HAMMER OFF HOOK

Coach escapes punishment over verbal attack on boy

WEST Ham academy coach mark Phillips, who was suspended last year for links to a far-right group, has avoided sanction after a verbal attack on a teenage boy.

Sportsmail understands that a Local authority Designated Officer (LaDO) has been handling the complaint, which was made following the incident during an Under 18s fixture when the player missed a penalty.

It has been confirmed West Ham’s former striker Carlton Cole was forced to intervene. Cole, now coaching the Under 18s alongside Phillips (below) and former team-mate Jack Collison, stepped in as tempers flared.

Some of those present were said to be shocked by the exchange. But Phillips is set to continue in his role after West Ham passed the case to Newham Council, given it was a child welfare issue. It is understood the council’s LaDO has decided not to take the matter further.

Phillips was suspended by West Ham last October as they investigated social media posts in which he defended the far-right Democratic Football Lads alliance after attending one of their marches through London.

The Premier League had previously warned that ‘ the group is using fans and stadiums to push an anti-muslim agenda’.

Phillips was reinstated in his academy role after the club’s investigation found there were insufficient legal grounds for dismissal, much to the concern of players’ parents.

Sources close to West Ham believe the club would have sacked him at the time had it not been for legal advice suggesting he would have a strong case at tribunal.

Phillips, a West Ham fan, was given a final warning over his conduct and attended courses on discriminatory issues and bias.

He previously coached at arsenal’s academy but joined West Ham 12 years ago and has worked his way up through the age groups.

West Ham sources confirmed the case had been passed to an LaDO but would not comment further.