You Wally
Like chalk and cheese
WALLY DOWNES is on the brink of leaving West Ham – just three months after his appointment as the club’s defensive coach.
The People say Relations between Downes and manager Avram Grant are said to have reached breaking point and Hammers’ sources say his exit is now a matter of ‘when not if’.
Downes made an excellent impact on the Hammers’ defence in the weeks after his arrival in November but following an initial boost, his influence is said to have waned.
The former Brentford boss and Wimbledon ‘Crazy Gang’ player was appointed by the board rather than Grant, and the partnership has always been strained.
His star has been falling since Grant’s job security improved following the botched attempt to replace him as manager with Martin O’Neill last month.
The 49-year-old replaced the sacked former assistant boss Zeljko Petrovic on the Hammers staff and has been a regular sight in the technical area ever since.
But Downes, who worked as No.2 to Steve Coppell at Reading, now appears to have reached the end of the road.
Not very good news at all. Appoint W.D. as new manager!