Hammers ready to 'push the boat out'

29 April 2010 13:07
David Gold insists he and fellow West Ham owner David Sullivan will "push the boat out" to buy the quality players needed to keep the club up.[LNB] The millionaire duo gave Hammers boss Gianfranco Zola funds to buy the likes of Benni McCarthy, Ilan and Mido soon after completing a £50million takeover in January.[LNB]Sullivan said on Tuesday West Ham would consider offers for all their players apart from captain Scott Parker, who all but secured the Hammers' top-flight status by scoring the winner against Wigan on Saturday.[LNB]Gold said yesterday Sullivan's comments had been misinterpreted and assured worried fans he wanted the Hammers' best players to stay at the club.[LNB]The players' loyalty to manager Gianfranco Zola could mean a number may follow the Italian out of the door should he decide to leave this summer.[LNB]Now the former Birmingham chairman has confirmed the Hammers will "push the boat out" if required to make big-money signings this summer, regardless of whether Zola remains at Upton Park.[LNB]"If there are quality players that we fancy then we'll push the boat out to get them," Gold said.[LNB]"We're an ambitious football club and it's time we turned the tide and started pushing forward. We will be looking to bring in some new players."[LNB]The club were heading towards administration with debts of around £110million before Gold and Sullivan took over from Icelandic bank Straumur at Upton Park in January.[LNB]Of that debt around £50million is owed to banks and £40million to other clubs for transfer fees.[LNB]The duo embarked upon a radical cost-cutting venture to try to cut the club's debts and they have even been paying vice-chairman Karren Brady out of their own pockets for the last three months.[LNB]Gold insists any move to sign new players will jeopardise their long-term aim of getting the Hammers out of the red though.[LNB]"There will be money available but we won't put the club at risk. We will not increase the debt at West Ham.[LNB]"Our job is to reduce the debt and at the same time to improve and deal with the squad. If that means we have to put some money in then that's what we'll do.[LNB]"We don't want this relegation battle to happen again next year. It'll be much more difficult to stay up.[LNB]"We are not going to put the club's financial problems into any further difficulties, if we do this it will be with our own money."[LNB]The club have already had a £4million bid for Graham Dorrans rejected by West Brom.[LNB]Gold, who insisted Zola was part of the decision to make a move for the Scotland midfielder, admits the club could return with a second bid for the player.[LNB]"Everyone was involved in the decision making. Nobody is precluded from it," said the 73-year-old.[LNB]"A second bid is possible. He is one of the players we are looking at.[LNB]"We'll have to wait and see what happens on that. The player is a favourite of mine.[LNB]"He is a young British player who we like but having said that, sometimes deals don't work out and you have to move on."

Source: Team_Talk