Boss Grant all set for Hammers role
AVRAM GRANT is set to be unveiled as West Ham manager today.
The Israeli, who quit as Portsmouth boss a fortnight ago, returned from a family holiday yesterday to conclude discussions with Hammers co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold.
“After an hour, we knew we could work with this manager. We are very optimistic,” Gold said yesterday. “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 led Chelsea to the 2008 Champions League final and Portsmouth to this year’s FA Cup final, is seen as the ideal candidate to replace Gianfranco Zola, who was sacked after a disappointing season.
Gold added: “We can’t put our fans through that again. We want to put together a team that was better than last year. 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 position to take young, inexperienced managers.”
Meanwhile, West Ham have offered Luis Boa Morte a new contract despite him criticising comments made by Sullivan about the team in a TV interview.