sport

HAMMERS LOOK FORWARD AFTER CURBS EXIT

Curbishley - quit Hammers post.

West Ham maintain there are "positive" times ahead at Upton Park, despite the resignation and stinging criticism of manager Alan Curbishley.

The Hammers will now begin the search for a fifth manager in seven years - with former defender Slaven Bilic, the Croatia coach, said to top the board's shortlist.

The position of Curbishley - appointed in December 2006 - had been under intense scrutiny for some time, although West Ham had opened the new campaign with two wins from three Premier League matches which went some way to placating the club's supporters.

Hammers chairman and owner Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson maintains the east London club are heading in the right direction.

"In my first full season as chairman of this great football club, I can assure our loyal supporters that we are working hard to bring sustained success to West Ham United," he said

"Everyone, including the chief executive and board, is committed to this common goal.

"We have a long-term strategy that takes into account all aspects of West Ham United's past, present and future and we will not be deterred.

"Our fans can look forward to many positive years on and off the pitch."

Curbishley, 50, had presided over what was a remarkable escape from relegation on the final day of the 2006/2007 campaign with victory at Manchester United courtesy of a goal from controversial signing Carlos Tevez, and expectations were raised of rapid improvement backed by significant investment, but only a 10th-place finish followed last season.

It was, though, eventually matters behind the scenes that proved decisive.

Under the direction of the Icelandic owners and new technical director Gianluca Nani, high earners such as Freddie Ljungberg departed over the summer as the squad, and wage bill, was cut down to size with John Pantsil, Bobby Zamora and keeper Richard Wright all sold off.

They were followed by Anton Ferdinand and then, on deadline day, fellow defender George McCartney.

Those sales were against Curbishley's long-term plans for the team and there were suggestions such moves could be made again in the future, whatever the manager felt was the right course of action.

That proved a step too far for Curbishley, who started his playing career at Upton Park.

"I felt I could just not stand by and let what happened [pass], especially at the weekend, so I made a decision," Curbishley said.

"Some managers may not have taken this action, but I could not sit around and be silent on it.

"I am absolutely gutted I have had to come to this decision.

"On Sunday morning, I went into a meeting with [chief executive] Scott Duxbury at Upton Park perhaps hoping to bring some loans in, and I was told I would not be in that position unless someone left the club.

"I said straight away, 'well let's go home then because I do not want anyone to leave'.

"I was just quite happy we get on with it as we are, especially coming off the back of the result against Blackburn.

"I was quite happy to stick with it, even if it meant I could not improve it.

"The criticism I have had, I took that in a dignified manner.

"But I was taking it all on the chin, and trying to turn things around.

"I think a lot of fans would have seen I was doing a decent job."

Curbishley added: "Staying up and finishing 10th with the injury problems we had as a team was creditable, but I know they wanted more and I just got a little glimpse of that at the weekend with one or two more players returning, we would be on the right road."