Source: Daily_Mail
Avram Grant rubbishes claims he's been handed ultimatum by disappointed West Ham board
Granted an extended stay: West Ham boss Avram Grant denies he's been given an ultimatum[LNB]Avram Grant denies he has been given an ultimatum by the West Ham board of three games to save his job - and maintains he goes into every match like it could be the last.[LNB]The Irons are facing a battle for top-flight survival, currently four points adrift of safety, after just one win from the previous 11 in the Barclays Premier League.[LNB]However, Grant has nevertheless guided his injury-hit side into the semi-finals of the Carling Cup, where they will face Birmingham.[LNB]Whether or not the former Chelsea and Portsmouth boss will still be around for those ties in early 2011 has been the subject of intense media speculation.[LNB]West Ham start a run of potentially season-defining fixtures against the sides around them in the table at Blackburn tomorrow, with the new owners at Ewood Park having axed Sam Allardyce - in turn linked to any potential vacancy which may crop up at the Boleyn Ground.[LNB]Reports suggested the board - who only appointed the Israeli during the summer - have demanded at least one victory from the hectic festive schedule, or will be ready to make a change in the dugout, which could cost the debt-laden East End club around £5million to dispense with Grant's services.[LNB]However, the West Ham manager - who has already had one 'Save our Season' match already - insists those rumours have no foundation.[LNB]'This is not true. Nobody from the board spoke with me about it,' Grant declared. 'I speak with the owners all the time, but I didn't speak with them about this specifically.'[LNB] Up against it: West Ham have won just one of their last 11 games, losing most recently to Manchester City[LNB]Grant quipped: 'I will make it more simple for you - I approach every game like it's the last game of my job in football. [LNB]'When you are in the football business, especially when you are a manager, you never know what is around the corner. The first priority is always the next 90 minutes and that's what we are focusing on, nothing else.'[LNB]Grant insists he remains fully focused on dragging the Irons off the bottom.[LNB]'I have a job to do and I never felt differently,' he said. 'I am thinking about how I can succeed with my team. If I thought I didn't believe in this team then maybe I need to think about other things, but I believe in this team.'[LNB] Patience: David Sullivan and David Gold are notoriously forgiving with managers[LNB]The Hammers boss remains convinced his team can pick up the points they need to beat the drop.[LNB]'They showed good spirit last week against Manchester City and that is what I need to focus on,' he said. 'I don't need to think about what is happening in one week or one month because I need to think about things that I can control and not things I cannot control.[LNB]'I think we have a good chance to stay in the league, and that we have a good chance of following our vision for the club, being a very good club next year. We know what we want from ourselves, but for the moment, we need to take points to do it.[LNB]'It's not a good situation, but it is something that is possible. It's hard, but we can do it.' [LNB] Blackburn v WEST HAM: Valon Behrami and Lars Jacobsen provide slight concernsTottenham plan to redevelop Crystal Palace as part of Olympic Stadium bidTHE FIRING LINE: Final nail to be hammered? Grant tops for chop againHammers target Allardyce as Grant is handed three-game ultimatumWEST HAM UNITED FC
