Championship? No thanks!

Following promotion to the Premier League, I thought it would be interesting to see what happened to the players that left following our relegation to the Championship the previous season.

One of the most high profile players to leave was Thomas Hitzlsperger who had originally signed a lucrative three year contract with the Hammers, yet only played half a season due to injury. It was suggested that he wanted to repay the club's loyalty by staying, yet within weeks of Sam Allardyce being appointed as club manager, he left, releasing a relegation clause in his contract.

Such was his urgency to find another club, he was caught speeding, yet was spared a driving ban as he was at the time unemployed, and claimed he needed the car to drive around the country to look for another club.

Wolves were earmarked as a possible destination, yet the player instead opted to return to his homeland, signing a three year deal with Wolfsburg. Bizarrely, after the 2011-2012 season his contract was terminated. Thomas had played a total of six games, five less than an injury plagued season with West Ham!

At the age of 30, the player is now looking for a new club once again.

Danny Gabbidon repaid the loyalty of the club that supported him through injury plagued seasons, by leaving for QPR on a one-year contract. He suggested that the club had not offered him a new contract, and subsequently made 17 appearances for the Hoops, scoring an own goal on his debut. Following the end of the season, QPR have released the former Welsh international.

Kieron Dyer played a total seven minutes for QPR following his release from West Ham, and has been offered a new one year contract by the Rs. Matthew Upson left West Ham in May 2011 after his contract expired. He was linked to a number of clubs, yet signed for Stoke City on a two year contract. He made 14 league appearances for the club in 2011-2012 season.

Demba Ba triggered a relegation clause in his contract, turning down a suggested contract of £50k a week. He joined Newcastle United, although he did also have talks with Everton. He was booed by the Toon army faithful following some uninspired performances during the early season, yet scored a hat-trick against Blackburn Rovers on 24th September 2011 and by January was the second top scorer in the league behind Robin Van Persie with 15 goals.

He was voted as the best signing for 2011-2012 by Premier League managers in March 2012. In May 2012, the tabloids have suggested that he has a £7m release clause in his contract, with Tottenham being linked to the Senegal international.

Radoslav Kovac, with twelve months left on his contract joined Swiss Super League Club, F.C. Basel for an undisclosed fee on a two year contract. At the end of the 2011-2012 season he had won the League Championship and Swiss Cup.

Lars Jacobsen was released by West Ham following his one year contract expiring. He was linked to a number of clubs including AS Saint Etienne but opted for his former club FC Copenhagen - and featured for Demnark in their surprise 1-0 win over the Netherlands in Euro 2012 last night.

Jonathan Spector was released by West Ham and joined Birmingham City on a two year contract, playing 30 games in the 2011-2012 season. Pablo Barrera was loaned out to Real Zargoza following a season where he made six Premier League appearances (making no assists). He made 20 appearances for the Spanish club, scoring once. He has since returned to West Ham with two years left on his contract.

Luis Boa Morte's contract was cancelled by mutual consent and he teamed up with one of his ex managers, Chris Coleman at Greek outfit, Larissa in August 2011. Although he signed a two-year contract, he left by January 2012 due to financial problems at the club. He joined Orlando Pirates on a 18-month deal, yet after only two starts departed on 14th May 2012.

Benni McCarthy agreed to terminate his contract after West Ham gave the player an alleged £1.5m pay off. He made only two Premier League starts and 14 appearances in all competitions scoring no goals. On 2nd August he joined Orlando Pirates on a two-year contract and scored on his debut.

Holmar Orn Eyjolfsson, who never made a first team appearance for West Ham joined German side VfL Bochum. Jermain Defoe's cousin, Anthony Edgar - who made his first team appearance versus Arsenal in the FA Cup, 3rd January 2010 - was released and joined Yeovil Town on a two-year contract. He made ten appearance in 2011-2012, scoring one goal.

Loan players Wayne Bridge made eighteen appearances for West Ham, and returned to Manchester City before joining Sunderland on loan in January 2012.

Robbie Keane made his debut for West Ham scoring against Blackpool in a 3-1 win. The club had an option to extend the deal by two years, if they avoided relegation from the Premier League. The player returned to Tottenham following West Ham's relegation. He joined LA Galaxy and had a brief loan spell at Aston Villa in January 2012, making seven appearances, scoring three times.

* Like to share your thoughts on this article? Please visit the KUMB Forum to leave a comment.

* Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the highlighted author/s and do not necessarily represent or reflect the official policy or position of KUMB.com.


More Opinion