Source: Telegraph
West Ham close to confirming Avram Grant as new manager
West Ham are holding talks with Steve Clarke, the assistant manager who was appointed alongside Gianfranco Zola, over an "amicable settlement". [LNB]Clarke earns £900,000-a-year and has two years left on his deal but it is understood that he accepts he has to leave to make way for Grant, who last week resigned from Portsmouth. [LNB] Related ArticlesGuillermo Franco to leave West HamStill hope for Scott Parker?Scott Parker 'not for sale'West Ham make Thierry Henry bidWest Ham close in on Avram GrantSport on televisionAt one stage, Clarke had hoped to succeed Zola, who was dismissed at the end of the season in an abrupt meeting with vice-chairman Karren Brady. Zola was accused of a breach of contract but he is taking legal action over the departure and a date is due to be set by the Premier League for an arbitration hearing over the Italian's pay-off. He earned £1.9 million-a-year but left without a settlement. [LNB]Grant has been targeted by the club's co-chairman David Sullivan who secured his release from Portsmouth without any compensation. [LNB]It's understood the Israeli, who is close to Sullivan's adviser, the agent Barry Silkman, has agreed a three-year deal on a salary of £1.9 million and has already been involved in discussing transfer targets and players who can be sold. [LNB]Portsmouth, meanwhile, have offered to pay their creditors 20 pence in every pound they owe, says the club's administrator. [LNB]The Company Voluntary Agreement (CVA) proposal will be sent to creditors in the next 24 hours and if accepted will allow Pompey to exit administration. [LNB]The 20 pence offer is payable over five years, with 75 per cent of unsecured creditors needing to support the CVA. [LNB]
