Source: Daily_Mail
LEO'S LONDON: West Ham's silence speaks volumes as dark clouds hover
Leo's London is a new hard-hitting column on the big issues around the capital's football clubs. Every Wednesday, Leo Spall will cast his eye over the major talking points in every corner of the city, analysing the Premier League big boys and shining a light on the lower-league sides. So, whether your loyalties lie in the north, west, south or east of London, stick with Sportsmail for the latest views...
As West Ham appear to be heading ever faster towards oblivion, now is the time for the club's owners to emerge from the shadows.
Uncertainty reigns off and on the pitch and crumbs of comfort about the future - if there are any - need to be offered. That the club are in financial trouble is clear, but how deep they are isn't, and the silence on their predicament allows fears to grow.
Those with a vested interest on the outside - such as would-be buyerDavid Sullivan - put West Ham's debts at around £100million. Others closer to the workings inside Upton Park say the figure could be even higher.
Meanwhile, those shaping up as potential saviours are enjoying the limelight but are said not to have opened serious negotiations for the club.
That job should go to the chairman Andrew Bernhardt - and you can be forgiven if you don't recognise the name. His background is in debt finance, which seems to speak volumes on its own, and he is happy staying in the background.
So much so, in fact, that he has said little publicly since taking on the role in June, when he talked of a two-year plan and investment in the squad and 'sensible budgeting'.
Bernhardt's role may be officially non-executive, but as the representative of the company which owns West Ham he needs to fight off the scaremongers - if that is what they are.
A policy of promoting youth, developing a small squad and holding out for a £100m sale price is sensible if the results are coming but if relegation looms, what is the contingency plan?
Gianfranco Zola, inexperienced in management despite his good showing last season, seems to have absolutely no margin for error. The transfer window in January will be interesting if West Ham's Premier League fortunes don't improve and the club haven't been bought.
However, how the club approach it is anybody's guess. They certainly aren't saying.
As Chelsea trudged out of Villa Park last Saturday their awful defending at set-pieces was rightly highlighted as a serious flaw.
But almost as concerning was their inability to rally - the absence of the famous Chelsea resilience.
Their fightback after going behind lacked conviction. Too many players looked to the heavens when passes went astray and scoured the pitch for a scapegoat.
All the while, manager Carlo Ancelotti looked helpless on the touchline. Only the prompting of coaches Ray Wilkins and Paul Clement persuaded him to make a change and Joe Cole's five minutes wasn't enough.
At Wigan, in Chelsea's previous away defeat, they looked as if they gave up completely and it should be worrying for their relatively new boss, whose response was to shout at his players in Italian.
Bawling them out is one thing, inspiring strength in adversity is quite another.
Millwall look like they are going to end up £50,000 out of pocket as a result of the FA charges arising from that shameful Carling Cup night of trouble at West Ham...and that is if they are cleared.
The club have hired a QC to defend them after being charged with taking insufficient action to stop missile throwing and violent, threatening and racist behaviour from their fans at Upton Park that night.
As the away club, they were surprised to be charged (after a sensible ticket selling policy, controlling fans inside someone else's ground is difficult) and feel like they need the best possible defence, particularly as the FA are also set to appoint a top barrister.
However, unlike in a criminal court, the FA disciplinary process has no discretionary powers to award them costs if they are found not guilty. Unlike top Barclays Premier League clubs, Millwall will certainly notice the money has gone and that sort of cost could finish smaller clubs.
Jonathan Woodgate has yet to play a first-team game for Tottenham this season through injury yet, if the photos tell the full story, he seemed to be fit enough to dance the night away in celebration with some of his team-mates after their win at Portsmouth.
A groin problem has plagued him since the end of last season and even though he has come through a reserve team game since he was pictured partying, it certainly wasn't the most sensible thing he has done this week.
