the Premier League.
They went on to finish bottom of the table on 19 points but reached the FA Cup final, losing the Wembley showpiece 1-0 to Grant's former club Chelsea.
He won 10, lost 16 and drew seven of his 33 matches in charge.
Grant announced his decision to leave the beaten FA Cup finalists in an open letter to fans.
"This was one of the most difficult decisions I've had to take in my football career," he said.
"I will never forget you, the loyal fans of Pompey, who, without a doubt, helped me protect the team under such complex circumstances," he said.
sildenafil citrate 100mg | levitra 10mg | paroxetine prise de poids
No comments:
Post a Comment