Source: Daily_Mail
West Ham confirm Avram Grant stays and promise new arrivals in fight for survival
West Ham have today confirmed that manager Avram Grant will remain in charge and have promised him funds to recruit new players to boost the club's chances of survival.[LNB]The decision to retain Grant, at least until the end of the season, comes after Martin O'Neill rejected the chance to take the manager's job at Upton Park.[LNB]Read more - Matt Lawton: So Avram stays... but can the wounds be healed at Upton Park?[LNB] Repreive: Avram Grant arrives at Chadwell Heath after being told his job is safe[LNB]The Hammers have finally broken theirsilence, backing the beleaguered Israeli boss in a statement on the club's official website this morning, despite the club sitting bottom ofthe Barclays Premier League with just four wins from their first 20 matches.[LNB]It read: 'The clubare committed to retaining Avram Grant as manager and have identified potential transfer targets to give us the best possible chance of retaining Premier League status.'[LNB]Grant will now be given the chance to steer West Ham off the bottom of the table and possibly to theCarling Cup final, with his side just 90 minutes away from their first Wembley final in 30 years. [LNB]Stay of execution: Avram Grant is to remain in the hotseat at Upton Park[LNB]The 55-year-old Grant is due to take training at the club's training ground in Essex this afternoon and co-chairman David Sullivan offered him his undivided support.[LNB]'The entire board is 100 per cent behind Avram,' Sullivan told ESPNsoccernet. 'He is a really decent person who deserves our support.[LNB]'West Ham United is a club that does the right thing and the right thing at this time is to support the manager. [LNB] No go: Martin O'Neill rejected the opportunity to replace Grant in charge of the Hammers[LNB]'We will do all we can to bring in players over the next 12 days and once we have achieved that we hope it will keep us up. I urge all supporters to rally behind the club at this difficult time.'[LNB]Today's statement should appease supporters to a certain extent after they urged the Hammers board to either back or sack Grant, with former West Ham captain Julian Dicks warning the club earlier this week that they were in danger of turning into a 'laughing stock' by not providing clarity over Grant's position.[LNB]Dicks said: 'All I know is what I have seen in the newspapers and on the television - I heard one minute that Avram was leaving, then the next I hear it's Martin O'Neill who's coming in, and then he isn't. We're becoming a laughing stock really.[LNB] Battle for survival: Grant must now attempt to keep bottom-placed West Ham in the Premier League[LNB]'They (Gold and Sullivan) have the best interests of the club and the supporters at heart, I'm sure, but they need to come out and end all this speculation and say 'we support you' or they should sack him.[LNB]'They need to get this sorted out so everyone can start concentrating on the football again.'[LNB] Hammers stick with Grant as O'Neill turns down chance to take over at Upton ParkSo Grant stays at West Ham... but can the wounds really be healed?West Ham are a laughing stock! Grant must be backed or sacked, warns DicksAll the latest West Ham news, features and opinion[LNB] [LNB] Explore more:People: Martin O'Neill, David Sullivan
