The cost of Curbs
Filed: Wednesday, 18th November 2009
By: Staff Writer
Alan Curbishley's decision to resign from West Ham United is set to cost the club up to £3.5million, according to reports.
Curbishley walked out on his managerial post at the beginning of September 2008, claiming that he had been undermined by the Board who had sanctioned player sales against his wishes.
The former Charlton manager claimed that the Board's actions had breached the terms of his contract - a view backed by the Courts last month who ageed that the club should pay Curbishley millions in compensation for constructive dismissal.
The eventual bill could cost be as high as £3m - the figure claimed by Curbishley's team - with a further £500,000 in court costs applicable. The final figure will be decided in January at a hearing, although West Ham are understood to remin hopeful that the figure will be nearer the £1million mark.
Curbishley, a former Hammers midfielder became the club's eleventh full-time manager when Alan Pardew was fired two weeks after the Icelandic takeover in 2006. Having led the club to safety against the odds in his first season, Curbishley acheived a tenth place finish in his first full season despite the worst injury crisis in recent years at the club.
But with the club fifth in the table just a month into the 2008/09 season, Curbishley walked out on his job citing the sales of Anton Ferdinand and George McCartney as reason. Both players had been sold without Curbishley's agreement at the end of the summer transfer window, with Scott Duxbury and Gianluca Nani - whose hiring Curbishley had backed - believed to be responsible.
Related News
Vagient Valon rues missed opportunity [3rd Sep 2010] Hines suffers injury setback [29th Aug 2010] Do you want to go to the seaside? [30th Jul 2010] Brady expects top eight [28th Jul 2010] New deal for Luis [2nd Jun 2010] Avram early favourite [12th May 2010] Farewell, says Boa Morte [9th May 2010] Safe [25th Apr 2010] Zola on his way? [5th Mar 2010] His name is Luca, he's been shown the door [24th Feb 2010]Your Comments
by del
03:27PM 20th Nov 2009
''The people who run West Ham past and now have been and are a joke. We have never had any ambition. We have one good season and two bad followed by a relegation. It's always been like that.
I can't even watch MOTD anymore. Top England players have started at Upton Park and have all been sold on. Look at the team we could have had. Think about it; we could be up there with the best in Europe, but like I've said - no ambition.
Hope Curbs gets every penny of the £mil. ''
by Peter Simon
01:38AM 19th Nov 2009
''I take issue with the opening sentence of this article: "Alan Curbishley's decision to resign from West Ham United is set to cost the club up to £3.5million, according to reports."
Wouldn't it be more accurate to say the board's decision to breach its contract with Curbishley by selling two players against his wishes is set to cost the club up to £3.5million? The courts have firmly placed the blame at the feet of the board. Why don't you?
Another thing; why don't the journalists who write these articles put their names on them? It just says "Staff Writer". Don't you have the conviction to put your name on your work. I've put my name on my comments.''
by Rich Watson
10:08PM 18th Nov 2009
''How much money has dodgy Duxbury cost us now? We would do better putting Nick Leeson in charge!''
by Richard Davies
10:43AM 18th Nov 2009
''I am by no means a fan of Curbs and was glad to see the back of him. However it was quite clear at the time that Duxbury's plan was to put Curbs in an untenable position, and force his resignation. Only club officials knew the full details of his contract with the club so have to be held responsible for the outcome. Yet again we have taken bad legal advice and come out of it millions out of pocket.
When is some of this going to start sticking to Duxbury as he continues to extol the virtues of his 'project' whilst bankrupting the club?''
by blimey
10:15AM 18th Nov 2009
''It's unfortunate, but Curbishley has every right to sue and deserved reasonable compensation after the shabby treatment by the board. It will have no doubt damaged his reputation and ability to gain suitable employment.
As you point out, Curbishley's record was actually very impressive, given the circumstances. ''
