STAY UP OR BUST
But Moyes says he can mend Hammers ...even if it means selling crown jewels
DAVID MOYES said he wants to be the man to mend West Ham – on the same day the owners revealed the club are in grave danger of going broke.
Annual figures released yesterday show a pre-tax loss of £28.2million and came with a warning from co-owner David Sullivan that staying up was “an absolute necessity for the future well-being” of the Hammers.
Sullivan added: “The principal business risk remains that of the club being relegated from the Premier League with the serious financial consequences which follow.”
Despite a £214.4m net spend on players in the last four years, West Ham are just above the drop zone on goal difference going into tonight’s clash with runaway leaders Liverpool at the London Stadium.
Moyes, though, believes he is the right man to sort out the playing side – much like he did at Everton.
But he warned fans it will take time and hinted that star players such as Declan Rice may have to be sold balance the books.
“I want to be the person who comes to mend the club, and I always think the person who mends it is the manager and his team,” Moyes said.
“I don’t think we can mend it immediately, but if we can get through this period I think we can make things much better.
“When you spend money, it’s when it doesn’t work you get questioned. Some clubs have had to spend an awful lot, but to help have probably had enough sales to back that up.
“Even when we were at Everton, we had to sell Wayne Rooney along the journey. Did we want to sell him? No chance. I was heartbroken.
“West Ham are on that journey, but we are only starting it as far as I am concerned.”
Rice is the club’s one major saleable asset. Does that mean they have to move the 21-yearold England international on?
“I am not for a minute using Declan as an example,” Moyes said. “But if you are a star player, you want to play for the star teams. That is what happens. You lose your better players.
“I was only drawing reference that sometimes to be a successful manager you have to have a good team, but also keep an eye on the bank balance.”
Thankfully, there is enough money in the coffers for West Ham to try to sign versatile Czech Republic midfielder Tomas Soucek from Slavia Prague for £20m.
Moyes also confirmed a definite bid has gone in for another player, believed to be RB Salzburg right-back Rasmus Kristensen.
However, the club’s injury troubles show little sign of abating, with Jack Wilshere due to go under the knife yet again for a hernia operation which might see him miss the rest of the season.