Source: Daily_Mail
Former Hammers chairman Magnusson not such a bad egg
Eggert Magnusson
Is it time to take another look at the reputation of Eggert Magnusson? The former West Ham chairman was ridiculed for paying over the odds during a 2007 transfer spending spree and earlier this month ex-manager Alan Pardew attacked the Icelander for being "naive" and wanting to "buy the world".
However, one of Magnusson's key signings, Craig Bellamy, has just been sold to Manchester City for a£6.5million profit while other recruits such as Lucas Neill, Matthew Upson and Scott Parker are mainstays of Gianfranco Zola's resurgent side.
Former biscuit tycoon Magnusson, who has seen his personal fortune suffer in Iceland's financial meltdown, told Talk: 'I am very proud of my time at West Ham. We were in a situation where we were bottom of the League and needed players in January. You only have to look at the prices Manchester City are paying now to see how difficult that is. We paid for quality players but they were the right ones and, like Bellamy, will attract big fees. I believe my last signing - Julien Faubert - will be another one.'
