West Ham have sacked manager Avram
Grant after their relegation from the Premier League was
confirmed with a dramatic defeat at Wigan.
The club acted swiftly, dismissing Grant a little over an hour
after the Hammers dropped down to the Championship. Charles
N'Zogbia's late winner settled a pulsating contest 3-2 in the home
side's favour.
A statement on the club's website read: "The club can confirm
that Avram Grant is no longer the manager of West Ham United.
"First-team coach Kevin Keen will take charge of the team for
the final home match of the season against Sunderland on Sunday 22
May."
West Ham have been languishing at the bottom of the table the
entire season and nearly replaced Grant with former Aston Villa
boss Martin O'Neill in January after a poor run of form.
The club's board stuck with him and there was a short-lived
revival when West Ham won three of five Premier League games from
February 2 to March 5, including a memorable 3-1 home victory over
Liverpool.
But the defeat at Wigan was a sixth in seven league matches for
the London side, with relegation persuading the owners the time is
right for a change as they contemplate life in the
Championship.
Grant also suffered relegation last season when he was in charge
of Portsmouth. Having resigned at Pompey, he took over at Upton
Park last summer, signing a four-year deal, but lasted less than 12
months.
West Ham are due to move to the Olympic Stadium once it is
revamped as a combined football and athletics venue after the 2012
London Games and the club confirmed before the defeat at Wigan that
their move would not be affected by relegation.
Pity Avram Grant =(..
