My brother, BirmingHammer, has just informed me that the BBC have had a news flash saying that Grant has been replaced with O'Niell. I can't find anything online about it yet, but I assume it won't be long in coming.
Here it is: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/west_ham_utd/9362709.stm Not quite full confirmation yet but it promises us a new manager today.
If True, I wonder how they managed to draw in O'neil. He doesnt seem like one that would want to work under G&S.
I think O'Neill just wants to work again his dream of being Man Utd manager is just not going to happen. He can't do any worse than Grant, so it's not a bad job to take in his eyes. It will be funny to see how he copes with Sullivan and Gold as he won't take any shit from them. Good appointment.
Also if true, this is just awful timing for something like this to get out. Although I dont think Grant is capable of keeping us up and making a move may be the way to go, he has handled himself very professionally through all the ridiculous media reports and questioning. Very awkward for the players and manager in this situation.
If I had a tentative agreement to take over the club after todays game, I think I would cancel it after this incompetent and embarrassing leak
The board ha stated that he will NOT be sacked today and that there is no truth in the reports at all.
I hope that is true. I am not sure what O'Neill brings to the table plus we need stability now. I say stick with Grant. If it is a rumour the Sheff. United are responsible. Sue them I say.
1641: According to BBC Radio 5 live, there will be no announcement about the West Ham manager position before or after the game against Arsenal this evening. Don't even say during. This is just getting silly. Does anyone have any evidence for anything? Descartes meditates on the reality of a football manager
I really feel for Grant. He has been tossed around like a rag doll and I think the only thing keeping him from walking away is that maybe privately they care about one another and he doesn't want to leave them out there. If anything make the owners do it. I thought he was going to be fired that evening because he stood there and shook the hands of every West Ham player coming off the pitch including Spector which I thought he hated and he tossed his West Ham scarf into the crowd. He's a great manager and a better man than a lot of current EPL managers today. If he is sacked than we will see him again someday once more as an manager of an EPL club.
You know I think I come to this site just to read posts like this. You West Ham fans really have honor and heart. I agree with everything you say. I really think if anyone can get west ham out of relegation it's Grant. There's a 3pt difference from the bottom three and somewhere around 13th. His affect on the club has not been bad, Hitz is out all games so far, so you can't blame him for it. Piqu has scored the most for the club, Barera was the only disappointment. He got west ham so close to the final, he had to deal with all this shyttt of the media since day one. I think it's very disrespectful by the owners to sack him like this. If he sucked that bad you would at least do it quickly, Like you fella's said, the three up top don't know what the fk there doing.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/jan/17/martin-oneill-west-ham-bonus-manager Looks like Grant is staying put, for now.
2 reasons why O'Neill turn down the job. 1. Let's be honest. We are terrible. He wanted the Liverpool but he didn't get it and he's not going to settle with bad club such as ourselves. 2. Even if he wanted it, I don't think he wanted to take the job in this manner. I mean this whole thing has been a circus and he didn't want to feel like he had a hand a kicking Grant out of the door. The good news is if Grant can keep the team in the top flight and maybe have good runs in both cups then maybe he will give the owners no reason to fire him.
If the stories regarding O'Neill turning us down because of possible leaks are correct, then I think O'Neill is somewhat weak. He obviously had no problem about talking to West Ham about replacing Grant on the quiet so where does he get off being all moralistic now? My suggestion is get hold of Roy Hodgson asap. He suits us perfectly.