Hammers stars reveal growing fire-sale fear - Sport - Evening Standard
       

Hammers stars reveal growing fire-sale fear

Robert Green today urged West Ham's owner not to break up the team in the January transfer window as fears of a fire-sale grew.

The goalkeeper was outstanding in last night's goalless draw at Liverpool and believes the team can only improve if they are kept together to work under manager Gianfranco Zola.

There has been speculation that West Ham's Icelandic owner Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson, who has been hit hard by the credit crunch and is encouraging interest from potential buyers, is preparing to cash in by selling some big-name players next month.

Green himself has been linked with Tottenham while England defender Matthew Upson, who had a fine game at Anfield, is also rumoured to be available for sale.

"It's not down to us what happens in the future but from the players' point of view, every time we go out there, we're all showing we want to play for the club and we want to do well," said Green.

"Within the training ground it's a happy camp and a hard-working one which hopefully can only get better."

Upson admitted he would be "disappointed" if key players were sold in the transfer window.

"In the current climate there haven't been any assurances and I would not expect any but if I am to stay at West Ham and we sell key players in January, then that would really frustrate me," he said.

"I signed for the club because of the vision they had and if players went now, that would really disappoint me.

"We're not going to get carried away on the back of three clean sheets but, hopefully, we can build on this because this is a good club. We're a lot more organised but as a unit. We're working hard for each other and we seem to have a more settled base.

"We can take massive confidence from this draw. We'll become even more confident if we begin to turn draws into wins and score more goals."

Despite Liverpool's inability to beat West Ham and go three points clear of Chelsea, Upson believes it could still be the Anfield club's year.

"I think Liverpool look like they have the staying power they may not have had in the past," he said.

"They've won games this season when perhaps they haven't played very well and that's always a sign of a team who are going to do well."

Comments

Don't Miss
Gala night for the Queen of arts - stars turn out in their hundreds to pay tribute

Happy & glorious

Stars turn out in their hundreds to pay tribute to Queen
Prints charming: patterned trousers for summer

Prints charming

Patterned trousers for summer
Promethipedia: the lowdown on Ridley Scott's new blockbuster Prometheus

Promethipedia

The lowdown on Ridley Scott's new blockbuster Prometheus
The Middletan: Kate Middleton has the most requested tan in London

The Middletan

Kate Middleton has the most requested tan in London
Amy Childs bares all like Britney

Dare to bare

Amy Childs vajazzles like Britney
Thais go Gaga: singer’s ‘fake rolex’ tweet sparks new tour row... but fans still mob her at airport

Thais go Gaga

Singer mobbed at airport
Trip the bright fantastic - in vertiginous neon

Fashion

Trip the bright fantastic - in vertiginous neon
Chelsea Champions League celebrations - in pictures

Victory parade

Chelsea Champions League celebrations
High-flying heroes

High flying heroes

David Oyelowo reveals all about new film Red Tails
The Twitter Diaries: Think Bridget Jones tries social networking

The Twitter Diaries

Think Bridget Jones tries social networking