Source: Daily_Mail
West Ham boss Avram Grant rejects David Sullivan's squad row
West Ham manager Avram Grant has brushed off David Sullivan's comments after the club co-owner questioned the players' commitment and survival hopes.[LNB]The east London outfit currently languish at the bottom of the Barclays Premier League after a four-game losing streak brought a sudden end to a mini-revival.[LNB] Up in arms: Grant has leapt to the defence of his Hammers squad after harsh words from co-owner Sullivan[LNB]West Ham's form led to comments from Sullivan the club have a '25% chance' of staying up and are 'likely to be in the Championship next year.'[LNB]The Hammers have a mere four games to drag themselves away from the precipice and face a tough trip to Manchester City on Sunday.[LNB]Despite this, Grant believes West Ham can pick up the points that will secure survival and refuted Sullivan's comments.[LNB]'I didn't read it so I can't tell you [everything] but David is a businessman.[LNB]'I think we have a chance to stay up. We are two points from the place that will keep us in the Premier League and of course we can do it.[LNB]'We showed that even we had less chances before we played well and took points.[LNB]'Now we have four games to the end of the season and I don't know how the chances are by percent, I am not a businessman.[LNB]'What I can tell you, though, is that we have a good chance to stay and we will do everything to do it.'[LNB] Hard line: Sullivan had questioned the Hammers squad ahead of their relegation scrap[LNB]Grant believes his charges need nine points to secure survival but admits seven points could be enough.[LNB]However, the former Chelsea and Portsmouth boss refused to put a percentage on their survival chances.[LNB]'If I say to you now there is a 51% or 32.5% chance it doesn't matter.[LNB]'It only matters in money because if he wants to give 25% more to the players if they stay in the league, it is okay.[LNB]'If you put the chances of us staying up four months ago the chances were 10%, so it always changes.[LNB]'If we take four points from the next two games the chances will be more than [the current figure] and it will continue like this until the end of the season.'[LNB] Hammer blow: Torres opened his Chelsea account against West Ham condemning Grant's side to a 3-0 loss[LNB]Last weekend Grant's side were beaten 3-0 at Stamford Bridge and now face a trip to Eastlands without key players such as Scott Parker, Mark Noble, Gary O'Neil and Wayne Bridge.[LNB]The quartet have been some of West Ham's key performers this season, while several other players have seemingly failed to live up their billing.[LNB]Such performances led Sullivan to question whether the players care enough but Grant does not necessarily agree with the view.[LNB]'I don't think so. I didn't read the article so I need to read it because sometimes it is translated not so good by the media.[LNB]High praise: Parker has been the exception to the rule[LNB]'But I can speak only about what I see. I could say yesterday, against Chelsea last weekend and the games before that the players are giving everything.[LNB]'Of course we can ask for more in quality but they are giving everything and the spirit is good.'[LNB]While Grant disagreed with several ofhis co-chairman's sentiments, the Israeli manager did echo Sullivan's comments on the Hammers fans.[LNB]Sullivan said he felt sorry for the West Ham supporters and felt they had failed to deliver this season.[LNB]'WestHam is a massive club and part of our vision is to stop fighting against relegation because West Ham did it too much in the last years and also this season.[LNB]'This season we knew it would be difficult but of course we didn't want to be in this place so we feel for the supporters.[LNB]'We are doing everything for them to feel good and I think even the supporters know the players give anything.[LNB]'They are behind us and if you saw the last game against Chelsea you heard them more than we heard the Chelsea supporters.'[LNB] Irons in the fire sale! Sullivan warns stars will be sold if club are relegatedSpector: Rock-bottom West Ham have not given up on top-flight survival Gabbidon charged with improper conduct by FA for X-rated Twitter rantAll the latest West Ham news, features and opinion Explore more:People: Gary O'Neil, Wayne Bridge, David Sullivan Places: Chelsea, London
