Avram Grant: I have not been sacked by West Ham

Add to My Stories West Ham manager By Mark Ryan Avram Grant insisted last night that he was still in the job despite widespread reports that he will be sacked by the Premier League club within days. After seeing his rockbottom side lose 3-0 at home to Arsenal, Grant said of reports that it had been his last game as manager: 'You need to ask the person who gave you the rumour. I don't understand why you are asking me. Ask the source.'

  • West Ham 0 Arsenal 3: Van Persie scores twice as title-chasing Gunners pour salt on Avram's wounds

Time for goodbyes? Avram is hanging on to his job... but for how much longer?

All day yesterday TV reports suggested Grant's reign at the Hammers was over and that either Martin O'Neill or Martin Jol would be taking over. But asked if he was still West Ham's manager, the 55-year-old Israeli replied: 'I'm speaking to you now (as manager).' Questioned over why he threw his scarf into the crowd in what had looked like a farewell gesture at the end of yesterday's defeat, Grant insisted: 'I always throw my scarf to the children who are there, at least in the last few games, and I must say that today it was emotional to see the supporters and their reaction after losing 3-0.
They were so supportive that I cannot say it was not touching.' Grant admitted that he had not asked West Ham's owners, David Gold and David Sullivan, whether they were speaking to O'Neill, who left Aston Villa last summer, or Jol, who quit Ajax last month, about replacing him. But West Ham vicechairman Karren Brady said: 'Nothing has happened. Idon't know where the rumours have come from but nothing has happened.'

Gunner get hammered: Walcott (left) doubles Arsenal's leadSullivan and Gold both confirmed that Grant remains West Ham's manager,! for now . Sullivan said: 'He is the manager and he remains the manager.' And Gold added a slightly more guarded: 'He is the manager as we speak.' Despite the defeat by Arsenal, Grant suggested that his team were going 'in the right direction' and could still avoid relegation to the Championship. 'Even though we are bottom, if you look at the football in the last three weeks or so, I think we are doing the right things,' he said. 'We are close to being able to escape from relegation. There are seven teams in our position and two or three points is not a big difference. 'The most important thing is that we need more players.'

More...

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  • Hammers chief Brady: I won't tell Avram what players to pick
  • All the latest West Ham news, features and opinion


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