West Ham to miss out on O’Neill, but Grant in limbo

Until recently West Ham supporters could take pride in the managerial history of their club. While other teams chopped and changed, the Hammers had a reputation of employing the right man for the job and standing by him. But as Avram Grant faces the sack less after less than a season in charge, and his proposed replacement Martin O'Neill distances himself from the role, that reputation is in tatters.

Between 1901 and 1989 West Ham employed just five managers, but since Harry Redknapp vacated the Upton park hotseat in 2001 they have had a further seven in 10 years. The latest of them, Grant, only took over in June last year and has been in charge for just 29 games, even fewer than Lou Macari whose reign as full-time manager from 1989 to 1990 was, until now, the shortest in the club's history.

But with West Ham languishing at the bottom of the Premier League, the club's new owners David Gold and David Sullivan appear to have decided to dispense with the services of Grant, although the tortuous manner of his dismissal has been criticised. There were strong rumours that he would be axed over Christmas and he appeared to say farewell to the fans after West Ham's defeat to Arsenal on Saturday, but there has still been no word on his future.

That, in part, is because O'Neill, the man who was tipped to take over, has apparently ruled himself out of the running. And the way that the club has handled the situation may even be the reason that the former Aston Villa boss has reportedly lost interest. The BBC says that the Northern Irishman does not want to be pressured into a snap decision, even though the transfer window closes in two weeks.

Pat Murphy of BBC Radio 5 explained: "O'Neill has always concentrated on the football aspects of the club rather than the local politics and he has never been one to be rushed."

That leaves the club's owners with the option of persevering with Grant, or looking elsewhere for a replacement. Other names in the frame include former Tottenham manager Martin Jol, who quit Ajax in December, and Sam Allardyce, who lost his job at Blackburn before Christmas. Former Newcastle manager Chris Hughton, who comes from nearby Stratford, could also be a candidate.

Amid all the uncertainty the Hammers are also on the verge of finding out if they will be leaving their old home of Upton Park and taking over the 2012 Olympic stadium after the games.

Formal bids to take over the stadium must be entered this month and the Olympic Park Legacy Company will announce its preferred bidder on 28 January. West Ham are thought to be favourites over Spurs. And if they do get the go-ahead to move three miles down the road to the Stratford venue then the Hammers will be leaving not only their long-term approach to management, but also their old home behind. ·