Premier League - Whole West Ham team for sale

Eurosport - Fri, 02 Jan 09:02:00 2009

West Ham chief executive Scott Duxbury has admitted no player is off-limits as the club brace themselves for several bids on their stars during the January transfer window.

FOOTBALL West Ham celebrate goal - 0

A number of Hammers have been linked with a move away from Upton Park, most notably Craig Bellamy, Matthew Upson and Scott Parker.

With West Ham feeling the financial pinch more than most, Duxbury said all offers would be considered, but insisted the final decision would lie with manager Gianfranco Zola rather than the club's money men.

"We must not be afraid of interest in or bids for our leading players," Duxbury told the club's website. "Each approach will be considered in terms of fee, fitness, form and where the manager thinks the player is in his career.

"We have to consider the will of the player and whether he is committed to what we are trying to achieve.

"A bid may be evaluated by the manager as allowing him to significantly improve his team."

West Ham have suffered several off-the-field problems of late, with owner Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson enduring major financial losses as a result of the credit crunch, while the Carlos Tevez affair continues to hang over the club and a hefty compensation payment could be due to Sheffield United.

However, Duxbury insisted the club's debts do not mean they must sell this month.

"Players don't have to be sold but it has been clear since the arrival of Gianfranco that he is keen to have a smaller first-team squad based on quality over quantity," he added.

"As I say, he looks likely to move on some fringe players in a bid to achieve a smaller squad of players that he can work closely with on a day to day basis."

Eurosport

Comment 17 - 36 of 36

Sort comments by: Most recent

  1. HEY PHIL NICE PICTURE OF YOUR MOTHER,OR IS THAT YOUR UNCLE IN DRAG.

    From sheehydan27, on Mon 5 Jan 11:22PM

  2. sheehydan27 Me thinks you are Sheffield Utd fan ECKY THUMP

    From KCUFTHEU, on Sun 4 Jan 4:23PM

  3. i say cash in on all the big players and get some new ones that play zolas style

    From Paul T, on Sun 4 Jan 2:57PM

  4. the reason for this second fine is tht west ham lied when the orignal fine was handed out,in that they said they ripped up tvez contract and resigned him on a new one doing away with 3rd party interferance ,which they didnt ,therefore the second fine is purely about the last 3 games of that season(wigan bolton man u)

    From nigelkahn, on Sun 4 Jan 8:41AM

  5. Im a west ham fan and don't understand the sheff utd situation! FA punished west ham and then gave the all clear to play tevez so why is it WHUFC fault that sheff utd got relegated!!!!!!!! sheff utd got relegated because they were not GOOD ENOUGH!!

    From cartster84, on Sat 3 Jan 8:30PM

  6. I heard Sheffield United are going Bust, which is why they want West Ham to cough up the cash to save them...

    From KCUFTHEU, on Sat 3 Jan 12:08PM

  7. K A YOU MUST BE UNITED FAN,
    VERY SHORT IN ALL DEPARTMENTS.

    From sheehydan27, on Fri 2 Jan 9:05PM

  8. oh, look at the @#$% at 24

    From K, on Fri 2 Jan 5:28PM

  9. Im a Man City fan whose always liked West Ham for their footballing principles what odds Zola{a true football legend} gets rid of a few big earners and replaces them with Italy U21 players or up and coming serie B players?

    From tony0ldbury, on Fri 2 Jan 2:47PM

  10. Im a Man City fan whose always liked West Ham for their footballing principles what odds Zola{a true football legend} gets rid of a few big earners and replaces them with Italy U21 players or up and coming serie B players?

    From tony0ldbury, on Fri 2 Jan 2:16PM

  11. They cannot get rid of top players like Upson etc. they are the heart of West Ham. Personally I dont think any of them will go - other teams will think they can get them on the cheap - but no chance. Zola has the last say - pity that wasnt the case before.

    From fred, on Fri 2 Jan 1:57PM

  12. here we go again!! de je vou with selling our best players? remember lampard, carrick, ferdinand, joe cole, johnson, james...we could have been a top 5 club by now if the board had the balls at the time?

    From jeff, on Fri 2 Jan 1:42PM

  13. if either of Upson collinson or Scott Parker my shirts in the Bin.
    Had enough of this @#$%.

    From stupot, on Fri 2 Jan 12:32PM

  14. I do feel sorry for west ham,always loved to watch there lovely flowing football.
    On many ocassions went to see them when with friends in london late 70s early 80s.
    Football players are paid to much these days,if there was a set wage in each club,
    instead of these 100-000 week players,that kind of money should pay 5-players wages.
    Instead of bankrupting clubs players should look at themselfs.
    The ordinary man on the street has about 500-00 week if lucky,has to feed family,
    put kids through schools,mortgage,maybe 1-holiday year if lucky,
    if he can do it why cant players and officials of clubs do it to save the club
    they supposidly love.

    From sheehydan27, on Fri 2 Jan 12:08PM

  15. look forward to beating you at the den, next season
    wet spam your cheats you should have been relegated 2 divisions, your cheats and you know you are

    From paddy mulligan, on Fri 2 Jan 11:44AM

  16. My fellow Hammers, we need to rally up and make sure that our voices are heard!!! We need to unite and make sure that the so-called owners of our club do not for any reason sell ANY of our players!!!

    From Aftekhar, on Thu 1 Jan 9:38PM

  17. SUFC YOU ARE SCUM. Please get promoted as I can't wait to invite you @#$%s to Upton Park for some good ole 80's ICF.

    From Christopher, on Thu 1 Jan 7:10PM

  18. sad sheff utd lost nearly every one of their last 10 games cos theyre @#$% thats not the hammers fault!! and sky sports news and this article are totally missing what scott duxbury said - will someone please actually read what he said and report accuratley!!!

    From ben, on Thu 1 Jan 6:37PM

  19. Lets just wait and see,shall we? So far we've shot down all big offers, and as far as SU's payout it looks like it
    will be closer to 10M not 40M

    From The Yank, on Thu 1 Jan 6:19PM

  20. Ha ha, going down one way or the other West HAM (Bacon?) You'll either get 'Hammered' financially by Sheffield, or lose your stars & fade into oblivion where your achievements and great players of the past will be just a dim faded memory. Rest In Peace(es)

    From John, on Thu 1 Jan 3:07PM
Sort comments by: Most recent

Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account