Hammers want third owner
WEST HAM are looking for a new co-owner to help them cash in on their move to the Olympic Stadium.
David Gold and David Sullivan paid just over £60million to buy a 62 per cent interest in January last year.
Now they want an investor to buy the 35 per cent still held by Icelandic bank Straumur for around £40m.
the sun
Grant claims the future is bright
AVRAM GRANT believes he is on course to realise his long-term vision for West Ham.
Grant's position as Hammers boss is still under threat with the club currently two points adrift of safety.
But the Israeli is confident the Londoners face a bright future after being named as the preferred bidder for the Olympic Stadium.
And he intends to stick around for as long as possible despite the fact West Ham are facing the ever increasing possibility of dropping out of the Premier League.
Grant said: "We are thinking positively. We have a long-term plan here at West Ham.
"We knew this first year would be difficult but our vision is that every year we will do the right thing.
"When we come to the Olympic Stadium we will have a good team in the Premier League. We have a long-term vision but in football that has to start with the next match.
"We built a good squad and if everyone is fit, or even in 90 per cent are fit, we have a good team.
"If you make a table from the last 10 games, we are in the middle of the league."
the mirror
Hammers line up FIVE old boys for fast-track gaffer scheme
West Ham want to become an old boys’ club – by bringing through the next boss from within the ranks of ex-players.
Hammers have been busy interviewing FIVE former stars, who are being lined up to join Avram Grant’s coaching staff and be groomed for a top post at the club.
Julian Dicks, Kenny Brown, Steve Lomas, Ian Pearce and Steve Potts have all been willingly grilled – and the decision is due within few days.
‘Terminator’ Dicks is manager at Grays Athletic, where Brown – whose dad was a Hammers coach – is his assistant.
Lomas has earned his coaching badges, has experience in non-league football and is available.
Pearce is in a similar category after leaving Lincoln City, where he was sacked along with Chris Sutton.
Former skipper Potts, seen as managerial material in his prime, is also in the frame.He is working as a taxi driver, but could be tempted back into the game by the right offer from Upton Park.
the mirror
Grant confident of realising his 'long-term vision' for West Ham
Avram Grant is confident of realising his "long-term vision" for West Ham despite the prospect of relegation.
The club were delighted to be named as the preferred bidder for the Olympic Stadium last week, a step which owners David Gold and David Sullivan believe could usher in a bright future.
Grant is also working towards that, but accepts their perilous league position means they must for now focus on one game at a time.
The Hammers are just one point above bottom club Wolves, who have played one game fewer, but Grant is refusing to be downbeat after coming back from three down to score a 3-3 draw at West Brom on Saturday.
He told the club's official website: "We are thinking positively. We have a long-term plan here at West Ham.
"We knew this first year would be difficult but our vision is that every year we will do the right thing.
"When we come to the (Olympic) stadium we will have a good team in the Premier League. We have a long-term vision but in football that has to start with the next match.
"We built a good squad and if everyone is fit, or even in 90% are fit, we have a good team. If you make a table from the last 10 games, we are in the middle of the league."
the mail
West Ham looking for new investment after Olympic Stadium triumph
West Ham are looking to sell a 35percent stake in the club for around £35million.
The Premier League strugglers have seen their stock rise following the award of preferred bidding for the Olympic Stadium and are looking to capitalise by attracting new investment.
Initial talks are already understood to have taken place with interested parties from the Middle East. The new investors would take over shares held by Straumur Bank.
talk sport
Keane and Collison turn to ice chamber in bid to beat injury
Robbie Keane and Jack Collison have turned to an ice chamber in their attempts to make a first-team return for West Ham.
Irishman Keane was ruled out for a month after picking up a calf injury in just his second game for the club against Birmingham last week, while Collison has missed the entire season after undergoing knee surgery last summer.
Both players are keen to speed up their recovery and were joined by former boxing heavyweight champion Frank Bruno as they visited an ice chamber on Monday.
Former Prime Minister Tony Blair and the Tottenham squad have also used the chamber, where the temperature is below -130C and the blood supply is faster, bringing more oxygen to the injured area.
Players are asked to put grips over thighs and arms, tucking the bandages into socks and gloves for protection, while headbands are used to cover ears and white clogs are put on the players' feet.
Collison, speaking on his Twitter site, said: "Interesting morning in the ice chamber with Keano and the one and only Frank Bruno."
West Ham boss Avram Grant will be hoping to see both players back in action in the next few weeks as he looks to help the club move out of the bottom three.
Grant is also set to be boosted by the return of striker Victor Obinna for the FA Cup fifth round tie against Burnley next Monday.
Obinna missed the 3-3 draw against Birmingham with an ankle injury, but is set to resume training this week.
talk sport
Hitzlsperger set for West Ham debut at last
West Ham midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger is set to make his long-awaited debut against Burnley in the FA Cup fifth round next week.
Hitzlsperger has not played for the east London club following his move from Lazio last summer after the former Aston Villa star picked up a thigh injury playing for Germany against Denmark in a friendly just three days before the season got underway.
The injury proved a lot worse than first feared and he was forced to undergo surgery to clear up a muscle tear.
“I'm pleased to say that I'm feeling good, I'm in good shape”Thomas Hitzlsperger
Hitzlsperger has made a successful return to training and played an hour for the reserves against West Brom last week.
The German international is set to have another run-out for the reserves this week when they play Chelsea on Wednesday and should make his first-team debut in the fifth round tie at Upton Park on February 21.
Hitzlsperger said: "I want to play in the first-team as soon as possible and I need to speak to the manager.
"I'm pleased to say that I'm feeling good, I'm in good shape. We'll wait and see when I play for the first-team but hopefully it will be pretty soon.
"The most difficult time was when I first found out the extent of the injury. I've been looked after very well. The surgery went well and the treatment from the medical department has been excellent.
"They said it would take four months after the surgery and I'm right on time, so I'm really happy with the way it went."
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