Source: Daily_Mail
Karren Brady praises West Ham players despite brawl at awards dinner
ShareKarren Brady has defended West Ham's bad-tempered end-of-season bash, saying the players' behaviour at the event was 'exemplary'. [LNB]The swanky gala dinner at London's Grosvenor Hotel was overshadowed by a brawl involving disgruntled fans, which was allegedly sparked by striker Demba Ba refusing to sign an autograph.[LNB] But the Hammers' vice-chairman insisted that the players deserved praise for keeping their date with the fans and helping to raise cash for West Ham's academy despite the shame of suffering relegation just the day before.[LNB] Looks like trouble: Police were called to London's Grosvenor Hotel during West Ham's end-of-season dinner[LNB] And the Apprentice star also stuck the boot into her former club Birmingham City, who hit the headlines on Wednesday after goalkeepers Ben Foster and Colin Doyle partied until 4am just days before their crucial relegation decider at Spurs. [LNB] She insisted that should a similar event have occurred involving West Ham players, there would have been a far greater outcry in the media. [LNB] Centre of the storm: Things became heated allegedly after Demba Ba (right) refused to sign an autograph[LNB]Brady said in the column in The Sun: 'Like our sold-out end-of-season dinner this week, we stand up and face difficult times head on. Sure other clubs might have cancelled but we had a duty to 800 fans that had paid good money to attend a long-planned event. The night raised more than ?150,000 for the academy. [LNB] 'What you haven't read is that, to a man, the players were exemplary. Led by Scott Parker, they stayed for more than five hours. There was no roped-off VIP area, no rushing the players in and then out the back door. No hiding. The squad listened to what fans had to say and shared their own frustrations. [LNB]All white on the night: Karren Brady on Monday night[LNB]'Even when one guest went too far for a mindless minute or two, the players remained and kept cool. They played their part in a successful evening.' [LNB]Brady continued: 'Compare our column inches to another end-of-season dinner on the same night where some players - still with a big game to play - were out until 4am drinking. We'd have had Royal Wedding-sized coverage had that been us. [LNB] 'Ours was not a celebration and certainly not a party, as some wrongly claimed, but it was right to have a night where fans could respect the academy and their Hammer of the Year.' [LNB]Brady admits that the club are 'hurting' over relegation from the Barclays Premier League, sealed after a dismal capitulation from 2-0 up to lose 3-2 at Wigan last weekend. [LNB]But she also vowed that the club will bounce back and target immediate promotion from the Championship next season.[LNB] 'Let's get things straight - the only kicking anyone has had this week is West Ham but we can take it. We've made mistakes this season and held our hands up.[LNB] 'We are hurting over relegation but now it is all about promotion - not just because of our league position but also in terms of pushing forward the reality of a proud club with solid finances, proper fans and a strong tradition. [LNB]Brady added: 'You can kick us when we're down - but we'll always get up again.' [LNB] Dark day: The Hammers were relegated from the Premier League at Wigan last weekend[LNB] Ba claims he was racially abused as West Ham's party went out of controlBirmingham players 'partied until 4am' days before relegation crunchI'm on my way to England! Di Canio throws hat into ring for West Ham jobRelegated West Ham bid to keep striker Ba with new contractJamie Redknapp: Relegation hurt me much more than any of my injuriesO'Neill to snub Hammers again as Jones comes back into reckoningAll the latest West Ham United FC news, features and opinion[LNB] Explore more:People: Karren Brady, Ben Foster Places: London
