The soap opera that is the English Premier League continued on Wednesday with its first managerial departure — Alan Curbishley resigning as manager of West Ham three games into the new season.
Whilst Manchester City fans were still pinching themselves at becoming one of the world’s richest clubs, Curbishley has quit his post despite two wins from his opening three league games.
Curbishley was reportedly disappointed with the decision to sell Anton Ferdinand to Sunderland and said last week: “As far as I am concerned there won’t be any more players leaving before the window closes,” only for George McCartney to depart on transfer deadline day, again to Sunderland.
West Ham posted a statement, before Curbishley’s announcement, defending their transfer activity: “The transfers of Anton Ferdinand and George McCartney along with the release of Freddie Ljungberg were right for the club and decisions had to be taken based on our best long-term interests,” the statement read.
Anyone thinking the closing of the transfer window and the break for international matches would make the Premier League dull for the next 10 days have been proved wrong. All eyes will now revert back to Newcastle and the future of their manager Kevin Keegan who could soon follow Curbishley.
West Ham’s next manager will be their fifth in the last seven years since Harry Redknapp left in 2001, a stark contrast to the six managers they had in an 88-year period from 1902 to 1990.
Should Curbishley have quit? And who should replace him? Vote on that at our poll here.
FILE PHOTO: Alan Curbishley gestures before a West Ham game. REUTERS/Alessia Pierdomenico
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11 comments so far
How about King Kev for a spell at West Ham? Let’s get this merry-go-round moving…
- Posted by Kevin Fylannot in my wildest nightmares! Bilic is the man for the job.
- Posted by Andrew Thorntondi canio is the only on e who will ignite the fans and boy it would be mad fun at upton park for as long as the crazy italian can hold it all together
- Posted by paulPoor old Curbs. He finally sees a few of his squads injuries clear up, plus he gets the season off and running with two wins and the Hammers bosses decide to shuffle the pack and disrupt everything.
No manager should stay at a club if they are being undermined. You cannot run a team if you don’t know who the board are going to sell regardless of your opinion.
Seems King Kev is in a similar predicament, only he doesn’t have a say in who Newcastle United sign.
Keegan should follow Curbs out the door.
I hear Torquay United might need a new manager soon and there’s one going at Woking too!
- Posted by NeilHow about getting Lampard back as player manager ?
- Posted by Robert Collins (yido!)A crazy couple of days for managers. No matter what you think of Curbishley or Keegan the trend of Boards undermining managers is not a good thing, whether through appointing directors of football or selling players without their approval. If you employ someone to manage, let them manage. While such events are entertaining for the neutral, this instability can’t be good for the game in the long run.
- Posted by SteveThis situation is getting too common, these owners are just buying football teams for play toys now. whats going to happen when the get fed up and withdraw the cash. Football will crash in the next few years when these money men get board.
I don’t think Harry R will go back to west ham as he likes control.
Gregg
http://www.carlingcupodds.co.uk
- Posted by Gregg Scotthttp://www.facupodds.co.uk - http://www.facupodds.com
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[...] With the top four never changing, it is almost more entertaining following the Premier League when there are no matches taking place. So it proved this week, from the takeover and mega-spending at Manchester City to the Kevin Keegan saga at Newcastle and Alan Curbishley’s exit from West Ham. [...]
- Posted by If you want to match United, try copying Ferguson | TotalClubFootballsoccer is awsome i love the love of the game yay. please play hard and fai thank you.
- Posted by amedinaYes, this is a major problem that most of the clubs or owners hire football teams just to play for money and what will happened when they withdraw their money. You cannot run a club or team if you don’t know who the is running or going to sell without your suggestion.
- Posted by Soccer JerseysSoccer is a true sport..and it should be played with all your being, if it will just be played because of money…it will not make sense anymore. I mean its one of the factor but it should not be only the main reason why you want to become in a soccer team.
- Posted by Totally soccer