Part 1 of a series following the fortunes of West Ham United under Harry Redknapp.
A summer of turmoil at Upton Park - not just with the demolition of the old North Bank. Billy Bonds’ 27-year association with the club ends. Assistant Manager Redknapp is considering a move back to Bournemouth but the West Ham board see him as the future and suggest to Bonds that he takes a paid directorship and moves upstairs allowing Harry to take full charge of the first team. Instead of Redknapp accepting what he purports to be his dream job in Bournemouth, or simply refusing to take charge at the expense of his “Best Friend” he allows Bonds to resign then takes the West Ham job anyway, muttering nonsense about trying to persuade Bonds to change his mind. Beware the Ides of August. More controversy as Joey Beauchamp, signed from Oxford for £1m feels the move is not for him after all and wants out. On the eve of the new season he’s swapped with defender Adrian Whitbread and joins other new signings John Moncur and Don Hutchison, with Toney Cottee returning from Everton a few weeks later. On the pitch, The Hammers cannot score. Indeed, just one goal from open play in the opening seven league games and only an own goal to show in the League Cup means the Redknapp will need to show more of his famous wheeling a dealing if the Hammers are to survive in a league where four will be relegated.
24 сен 2024
