REVVED UP Slaven: As the boss I’m the one driving the car, the players are just passengers

ENGLISH NOBLE

TONY STENSON Frenchman’s antics and wanted him out. So Bilic knew he had to stamp his authority.

He said: “We were living with that situation with him for some months, that is why I decided it could not continue.

“The club eventually decided but it is the manager who says, ‘I don’t want this, this and this’. I am grateful that I have the kind of chairman who listens to the manager – and that’s the way it should be.

“I had a few meetings with the co-owners but when it became obvious there was no way back then I called the chairman and said to him, ‘We can’t SLAVEN BILIC has urged new England boss Gareth Southgate (below) not to overlook his skipper Mark Noble when he picks his squad to face Germany and Lithuania at the end of this month.

The West Ham boss was surprised Noble, 29, was left out of the Euro 2016 squad and revealed how important he is to the club.

He says Noble, who has been at the Hammers since he was a youngster, is his sensible voice in the dressing room. Bilic said: “He is very important, not only as the captain.

“You need the core of your team to be British but the work like this’ and he said, whatever’.” After revealing skipper Mark Noble is the positive face of player power and handles any dressing room disputes, Bilic was angry with the negative side shown by Payet, his actions being the kind that affects the team and could cost a manager his job – just like with Ranieri.

He added: “If I am responsible for the results and everything else I should have that power to say which players I want.

“Ranieri was the boss at Leicester two weeks ago. He was picking the team, doing what he wanted without slaughtering anyone. A gentleman.” The Croat, who was a firm ‘Okay, captain is the most important. As a manager you don’t want to interfere with the power base or with small problems. That’s why it’s crucial to have a captain like him.” So Bilic reckons it is time for national recognition for his enforcer who has played for England at every level from Under-16s but has never been called into the full squad. The Croatian added: “He has to fight for his place with some great players but he should have a chance. “He is a reliable player, good in a group and a leader. Gareth Southgate will see that.” TONY STENSON Upton Park favourite in his playing days, added: “The players have much more power than in my time.

“But at the end of the day although the manager might get the sack, as long as you are the manager nobody has more power than you do.”

He also shed light on the role of some agents who threaten to get mangers sacked if you do not pick their players.

Bilic added: “How do you counter that? I don’t like it but it’s the way it works now. You have more power than the chairman. Who is picking the team?

“The agent can tell me, ‘I will get you the sack if you don’t put my player on’ but it’s me who decides.

“The players here clearly know I am the boss. Everyone knows that.”