So Avram Grant has finally gone. Several months too late, say many.
A whole series of names have already been suggested as potential replacements for the failed Israeli; rising stars such as Lambert, Poyet and Hughton plus experienced old heads like Allardyce, Holloway and Curbishley have all been mooted as potential successors to Grant. Meanwhile former fans' favourites Dicks and Di Canio have also announced their availability, albeit by very different means.The winner of the race to succeed Grant will almost certainly have to rebuild a team from scratch, with his squad likely to be a motley crew of Academy starlets, a slew of Premier League outcasts (either on loan on permanent deals) and a handful of experienced pros, the likes of whom will be required for the demanding 50+ match campaign that awaits.
All of the names mentioned above have their own merits, their own particular strong points that suggest they could 'do a job'. But the question is, how many could - and would - do it 'the West Ham way'?
Before I continue I should make it clear that I'm not referring to some flowery, romantic, rose-tinted, nostalgic vision of what West Ham may have been for a brief period in our history, during the first half of the 1960s. An example of this can perhaps be seen on Merseyside, at Anfield, where Bill Shankly's vision came to be known as 'the Liverpool way'.
The Liverpool way - which has been as inconspicuous on Merseyside as in east London of late - refers more to a management ethos, a passing down of ideas and traditions like some precious, family heirloom.
Shankly's original vision that transformed his club was handed on to - and refined by - the equally successful Bob Paisley, then Joe Fagan and Kenny Dalglish after him. Oh, and black sheep Roy Evans. But they don't talk about his reign much up on the Wirral.
The Reds, having spent years chasing the coat tails of fierce rivals Manchester United whilst gambling on a series of non-Liverpool men such as Houllier, Benitez and Hodgson - have now returned to one of their own in 'King' Kenny. The transformation, in just three months, has been extraordinary.
Now I'm not suggesting for a moment that just because it's worked for them it would necessarily work for us. However like Liverpool, we have suffered by hiring managers who simply didn't understand 'the West Ham way' - not through any fault of their own, just simply because they'd never been part of it.
In fact the only one who did, Alan Curbishley, generally disappointed with his defensive approach that occasionally led fans to sing 'you don't know what you're doing'. Although those same fans probably wouldn't sneer at a tenth-place finish so readily these days.
There are a numbers of managers and coaches out there who took inspiration from their time at the Boleyn, albeit with varying degrees of success. In recent years the likes of Tony Cottee, Paul Ince, Martin Allen and Julian Dicks have all tried their luck whilst another, Harry Redknapp is considered by many as a shoo-in for the forthcoming England manager's post. Alan Devonshire continues to ply his trade in the lower echelons of the league structure, whilst Steve Lomas is a highly-rated newcomer (although the job comes too soon for him).
However none of them, for various reasons really fit the bill. From the aforementioned, Cottee, Ince and Dicks have failed to impress whilst Allen's modus operandi is perhaps a little too unorthadox. A Redknapp return is, it's fair to say, reasonably unlikely...
Yet there is one man who would fit the bill in many ways. A man who developed his considerably coaching talent under the wings of Ron Greenwood and John Lyall, in much the same way as Paisley, Fagan and Dalglish learned from Shankly. A man who has nurtured not just the cream of West Ham's crop but also that of the nation's. A man who literally lives and breathes 'the West Ham way'.
And most importantly, a man who really, really wants a crack at the job. Step forward, Tony Carr CBE.
Perhaps before espousing Carr's virtues we should examine the aspects of his appointment that would raise concern. At 61, he is no spring chicken - yet it is the case that none of the club's last five managers, going back to Harry Redknapp - who lasted for seven years - have remained in the post for more than three.
What about managerial experience? Well it is a fact that Carr has managed only as high as reserve level - although he's been doing that for nigh on thirty years. However first team management is a different beast entirely, therefore this is a legitimate concern - yet one that applies, to some degree, to every such managerial appointment.
But the biggest drawback appears to be a worry that should it go tits-up, Carr's invaluable work with the Youth Academy - work that has earned the club countless millions over the years and him a meeting with the Queen - would simply be overlooked in the annuls of club history, in favour of a disappointing managerial reign. It's also one of the reasons why Trevor Brooking, perhaps the only other option were the club to return to it's roots, refrained from accepting the position on a full time basis some eight years ago.
Yet Carr - who enjoyed a testimonial year in 2010 - admits that his days in his current role are numbered. In an interview with KUMB.com last year he estimated that he'd 'go on for another three or four years' with the Academy, before either retiring or looking for another role. With that in mind, would he - or the club - have anything to lose by offering him the first team manager's position?
Of course that experience with the Academy is, undoubtedly, Carr's biggest bargaining point - and tasked with managing a squad teeming with current and former Academy players, who better to put in charge than the man who has overseen the development of their careers from the first day they walked into Chadwell Heath? A man for whom they have deep respect - and one to whom they owe their gratitude for giving them the opportunity to earn such a lucrative living?
As a coach who developed under the direction of John Lyall, Carr epitomises all that is positive about the club even in these dark, dark days. He holds dear the club's traditions and would demand that his players respect them too. A respectful, thoughtful man on the outside, Carr - like Lyall and Greenwood before him - is not one to suffer fools gladly - as several precocious young talents have discovered to their chagrin in the past.
From the Board's perspective, his appointment would prove a masterstroke - an indication of a desire to continue to promote from within and an appointment that would have a galvanising effect amongst the fanbase, deeply hurt by this relegation and the perceived negative input from Sullivan, Gold and vice-chair Brady throughout the season.
It is imperative that in order to move forward and contend for an instant return to the Premier League both the supporters and the club's owners need to be working together, singing from the same hymn sheet if you will.
Curbishley; Allardyce; Hughton, Di Canio et al - all have their advocates but also strong opposition, for various reasons. Curbishley - negative approach, sued the club; Allardyce - too direct, too steeped in the culture of Bolton; Hughton, Di Canio - too inexperienced... And on it goes.
By appointing Tony Carr the board would guarantee the support of the entire fanbase (even if some would reserve their reservations over the impact on the Academy - not that this should necessarily be an issue). By appointing Tony Carr the board would give the club the best possible chance of - as Alan Pardew was wont to say - 'getting back to what we're all about'.
After all - it's not as if the man who first joined the club as an outstanding youth prospect some 48 years ago hasn't earned the chance.
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