Avram Grant hits back at David Sullivan’s claims that West Ham are likely to go down: I do not do percentages but we will do everything to stay up

West Ham United Vs Manchester United – Carling Cup: Avram Grant (Getty Images)

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West Ham United boss Avram Grant says that comments from the club’s co-chairman David Sullivan about the side having slim hopes of avoiding relegation do not concern him.

Grant’s team currently prop up the Premier League, two points from safety, with their next game being against Champions League hopefuls Manchester City.

The former Birmingham City co-owner made comments on Friday that the east London side are likely to go down. He told The Telegraph: “Obviously we are facing the reality that 70-75 per cent we are likely to be in the Championship next year.

“But there is still a 25-30% chance we won’t be. We have to be realistic. The bookmakers put our chances at 28% and you have to accept that.”

However, manager Grant has dismissed his boss’s negativity and still believes that the Hammers will fight until the end to keep themselves in England’s top-flight.

“Now we have four games to the end of the season and I don’t know how the chances are by per cent, I am not a businessman,” Grant told reporters.

“What I can tell you, though, is that we have a good chance to stay and we will do everything to do it.”

The former Portsmouth and Chelsea boss admits he has not yet seen Sullivan’s interview, but is remaining confident about keeping his side from dropping into the second tier.

“I didn’t read it so I can’t tell you but David is a businessman,” he said. “I think we have a chance to stay up. We are two points from the place that will keep us in the Premier League and of course we can do it.

“We showed that even we had less chances before we played well and took points.”

Grant added: “If I say to you now there is a 51% or 32.5% chance, it doesn’t matter. It only matters in money because if he wants to give 25% more to the players if they stay in the league, it is OK.

“If you put the chances of us staying up four months ago the chances were 10%, so it always changes.

“If we take four points from the next two games the chances will be more than the current figure and it will continue like this until the end of the season.”

Sullivan also took a swipe at the level of commitment the players at Upton Park have been showing of late, saying: “I’m sure a few of the players are already looking at where they will be next season – their contracts are up, they’ll be off.”

Grant disagreed: “I can speak only about what I see. I could say yesterday in training, against Chelsea last weekend and the games before that the players are giving everything.

“Of course we can ask for more in quality but they are giving everything and the spirit is good.”