Carlton Cole Signs New Five-Year Contract With West Ham United

Striker Carlton Cole has signed a new five-year contract with West Ham.

The 25-year-old, the club's top striker with four goals from 12 games, joined the club from London rivals Chelsea in July 2006.

He told his club's official website: "I am very pleased to sign. It is nice that I can just focus on playing good football for the club."

He added: "I know now I am here for quite a while so it is time to knuckle down. The manager has 100% faith in me and I have got 100% faith in him and our team as well.

"It is good that I have got this opportunity to show West Ham supporters, and prove to myself, that I can be a big part of the prospects to come."

Cole, who has benefited from the injury-enforced absence of England striker Dean Ashton, continued: "We are playing some good football, the results are starting to turn in our favour and the only way is up from now."

Image Courtesy: Sportcartoons.co.uk/carlton_cole.html

Manager Alan Curbishley Quits West Ham United

Alan Curbishley's turbulent spell as West Ham manager came to an abrupt end on Wednesday when he quit, saying the club had sold players against his wishes.

Curbishley saved the east London club from relegation in the 2006-07 season but has had a lean time since. He becomes the first English Premier League manager to leave his job this season after the Hammers sold defender George McCartney to Sunderland.

Before the sacking, West Ham released a statement justifying the sale of McCartney and Anton Ferdinand.

But Curbishley responded with a televised interview in which he said McCartney had been sold to Sunderland despite him telling chief executive Scott Duxbury that he needed the full-back to cover injuries.

"It was the transfer of George McCartney which I was vehemently against," Curbishley said.

"Not just because he is such a good player — I happen to think he's one of the best full-backs in the Premier League — but the situation we found ourselves in with injuries to other players."

A club statement said: "We can confrim that we have accepted Alan Curbishley's resignation as we feel it is in the best interests of both parties. We wish Alan all the success in the future. A shortlist of candidates is being drawn up and an announcement will be made in due course about the new West Ham United manager."

West Ham put reserve team coach Kevin Keen in charge but Croatia manager Slaven Bilic is tipped for the permanent job.

News Courtsey: AP