‘This is a critical time in the history of West Ham United’ – club co-owner David Gold ahead of relegation clash with Wigan

EPL,Avram Grant,David Gold,Newcastle United vs West Ham United(Getty Images)

Related Links

Teams

With the prospect of relegation this weekend, West Ham United’s co-owner David Gold has admitted that the club’s board have prepared for relegation.

Cemented at the bottom of the Premier League and four points from safety, West Ham’s future in the countries’ top-flight division is looking precarious with only two games remaining

However, Gold insists that the team will fight till the end and if the worst does come to fruition and there will be plans in place to ease the painful transition.

“There isn’t a club in the land that doesn’t have to adjust after relegation and we would be no different, absolutely no different,” he told Sky Sports News.

“I’m making provisions for relegation, not to be discussed, you the fans would be disappointed if we weren’t making contingency plans, of course we are. But we’re still there, we’re not relegated yet, there’s two games to go.

“It is often said there are twists and turns, that with you two games to go, they the results just come out so differently to what you project.”

The remaining fixture list does go somewhat in favour of the Hammers, with games against Wigan (away) this weekend and Sunderland (home) on the final day of the season.

“We’re not going to Manchester United, we’re not going to Arsenal,” Gold added.

“We all fear the top clubs, and rightly so, because they’re miles ahead of everybody else. So it’s a level playing field.

“We go to Wigan with optimism and determination to win the game.”

On Friday, manager Avram Grant boldly placed the blame upon himself for the team’s situation this season, a decision that may not fare well with Gold and fellow owner David Sullivan. However, the former Birmingham City chairmen have said that nothing has been finalised as of yet about the regarding the Israeli boss’ future.

He said: “We just sit down at the end of the season – as we always do with our managers – and we’ll take it from there. If you speak to Avram he’d tell you the same thing. He’s just focussed on these two games.

“I wouldn’t say he’s Grant relaxed – he’s as tense as all of us. From the fans through to the manager, through to the boardroom it’s very, very tense, and rightly so. You wouldn’t expect anything different, this is a critical time in the history of West Ham United.